BIG GRIDS, BIG ACTION TO FEATURE AT 2023 PHILLIP ISLAND - JUST CARS

Big grids, big action to feature at 2023 Phillip Island Classic

This year’s Phillip Island Classic Festival of Motorsport will feature a gathering of active historic Formula One cars that’s unlikely to ever be repeated in Australia, along with big grids of touring cars, Formula Fords, sports cars and plenty more in what’s set to be a big weekend of racing at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.

Hosted by the Victorian Historic Racing Register (VHRR), the Phillip Island Classic is regarded as the largest classic motorsport event in the Southern Hemisphere, bringing more than 500 historic competition cars to the 4.445km seaside circuit.

Securing six bona fide F1 cars from overseas is a real boon for this year’s Classic and is sure to be a highlight of the 10-12 March event, especially when they go up against local Formula cars in one of the weekend’s feature races.

The ‘international’ field of 1970s and ‘80s F1 cars will include a Lotus 81, Surtees TS16/02, Hesketh 308-1, Tyrrell 012, Shadow DN8 and Ensign N179, with the Aussies represented by Ferrari, March and Lola. All of the international entries have championship history and connections to famous names in F1, like James Hunt, Alan Jones, Riccardo Patrese, Elio de Angelis, Michele Alboreto and more.

Along with the ‘local vs international’ race, the F1 cars will also take part in a combined event with Formula 5000 and Formula Holden cars on the grid. Historic F1 cars will be on display in the paddock, too.

Another feature race scheduled for the 2023 Phillip Island Classic will see more than 40 Formula Fords in action, with a separate Formula Ford race, the Larry Perkins Cup, also part of the programme.

Sports cars from overseas confirmed for the 2023 Phillip Island Classic include a Shelby Cobra 289, Lola T70 Mk 3b, Chevron B31 (an historic Le Mans competitor) and a Chevron B6 that’s a multiple World Championship Car.

Formula 5000 entries include two of the fastest examples in Australia, starting with a Chevron B24 that was the first type of Formula 5000 car to beat Formula 1 machines. The other, a Lola T332, was the car in which Alan Jones finished fourth at the 1979 Australian Grand Prix.

Also competing will be a unique Ferrari 196 SP, while the highly competitive 1959 ‘Old Yeller MkII’ will be back and the famous ex-Stan Jones Maybach MkI will be competing in Regularity.

On the Touring Car side of things, Bathurst winners Steven Richards and Greg Murphy will be racing Nissan Skyline turbos in the Group C & A races, up against Ford Sierras, BMW M3s, Jaguar XJ-S coupes, Commodores and more.

The 5-Litre Touring Cars and Historic Touring Cars will also be racing, along with J, K and Lb classes, Groups M & O, Group S and Q & R Sports classes.

A family-friendly event, the 2023 VHRR Phillip Island Classic Festival of Motorsport will be held at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit on 9-12 March, with practice, qualifying and racing on Friday, 10 March and racing all day on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 March.

Public entry ticket pricing for Friday through Sunday is $30/person on Friday, $40/person on Saturday and $50/person on Sunday. Concession tickets are available, along with two- and three-day passes. Children 17 and under are admitted free with a paying adult.