V8s headlining bumper Winton field
The stage is set for a massive 2025 edition of the Winton Festival of Speed, with almost 340 entries already locked in, including some famous V8 Supercars.
The Victorian Historic Racing Register event that will run from August 1-3 will be bigger than ever with a record amount of entries expected.
A major focus is the 40th anniversary of the first Australian Touring Car Championship round held at Winton back in 1985 and to mark the occasion some much-loved cars from over the years are coming.
Not only will an Allan Grice Torana arrive, but famous cars from the modern V8 Supercars era will return to the “Action Track” as well.
Leading the charge is the VF Commodore Jamie Whincup took to the cusp of a stunning 2014 Bathurst 1000 victory.
Having overcome a back-of-the-grid start and a black flag, Whincup found himself leading the final lap.
But after infamously ignoring team instructions to save fuel, the #1 VF Commodore started spluttering as Chaz Mostert took a famous win,
But the car still retains a special place as it helped Whincup take a sixth title and it will be back at Winton sporting its iconic Air Force-inspired livery.
Another famous Holden that made a name for itself overseas coming to Winton is Allan Moffat’s world-beating Commodore.
Moffat teamed up with John Harvey to win a 1987 WTCC round at Monza and the Rothmans Holden VL SS Group A Commodore used to take that win will be at Winton.
Another car that will resonate with many is the Dick Johnson Greens-Tuf XE Falcon. Following Dick’s massive ‘Hardies Hero’s qualifying crash into the trees at Forest Elbow, this car was purchased from another competitor and the team worked all night to score a backup car and start the 1983 Great Race.
In a special twist, the FG Falcon that sported the same Greens-Tuf livery to celebrate the 30th anniversary will also be on track at Winton.
Chaz Mostert and Dale Wood ran the same colours at Bathurst in 2013 and also endured a massive pre-race rebuild from a practice crash and that car is also coming.
Event director Ian Ross said these big additions have grown what was an already bumper entry list.
“It is touching 340 now. It is the biggest meeting we have ever had and may be one of the biggest Winton has ever had,” he told Auto Action.
“No body gets entries of 340 anymore, so we are doing something right. Going back five to eight years ago, we would be around the 300 mark, but struggled to achieve that after COVID.
“We are now getting people from interstate come and ask how do we come and get into the Winton Festival of Speed because we are not just about old cars and more recent cars are not allowed.
“The FIA made historic up to 2000 and we have pushed it up another 10 years and called it Invited.
“But that is what the younger crowd want to see, five litre V8s, because not everyone grew up with 67 Mustangs.
“We also have Touring Car Legends and some cars like the Greens Tuff Falcon has not been seen for 20 years.
“There are no V8s at Winton anymore and today’s V8s are not cars like they used to be.
“The real V8s are coming back to Winton and they are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars and have a real, deep connection with the fanbase.”
At this stage the numbers are strong with 27 Alfa Romeos, 30 Formula Fords, 25 Group Ns, a capacity Sports Car field of 44, 36 for Group C and A, 22-25 Historic Sports Sedans, 25 MGs and more.
Although entries are now closed, there is no fear of missing out, with organisers to accept competitors up until the eve of the event.
Image: Peter Norton
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