Phillip Island Classic attracts auto eye-candy

Australia's largest historic circuit event, the Phillip Island Classic Festival of Motorsport 2011 will be held on March 18 - 20 at the picturesque coastal location which forms the gracious backdrop to the 4.55km Grand Prix circuit.

In addition to the action on the track, several special automotive anniversaries will be celebrated over the weekend. The Jaguar E-Type and the Mini will each pay tribute to their 50 year milestones, while the Bathurst-conquering Nissan GTR will commemorate its 20th anniversary and Porsche will mark its 60th year of operations in Australia.

The Phillip Island Classic's Regularity events have attracted an eclectic field of over 60 cars that will race against the clock in an average speed competition.

To the delight of motoring enthusiasts, the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart has made available the eight-cylinder Porsche 908-02 that won the 1969 Targa Florio road race in Sicily and the Type 718 RS60 Spyder that won the 1960 Daytona 24-Hour race outright. Other stars of the circuit will be a 1928 Alfa Romeo 6c, a 1929 Bugatti Type 37A Grand Prix car, a 1948 Talbot Lago monoposto, a 1963 Austin Healey 'Sebring', a 1965 Alfa Romeo TZ1 and a rare 1974 Lancia Stratos Group 4 coupe.

Starring in the historic Formula Ford races will be 23 year-old Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series racer Tim Blanchard in his 1973 Van Diemen. Blanchard was runner-up in the 2010 Fujitsu series and also earned the coveted Mike Kable Young Gun Award for best rookie driver.

The more than thirty-strong combined Group C and Group A touring car field will see at least seven V8 Toranas take on five Commodores, two BMW M3s, a Jaguar XJS V12 and an ex-factory Nissan Skyline HR31, while the rival Fords include a 1988 Sierra RS 500 Cosworth, a Falcon XD and two Capri 3.0S - one driven by 1965 Bathurst winner 'Bo' Seton.

This year's Historic Touring Car field is vast, with the Over 3.0-Litre cars including 14 Mustangs, nine Torana XU-1s, two Valiant Chargers and an XY Falcon GT HO, while the Under 3.0-Litre category is filled to overflowing, and has a waiting list of additional entrants.

The Production Sports Cars category is also heavily subscribed, with 105 racers already confirmed, making it the meeting's most popular category.

Fully booked again, this year's Group Sa and Sb lineup includes a Shelby GT350, a Chevrolet Corvette and a Morgan Plus 8, as well as 12 MGs, nine Austin Healeys, eight Triumph TRs, four Porsches, a Lotus Elan and a Mercedes-Benz 190SL. The ever popular Group Sc will feature least 10 Porsche 911s, three De Tomaso Panteras, three MGB V8s, three Ferraris, a Renault Alpine and a Corvette Stingray.

The final day's half-hour race for big banger sports cars will again be the feature event of the meeting, and the 2011 lineup promises to be exceptionally strong, including nine Lolas, six Porsches, two Elfins, a Sauber-Mercedes and a genuine Ford GT40.

Among the hundreds of cars on display off the track, enthusiasts will be treated to special cars from 32 clubs in the Shannons Walk, with 200 and 400 vehicles showcased on the Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Another 80 special vehicles will also be on show in the enclosed Expo Centre throughout the weekend, including the original Aston Martin DBS used by George Lazenby in his role as James Bond in the film 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' and the Volvo P1800 driven by Roger Moore as he played Simon Templar in the 1960s TV series, The Saint.

Punters will be able to view and purchase a huge range of historic motoring items, including books, memorabilia, badges, posters and unique clothing, offered by 22 trade stands.

Adult admission costs $70 for a three day pass and $50 for a two day pass. Single day passes are priced at $20 for Friday 18th March, $25 for Saturday 19th March, and $35 for Sunday 20th March. The event is free for children under 16. The 2011 Philip Island Classic Festival of Motorsport is organised by the Victorian Historic racing Register; more information is available online at www.vhrr.com