Big Banger Tourers For Historic Sandown Challenge

SYDNEY – October 13, 2010: A number of the potent Group C and Group A Touring Cars that wowed fans in the 19770s and 1980s will go head to head in a unique feature race at the VHRR’s Historic Sandown from 5-7 November.

The CoolDrive Challenge to be held over 15 laps of the 3.1km circuit with a compulsory pit stop for all competitors between laps 5 and 10 for a ‘sash’ to be added to each car.

Speed in pit lane will be capped at 60km/h for the exercise and cars that fail to finish with their new sash will be excluded from the results.

With entries still open, the field for the Challenge is already looking like a time warp from the ‘golden’ and ‘International’ eras of Australian Touring Car racing from 1972 until 1992.

Group C cars entered to date include six L34 and A9X Toranas, five Commodores, an XD and an XC Falcon, and various Ford Escort, Capri, Alfa Romeo and Nissan models.

The Group A cars include a brace of V12 Jaguar XJS coupes, two VL Walkinshaw Holdens, two BMWs, a Nissan Skyline HR31, a Volvo 240T and a Ford Sierra Cosworth.

The CoolDrive Challenge will be supported on the 35-race Historic Sandown program by near capacity fields of Pre-1965 Group Nb and pre-1973 Group Nc touring cars, with a total of 72 cars already entered.

The Group Nb line-up currently includes four Mustangs, three Mk2 Jaguars, six Holdens, eight Lotus Cortina and GT Cortina models, an Alfa Romeo Guilia GT, nine Mini Cooper S models and two Hillman Imps.

Group Nc cars include eight Mustangs, seven Toranas, four Valiant Chargers, three Falcon GTs, two Chevrolet Camaros, two Monaros, plus numerous Porsches, BMWs, Capris and Alfas.

The expected 400 competitors at this year’s Historic Sandown will be amongst the first to benefit from major upgrades to the circuit’s Paddock area, where the apron behind the pit garages has been extended to a width of 14 metres, while other areas have been resurfaced in preparation for the erection of a new 30-bay steel garage block.

As in previous years Paddock entry remains free to patrons. General admission prices have also been capped at 2009 levels, with adult tickets for Saturday costing $25, Sunday $35 and a weekend ticket $50. Children under 15 accompanied by an adult are admitted free.

The 2010 Historic Sandown is again supported by Shannons, CoolDrive and Penrite.