South Australia’s annual extravaganza of motorsport, mouth-watering machinery and high-powered partying, the Classic Adelaide international tarmac rally, will return for its 13th year next month with a host of exciting new attractions.
Two famous names from the motor racing world, Glenn Seton and Englishman Win Percy, will drive in the 18-22 November rally for the first time on a course that includes two new Special Stages, new morning tea and lunch-stop locations, a Saturday night street party and a new venue for the colourful ceremonial finish.
A new competition category, Modern Competition, will allow entry by the latest high- performance cars on the Australian market, while older cars will compete in the final round of the inaugural Australia Classic Tarmac Championship.
A significantly-revised route over 33 Special Stages on closed public roads will take the field of more than 200 cars to the Adelaide Hills, Strathalbyn, Mount Barker, Coromandel, Yankalilla, Macclesfield, Gorge Road, Mount Lofty, Echunga, Paris Creek and many other points on four daily loops within easy driving distance of event headquarters at the Hilton Adelaide in the city’s Victoria Square.
Under Clerk of Course Ivar Stanelis, some stages have been extended, others will be run in reverse and two new sections in the Adelaide Hills have been added, Castambul (24 kms) on Thursday and Teringie (10.2 kms) on Saturday.
Social attractions for spectators and competitors will include morning tea stops at Balhannah Oval on Saturday and Mount Barker Green on Sunday, lunch at Goolwa on Friday replacing the traditional Victor Harbor stop, the regular Gouger Street Friday night party and a new outdoor display and dining venue, the Norwood Parade Street Party, on Saturday night.
The ceremonial finish on Sunday afternoon will move to the Hyde Park section of King William Road, near the city’s popular restaurant and shopping strip.
Details of the 2009 event were announced today during the official launch at Adelaide’s heritage-listed Torrens Parade Ground by SA Deputy Premier Kevin Foley and David Edwards, Director of rally organiser Silverstone Events.
The event, which starts with a prologue on the Climb to the Eagle on the Hill and then runs over four daily loops throughout the Adelaide region, is expected to attract more than 200 classic and performance cars and their crews from around Australia and overseas.
Supported by the South Australian Government and the South Australia Tourism Commission, Classic Adelaide brings valuable direct economic benefits plus significant media exposure to the region’s many attractions.
Mr Foley announced that Glenn Seton, the 1993 and 1997 Australian Touring Car Champion, will reunite with Nissan to drive the company’s latest 370Z sports car in Classic Adelaide.
Seton founded his reputation as one of Australia’s best touring car drivers while a member of the official Nissan team between 1984 and 1988.
Now retired from regular motor racing championships, this will be the 44-year-old’s first entry in a tarmac rally.
His 245 kiloWatt Coupe, which will be joined by two identical models for guest drivers, promises to be a formidable challenger in a field representing many famous makes including Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Jaguar.
Mr Edwards announced that 1990 Bathurst 1000 winner Win Percy will contest the rally in the latest Jaguar XF sedan – and it will be the first diesel-powered to enter.
“We’re thrilled to be welcoming Win Percy, one of the most popular British drivers ever to compete in Australia, as an entrant in Classic Adelaide,” Mr Edwards said.
“He’s a great crowd-pleaser and will be out to prove with his Jaguar that sophisticated diesel cars have a place in modern motorsport.
“We also expect to be able to announce a third entry supported by a European manufacturer in the near future. I’m delighted to see manufacturers taking advantage of the wonderful opportunity Classic Adelaide provides to showcase the latest performance vehicles.”
Regulars being welcomed back to Classic Adelaide include Le Mans winner Vern Schuppan, who joins Formula 1 World Champion Sir Jack Brabham as Event Patron, and Ambassador Jim Richards.
“The 2009 Classic Adelaide has many new attractions that promise fresh appeal for competitors and the many thousands of spectators we welcome every year,” said Mr Edwards, who also announced Variety SA, the children’s charity, will be the event’s official charity.
“There is nothing else in Australia like Classic Adelaide – and some competitors say nothing like it elsewhere in the world – and this one is shaping up as the best yet.”
