News Richard Craill September 1, 2021 (Comments off) (1123)

Lowndes gets competitive F1 shot at The Bend Classic

AUSTRALIAN racing legend Craig Lowndes will headline The Bend Classic this weekend. 

The seven-time Bathurst winner will compete for outright honours driving the Dallara F189 Cosworth Formula 1 car that won the event last year and currently holds The Bend’s West circuit lap record.  

A record 140-plus cars are entered for the event this weekend, Lowndes heading a 90-strong competitive field tackling the two-day Supersprint competition this weekend, while a further 50 cars will compete in the inaugural The Bend Classic Autotest challenge.  

Lowndes, who this year is competing in the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Championship, said he was looking forward to jumping back into a ‘wings and slicks’ open wheel racer.  

“I’m really looking forward to it, with everything going on it’s difficult to do anything at the moment so it’s great that The Bend is putting on a weekend like this – and obviously to have the opportunity to drive a Formula one car!” Lowndes said.  

“It’s a great opportunity and a fantastic honor to drive the cars I grew up watching at the Adelaide Grand Prix back in the day, and to drive them at a circuit like The Bend is even better.  

“It’s a great circuit, purpose built and to hear what they have planned for the future and the ongoing development is very exciting. I can’t wait go get down there and get in the car.”  

The Bend Motorsport Park Managing Director Sam Shahin said Lowndes’ addition to the event was validation of the growing Classic festival.  

“Craig is a fantastic ambassador for motorsport and we are ecstatic that the stars have aligned so he can attend this year,” he said.  

“His enthusiasm for the event and the circuit are welcomed and he will be a great addition to a wonderful weekend of motorsport.  

“He’s also only one of the few people I would trust to drive my car and bring it back in one piece!   

“It is our ambition to grow The Bend Classic into one of the world’s premier motorsport festivals of its type. Even though the last two years have hindered us from welcoming interstate or international competitors and their vehicles to The Bend, the response from South Australian competitors has been nothing short of magnificent.  

“South Australian fans are in for a spectacular weekend and we are so inspired and thankful with the response from local competitors, car owners and enthusiasts who are supporting this event in record numbers.”  

More than a century of motoring and motorsport heritage will be on show this weekend with the oldest entrant a 1919 Dodge Special driven by Stuart Brown, that closely followed by a 1924 Mercedes Targa Florio entered by Graham McDonagh.  

At the other end of the spectrum, cars a full century younger include Sebastien Amadio’s S5000 and Ben Runciman’s 2019 Lamborghini Huracan SuperTrofeo.  

In between sit a spectacular array of cars across six categories, including Sports Sedans, Touring Cars, GT3 machinery and rapid open-wheelers across the eras.  

The 2021 Classic will see the public debut of two new additions to The Bend’s own fleet, namely a Judd V10-powered Benneton B198, raced in period by multiple Grand Prix winner Giancarlo Fisichella.  

A Dallara Formula Renault 3.5 V8 will also be demonstrated for the first time; Powered by a 3.5-litre V8, Formula Renault 3.5 cars were at their peak just as fast – if not quicker – than equivalent GP2 machinery at the time.  

A host of top drivers, including current Ferrari F1 star Carlos Sainz jr, competed in the category on their pathway to the top of the sport.  

Bob Middleton will field his 1990s Whiteline Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo NASCAR, while the vintage group includes a stunning array of classics and historically significant vehicles dating back to the 1920s.  

The Bend Classic will be staged across two days this weekend (September 4-5) with tickets available from thebend.com.au at just $10.  

There will be a raft of on and off-track entertainment for fans of all ages, with more details available from thebend.com.au  

