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WPS Bathurst Motor Festival announces official support categories |
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Monday, 17 September 2007 |
 While the WPS Bathurst 12 Hour may be the feature act of the 2008 WPS
Bathurst Motor Festival to be held at Mount Panorama on February 8-10,
it will not be the only category taking to the Mountain’s hallowed
bitumen over the Festival’s three days.
Event Organisers have today officially announced the four support
categories which will join the WPS Bathurst 12 Hour in the battle for
Mount Panorama honours, with the Commodore Cup, Australian Saloon Car
Championship, Formula VEEs and the HQ Racing Association of Australia
all set to take part.
Event Director James O’Brien said he was pleased to announce the
four support classes today; as the respective categories have had
little chance to compete at Mount Panorama in recent years, will turn
up with large grids and provide close and competitive racing.
“The four support classes we have on board in 2008 represent the
philosophy of the Event – variety, full grids, wall to wall racing and
low cost categories the spectators can relate to,” said O’Brien.
John Graham, Category Manager of the Empire Trade Exchange
Commodore Cup series, echoed these sentiments as he reflected upon the
successful involvement of his category as a support class during the
running of the event earlier this year.
“The 2007 involvement of the Commodore Cup as a support category
for the revived WPS Bathurst 12 Hour was an enjoyable arrangement for
all involved and we are looking forward to returning again for next
year's festival,” said Graham.
While the Commodore Cup looks forward to its Festival return, it
will be the first time on the Mountain for the Australian Saloon Car
Championship – a goal which Category Manager Les Morrall has been
working towards for some time.
“As James (O’Brien) will tell you, I have been trying for many,
many years to get the Saloon Cars on the Bathurst track, and we are
absolutely rapt to be heading there for the WPS Bathurst Motor Festival
in 2008,” said Morrall.
“Judging by the initial interest expressed by our competitors, we
will front up in February with a fully subscribed field of 50 cars –
with 68 expression of interest forms already lodged!”
Also fielding high competitor interest is Ian Chivas, Category
Manager for the Formula VEE category which will also be looking to
field a grid in the 50s.
“The last time we raced at Bathurst was in 1999 with 55 cars and everyone had an absolutely fantastic time,” said Chavis.
“All of our competitors are very excited at the opportunity to be
involved in the WPS Bathurst Motor Festival – opportunities like this
do not come up very often and the category as a whole has jumped at the
chance as soon as it became an option.
“With competitors already planning to travel from all over the
country including Western Australia, Tasmania and even abroad from New
Zealand – I think we will have no trouble bringing a full grid of 55 to
the Mountain.”
Last but not least is another renowned marque of Australian motor
racing – with HQ Racing Australia set to pound the pavement come
February.
With cars that are relatively unchanged since the category’s racing
debut in 1988, the much loved Holden HQs will be sure to delight the
fans as they trade paint in Bathurst.
“Anyone involved in Motorsport knows an opportunity to get onto the
track at Bathurst is pretty special, and our guys are really keen,”
said HQ Racing Association of Australia National Administrator Dale
Youd.
“It will be the first time in about five years that we have been to
Mount Panorama, and it looks like we will be bringing a full field of
55 plus a few spares if the interest to date is anything to go by!”
The 2008 WPS Bathurst Motor Festival will be held at Mount
Panorama, Bathurst on February 8-10, incorporating the WPS Bathurst 12
Hour on Sunday February 10.
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