The Australian Muscle Car Masters has confirmed its line-up of racing categories and demonstration sessions for 2016.
The 12th running of the nation’s most successful retro motorsport event, to be held on the new date of October 29-30, will see the return of five popular race categories plus a class making its Masters debut, the Kumho V8 Touring Car Series.
The returning categories are Heritage Touring Cars (Group C/A), Touring Car Masters, Australian Trans-Am, Historic Touring Cars (Group N) and Group S (production sports cars).
The Kumho V8 Touring Car Series is the unofficial third-tier of V8 Supercar racing, providing a chance for the Commodores and Falcons of previous seasons to continue their racing lives. Many teams run their cars in period liveries.
In addition, there are dedicated demonstration sessions for ‘Supercars’ from the Australian 5.0-litre Touring Car Association.
The 2016 Masters will also feature a new ‘Sports Racing Car Invitational’ demonstration session for historically-significant vehicles. Invited cars will come from the ranks of Sports Sedans, GT cars, plus Can-Am, Le Mans-style and Big Banger sportscars.
Heritage Hot Laps will be rested for 2016.
A special all-Mini race, for cars from the Group Nb ranks, will be held to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Morris Cooper S’s win in the 1966 Bathurst 500.
The ultra-popular Pit Straight Car Club Corral and Featured Muscle Marques display and parade will have twin focuses in 2016. Ford’s contribution to Australia’s performance heritage will be celebrated in the month the company winds up manufacturing in this country. Meanwhile, Brock Commodore owners will be encouraged to attend to mark the 10th anniversary of Peter Brock’s passing and 30 years since the launch of the VL Group A.
The Masters will also host the 2016 A9X Torana Club Nationals and a unique pitlane walk for spectators.
The Masters has been run at Sydney Motorsport Park (Eastern Creek) since 2005. The joint-venture partners, the Australian Racing Drivers’ Club Ltd and nextmedia Pty Ltd (publishers of Australian Muscle Car magazine), announced late last year that the 2016 event will move from its Father’s Day slot to the last weekend of October by popular demand.
The date change separates the Australian Muscle Car Masters from the venue’s round of the 2016 V8 Supercars championship as both meetings have been run in close proximity for the last three years, including twice on consecutive weekends. The move to late October was welcomed by competitors, officials and motorsport enthusiasts. The date change was especially popular with those previously unable to attend the retro racing event due to Father’s Day family commitments.
Main race day in 2016 will held on the exact same date of the first event, October 30, 2005.
Tickets are now on sale at musclecarmasters.com.au.
