Retro Motorsport fans will be in heaven later this year as 15 Formula One cars from a bygone era make their way back to the Adelaide Grand Prix Circuit for the Adelaide Motorsport Festival on 17th and 18th October.
The Victoria Park Sprint could be likened to a Grand Prix Revival. Some 240 cars have already entered in 20 categories that include Group A and C , to Historic Sports cars and of course the F1 Category.
With a 14 car grid and drivers racing the clock, the action will replicate Adelaide’s Golden Era of Formula one. In its first year as a two day format with the backing of the South Australian Tourism Commission, the festival has already attracted a number of overseas entrants, a full field and crowds are expected to exceed 20,000 per day.
Billed as 3 days of high octane charged festivities, spectators will also be blown away to see the F1’s drive through the city under police escort to the Gouger Street Party at 5:30pm on Friday 16th.
A sample of some of the Adelaide Era F1 Cars attending are:
1985 JPS Lotus 975 Ex-Ayrton Senna Fastest Qualifier in Adelaide 1985. ON-TRACK | |
1985 Beatrice Lola Ex-Alan Jones raced in Adelaide 1985. ON-TRACK | |
1986 Benneton BMW, Driven by Gerhard Berger in Adelaide. The most powerful F1 car ever made with 1400hp in Qualifying trim. ON-TRACK | |
1987 Ferrari F1/87 Driven to Victory in Adelaide By Gerhard Berger. ON-DISPLAY | |
1987 Camel Lotus 99T driven by Ayrton Senna in Adelaide. ON-DISPLAY | |
1989 Leyton House March CG891 Driven in Adelaide by Ivan Capelli. ON-TRACK | |
1994 Ferrari 412 T1. Driven to 2nd place by Gerhard Berger in Adelaide. ON-TRACK | |
1994 Simtek S941 Driven by David Brabham in Adelaide. ON-TRACK |
Its here that the F1’s mix it with the other side of the Adelaide Motorsport Festival, the 180 cars entered in the Classic Adelaide Rally which will also be on display as the city parties like it did 30 years ago at the first Formula 1 Grand Prix in Adelaide in 1985.
The Rally centers around Victoria Park for scrutineering, then they head off on the Friday and Saturday to the Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula for 15 closed road stages. Entrants from as far away as the UK have freighted cars out for this event that overlaps the Victoria Park Sprint, bringing tens of thousands of people into the Adelaide Parklands for what can only be described as Classic Motorsport heaven. Head to www.adelaidemotorsportfestival.com.au to examine the schedule and check out the cars entered.