The Historic Sports and Racing Car Association of New South Wales will present the 2016 Tasman Trophy at Sydney Motorsport Park this 19th and 20th of November, joined by a magnificent collection of historic Formula Juniors.
This year’s event will build upon the Tasman format, celebrating that golden era of motorsport and the marvellous machines that powered it, pre-dated it and evolved from the lessons it taught.
In 2016 we’re very pleased to welcome a large contingent of significant international cars to the Tasman Trophy. Sydney Motorsport Park is one of Australia’s classic circuits, making its name hosting the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix and Australian Touring Car Championship in the early ‘90s. We’re looking forward to sharing both it and beautiful late-Spring Sydney with drivers from around the world.
We’ll be celebrating the Formula Junior Diamond Jubilee during the Tasman Trophy this year and are proud to host a round of The Tasman Tour 2016, including the Formula Junior Diamond Jubilee World Tour.
The response of Formula Junior drivers has been brilliant and at this stage our Formula Junior grid is close to max capacity at just shy of 40 drivers. Highlights are plentiful throughout the field.
From across the Tasman comes the ex-Chris Atkinson Lotus 20/22 FJ 1961 of Phil Foulkes. John Rapley, ex-power boat racer, joins him and will be racing a Brabham BT2 that he bought and rebuilt back in 1987. The car was driven by Frančević, John Weston and Graeme McRae in its day, and Rapley believes it to be the prototype for the BT6 that he also rebuilt and maintains.
Looking further afield J. R. Mitchell has entered, shipping them all the way from the ‘States’, a gorgeous Lotus 18 along with a second ’59 18 to be driven by Nick Grewal. Doug Elcomb comes from even further north, bringing a Dreossi Special 1961 from Canada.
Duncan Rabagliati has shipped the Alexis HF1, HF101, named for Bill Harris and Alex Francis from the United Kingdom. Rabagliati’s raced the car for two decades after it originally raced at Oulton Park in period, before spending some time in the US and returning to the UK.
From Australia, Mike Rowe will pilot the Roger Ealand-restored and raced Koala FJ 1963, a particularly lovely and special Australian car. Another Antipodean car sure to catch your eye is the beautiful ‘59 Stanguellini Formula Junior of Norm Falkiner. Norm has developed a great history with the car since bringing it into Australia, and will be bringing it up from Melbourne for the event.
These join a spectacular entry of historic sports and racing cars representing six decades of motorsport history.
With a packed weekend of exciting races planned and the HSRCA’s traditionally friendly and relaxed pits and paddock to explore, the 2016 Tasman Trophy is set to be another great entry in Australia’s motorsport calendar. Be there this November 19th and 20th.
For more information stay tuned to www.hsrca.com and facebook.com/hsrca.