WITH entries from every state in Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom and the USA, the Phillip Island Classic once again takes its place in the world of historic racing as an outstanding event attracting crowds of almost 30,000 over the three day event March 7- 9, 2025.
Attracting the large crowd at this family friendly event will be some cars not previously seen before in Australia and they will certainly not disappoint the expected bumper crowd.
The recently arrived spectacular 917-30 Porsche, one of the fastest cars of the 1970’s, will compete over the weekend in March. The Porsche 917 cars dominated the Can-Am series in 1973 and this 5374cc flat 12 cylinder, air cooled turbocharged 917-30 Chassis 005 will be one to watch.
Also racing will be the 1958 Mk1 Prototype Lola which raced at Goodwood in the TT, taking pole position in 1958. The wonderfully styled and nimble Lola owned by Mrs Susan Ahlers since 2013, is presented in its original polished aluminium body that has never been painted. This first ever Mk1 Lola was built by the famous British entrepreneur, engineer, founder and chief engineer of Lola cars, Eric Broadley. Eric is regarded as arguably the most influential automotive designer of the post-war period. The Lola will be driven at Phillip Island by Billy Bellinger, founder of UK based JB Sports Engineering, a driver of many years’ experience working on Morgans and historic sports and racing cars. A production Lola Mk1 was raced by Sam Dymond, Penrite at the 2024 Phillip Island Classic
Probably the most famous Morgan in the world, the 1962 Morgan Plus 4 – TOK 258 of Keith Ahlers, powered with a two litre Triumph TR4 engine raced and won its category in the 1962 Le Mans 24 hour race. It was the only Morgan entered in a field of 55 cars of which only 18 finished. This world famous Le Mans car will be driven for the first time at Phillip Island by Keith Ahlers, owner and widely experienced British race car driver who has also won the FIA Historic Sports Car Championship in 2016, 2017 and 2018 driving a Cooper Monaco King Cobra.
Keith owns and races a number of prestige historic race cars and believes in racing them and presenting widely them to the public wherever possible.
Engineer Billy Bellinger looks after, prepares and often races various classics including Keith Ahlers’ Cooper King Cobra, Morgan Plus 4 TOK 258, Morgan SLR and Moss Box Plus 8.
From the USA the Phillip Island Classic ‘Festival of Motorsport’ will feature the #00 Corvette Special AKA Old Yella V Sports and the 1971 Datsun 510 of Ernie and Elaine Nagamatsu. The Datsun 510 revolutionised sedan racing in America in the early 1970’s and the #00 Corvette was been produced as a tribute to the original 00 Corvette raced by legendary Dave MacDonald. Both will race at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit for the first time in Australia.
The event will also feature some of the finest 5 litre super cars with the likelihood of one the strongest fields in this category ever seen at Phillip Island in highly competitive racing.
Tickets for this major event will be available at the gate over the weekend and also online via the VHRR website www.vhrr.com.au - Phillip Island Event.
