Latest and greatest cars to tackle the 'mountain'
Brett Murray
Joining the significant and historic cars to
tackle the famous Mount Panorama circuit at the WPS Bathurst International Motor Festival next month will be some of the latest cars from the world’s great marques.
The Festival will play host to the second round of the Speed Energy Drink Australian GT Championship on April 13-16.
The championship pits Manufacturer against Manufacturer in a battle of some of the most prestigious vehicles on the planet. Competing vehicles include the Ferrari F360 and F430 Challenges,
Dodge Viper ACR
, Lamborghini Diablo GTR, Porsche GT3 Cup, Chevrolet Corvette, Lotus Elise Sport and Honda NSX.
Attracting one of most diverse groups of drivers in Australian Motorsport with veteran drivers mixing it up with young, budding stars and those out for some high adrenalin action on a weekend for recreation, the championship provides a fantastic spectacle.
With a record field of over 35 entries received for the second of eight rounds in the 2006 championship the action is assured to be intense at the Festival.
During last month’s opening round at Wakefield Park Allan Simonsen and Greg Crick shared the spoils with Simonsen gaining a narrow advantage in the championship points in his Ferrari 360GT ahead of Crick’s Dodge Viper.
Crick, a veteran of Australian motorsport, has competed in the Great Race on 14 occasions and even led the race in 1994 but competing in a round of the GT championship is something the Tasmanian driver is certainly looking forward to.
“Bathurst is undoubtedly the motorsport Mecca in Australia and I think the Festival can become a significant event on the calendar for all motorsport enthusiasts,” said Crick.
“I can’t wait to compete at Bathurst in the Viper, I think it will be sensational up the hill and across the top of the mountain. I have had some good memories of Bathurst which include leading the race in 1994 and topping the time sheets in final practice one year.”
Former Australian GT Champion and Porsche Challenge winner Bryce Washington will be out to make amends for a disappointing start to his championship defense aboard his ADRAD Radiators Porsche GT3 Cup Car. After the opening round Washington is almost 20 points in arrears of the championship leader in third position.
Other drivers expected to figure prominently in the GT championship round at the WPS Bathurst International Motor Festival include the Koundouris brothers, James and Theo from Canberra, in their Porsche’s and Peter Hackett in the Lamborghini Diablo GTR.
The Honda NSX driven by Ian Palmer and the Dodge Viper of D’Arcy Russell are another two great cars which will be a huge hit with spectators as they thunder their way around the Mount Panorama circuit.
The WPS Bathurst International Motor Festival will be held on April 13-16 at the famous Mount Panorama circuit. Promoted and managed by a joint venture between the Bathurst Regional Council and Global Entertainment Team Pty Ltd the event has gained inspiration from the world renowned Festival of Speed and Goodwood Revival in the UK.
The on-track action for the Festival will include a Legends event in V8 Utes, car club parade laps, Historic Touring Car racing, Aussie Racing Cars, Team Australia demonstration laps, GT Championship Cars as well as several manufacturer sessions.
There will also be nostalgia sessions where race and road cars from the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s will cut laps of the famous 6.213km Bathurst circuit.
Off-track entertainment is set to include historic car displays, product displays, bands, dirt bike expression sessions and kids’ entertainment areas.
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