With high levels of interest from UK and European motor racing enthusiasts and owners of cars with international motor sport provenance, the 2017 event at Phillip Island will live on as one of the most important motor race events in the world of historic racing.
Recognised in the International Historic Motoring Awards in 2011, 2012 and 2013 and short listed in the top 10 historic motor sport events in the world on other occasions, the Phillip Island Classic is now well-established on the international calendar, attracting priceless cars that have raced on the world’s most famous racing circuits, driven by some of the legends of motor racing.
“The Patron for the 2017 event at Phillip Island was recently announced as Dick Johnson, but due to overseas commitments this role has now been filled by another legend of Australian Motor Sport, 40-year veteran, John Bowe,” said Ian Tate, Chairman of the VHRR Organising Committee. “John has partnered with Dick on many occasions and in 1989 the pair won Bathurst together in a Sierra,” he said.
With more than 500 entries and record crowds expected, the 2017 event will have a strong representation of production touring cars Group N, and Group C & A cars. Of particular importance will be the 30th anniversary celebration marking the first win in the world for a Ford Sierra with Dick Johnson at the wheel in Australia. To mark the occasion it is expected that there will be up to 10 Sierra’s racing at Phillip Island next year. The spectacular Group JK & LB sports and racing cars with a competition history prior to the end of 1960 also create great interest from spectators at this exciting motor sport event. Event Patron, John Bowe, will also be racing at Phillip Island over that weekend.
Along with the Sierras there will be more than 10 Formula 5000s – pre-1978 Formula 1s and Indy cars racing. Some of Australia’s most celebrated Grand Prix and Touring Car past champions will be available on the day for special autograph signing sessions.
The Phillip Island Classic – Festival of Motor Sport is supported by major national and international sponsors including CoolDrive, Shannons, Penrite, Dutton Garage, Wurth, Splitrock, VACC and Bosch, plus a host of other names.
“Mark the dates of 18 and 19 March 2017 in your diary to witness legends of motor sport and historic cars racing on one of the world’s finest race tracks,” said Ian Tate.