Over the long weekend of March 11-13 the Phillip Island Classic ‘Festival of Motorsport’ returns to the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.
It will once again be a major Victorian attraction, with more than 400 spectacular historic vehicles from the early 50s to the late 80s racing, with entries from every state except WA, due to Covid restrictions.
Event organisers, the Victorian Historic Racing Register (VHRR), supported by long time sponsors, CoolDrive, Penrite and Shannons, have confirmed that along with the 400 entries for the three-day event there will be some 240 entrants practising at the Island Grand Prix Circuit on the Thursday this year under the direction of the VHRR.
Although there is an absence of international historic cars this year due to the pandemic, four overseas drivers including Richard Tarling from UK, Gislain Genecand from Switzerland and Xavier Michel from France will each be driving Formula Fords whilst Andy Newall from the UK will be racing Bob Harborow’s 1966 McLaren M6B.
There are maximum grids in a number of categories, especially the Formula Fords where 57 FA, FB and FC cars will be racing on Sunday morning and afternoon for the prestigious Perkins Cup. This field includes Tim Blanchard, Team Principal of the Blanchard Racing Team. Tim’s father, John Blanchard will not be racing due to an injury and his seat in the Formula Ford will be filled by Brian Soule.
Maximum grids are also registered in the Group S Sports Cars and 66 cars in the Regularity racing plus other categories, once again confirming the importance of this event on the Australian and International Motorsports calendar.
The 50th Anniversary of Peter Brocks famous 1972 Bathurst Win in a Torana XU1 will be celebrated with a grid of eleven cars from Queensland, South Australia, NSW, Tasmania and Victoria each racing for the Peter Brock Trophy on the Sunday.
Special guest, Bev Brock, will be at the circuit to present the trophy to the winner of this event.
Feature races over 12 laps on the Sunday will include Q & A Touring cars, Group S Sports Cars and Touring cars over two litres.
Of particular interest this year will be a field of more than 30 five-litre Super V8 Touring Sprint cars built between 1993 and 2002 and invited high speed cars. This field includes the highly competitive
Larry Perkins driving the Castrol BZ Commodore and his son Jack driving the ex HRT V8 Super Car that he drove at Bathurst.
Two feature races will be held on the Saturday for Q & R Racing and QR Sports categories including Guido Belgiorno-Netti’s spectacular 1985 Ferrari 156/86 F1.
Throughout the event Michael Stillwell will act as Driving Standard Advisor with Event Director Ian Tate OAM and Clerk of the Course Michael Herlihy.
The weekend promises to be a welcome return to exciting racing in what is regarded as the largest historic racing event in the Southern Hemisphere with past and present champions of the sport.
Tickets for the weekend of spectacular historic motorsport will be available at the circuit gate.
Free passes: The Phillip Island and San Remo Advertiser have three free double passes to give away to this historic racing event. These will be available from our office (60 Chapel Street, Cowes) from 11am on Wednesday. One double pass per person. First in, first served.