CLASSIC PRODUCTION
NumberFirst NameLast NameVehicle Make Vehicle ModelVehicle Year
5CraigStillmanHoldenEH1964
11BarryGreenanMazdaRX71982
15DavidWilsonHoldenCommodore VR1996
21NathanBeckMazdaRX71980
33PhilipCarterMGMGB Roadster1966
50MatthewCouttsPorsche550 Replica1955-1998
89DanBeckMazdaRX71983
91RonGuppyAlfa Romeo105 20001972
95BobMiddletonChevroletCamaro1969
128CliveSpreadburyAustin HealeySprite1963
139KerryGascoigneAlfa Romeo1750GTV1969
241RandallWarryFordXA1972
248DwayneLangHoldenMonaro2004
427PeterKrugerHoldenTribute 427 Monaro Cup Car2003
813ChristopherHuntMGF1998
FORMULA 1 & CLASSIC OPEN WHEEL
NumberFirst NameLast NameVehicle Make Vehicle ModelVehicle Year
4MatthewRoeslerTatuus Toyota TRSFT502015
5BenFitzsimonsRaltR41981
7YasserShahinDallaraT12 Formula Renault 3.52012
8Sam ShahinElfinMR81978
12Sam ShahinBenettonB198-21998
13CraigLowndesDallaraF189 Cosworth1989
25BenTaylorDallaraF3082008
301BrentonGriguolReynardF31985
30BrentonGriguolLola LarrousseLC881988
49SebAmadioRogers AF01/V8S50002018
53MatthewWoodlandTatuus Toyota TRSFT502015
69BrentonGriguolLolaT142/211969
93ChristopherSlusarskiTatuus Toyota TRSFT502015
HISTORC SPORTS SEDANS
NumberFirst NameLast NameVehicle Make Vehicle ModelVehicle Year
05LarryKavanaghHoldenCommodore1980
5MartinReynoldsHoldenCommodore1987
13GrahamShiellHoldenGTR XU1 Torana1969
17NathanMillsDatsun12001973
26MatthewRichardsHoldenCommodore1988
37CharlieCarterFordAnglia1963
38JasonWayeHoldenCommodore1983
78NeilMartinTriumphTR7 V81981
85BobMiddletonNascarMonte Carlo1995
89BruceCombeMazdaIMSA RX71985
94MarkHarrisDatsun1200 Sedan1970
179GrahamBoulterAustin A30A301954
189MarkHaigDatsun5101972
260ChrisBurnsDatsun260Z1976
MODERN SPORTS CARS
NumberFirst NameLast NameVehicle Make Vehicle ModelVehicle Year
2TimCookWolfThunder2018
5MarkRutgersHSVW4272008
6FrankVounasisMitsubishiEvo 92005
9DanielRutgersElfinMS8 Streamliner2006
15KeithWongPorsche997 Cup2011
17MarkRosserAudiR8 GT32011
18BenCheneyWestWX102012
19IanEldridgeStohrWF12013
20MarkRundleMitsubishiEvo 8RS2003
25DanDaySubaruSTI2014
43BenjaminRuncimanLamborghiniSuper Trofeo Evo2019
46ToddCarruthersSubaruWRX STI2004
58AndrewCarvossoMazdaFD RX71998
66John-PaulDrakeWolfF1 Mistral2020
71KevinWeeksFord GT40GT402010
88PaulRussoFerrari458 Challenge2012
94AndrewEaseRoaring FortiesGT402006
185AngusMitchellSpeadsRS092009
600RobAtkinsHoldenCommodore2000
777ChrisJeismanMitsubishiEvolution VII2001
OPEN SPORTS & RACING
NumberFirst NameLast NameVehicle Make Vehicle ModelVehicle Year
9RossAllenLegendAussie1970
13DanielSmithWrenFa1971
29DavidSmokerBrabhamBT291970
39JimDoigMotorlab ASP3401972
42GrahamUmlaufPanther23B2011
61GrantPerrymanLolaT1401968
80DavidBendaLolaT5901980
97AlastairDowPumaClubman1998
198SeanRowlandsSR DevelopmentsShelby Cobra Replica1987
910RodHammondClubmanPuma2016
VINTAGE
NumberFirst NameLast NameVehicle Make Vehicle ModelVehicle Year
5PatMillerIndy Car19341934
10GrahamMcDonaghMercedesTarga Florio1924
13WolfSemlerAustin 7Special1929
16DavidSmokerCooperT531960
23LindsayHickMGTC Special1949
30JamesRedwoodSingerSpecial1954
34PeterCundyMGNA1934
44PaulRichardsASPClubman 340A1973
57BarryBatesThompsonSpecial1962
61GrantPerrymanCooperT511959
66SamerShahinElfin/CooperAustin1957
68DavinUmlaufToyotaToyota special1968
71KentPatrickBugattiType 37A1928
91StuartBrownDodgeRace Special1919
99DanielRutgersAvantiFormula Vee1981
162GerardMillerPlymouthSpecial1938
CLASSIC AUTOTEST CHALLENGE
First NameLast NameVehicle Make Vehicle ModelVehicle YearVehicle Colour
KristianAppeltSubaruLiberty2006Silver
TaiAppeltSubaruLiberty2004Silver
JamesBillsSubaruLegacy GTB1998White
WayneCaseyMazdaMX51989Red
SethCoultasSubaruSTI2000White
AdrianCzyzewskiHyundaiExcel1999Yellow
NickDatsopoulosToyotaSupra1995Blue
AdamDeBiasiNissan180SX1994Black
RayDickerMazdaMX51997Gold
GarryDoddSubaruBRZ2014Grey
TylerEdwardsMGZR2005Grey
JasonEdwardsMGTD1952Ivory
GraemeFentonNissan180SX1993Black
NickGallifordNissanSkyline R331995White
MatthewGoldMiniCooper S2007White
GavinGoldSpecialGold1984Silver
MatthewHoltNissanS151999Silver
TysonJeanesMGTD1952Cream
PaulJohnsonSubaruLiberty RS1992Charcoal
JordanJohnstonHyundaiExcel1999Yellow
LucasKleissToyotaCorolla1988White
DamianKleissToyotaCorolla1988White
SpiroKoulianosSubaruImpreza WRX2000Blue
JessicaMichelmoreFordFalcon2000Blue/White Glenn Seton Supercar Livery
CraigMichelmoreFordFalcon2000Blue/White Glenn Seton Supercar Livery
RoyMichieCheapB.O.S.S.2018Grey
KymMillerPeugeot3072003Blue
GrahamModraToyotaCorolla1992White/Red
StephenOrmondBMWR53 Mini2002Black
JakeOtto-WilliamsBMW323ci2000Silver
BriohnyPittsHyundaiExcel1997Green
MarkPooleToyotaSoarer1984Red
DamianReedNissanS131990Red
RobSkinnerSpecialGold1984Silver
LachlanSmithFordFiesta2008Red
WallaceStewartMorrisMinor Ute1957Red
SteveTurnerMorrisMini1963White
HarrisonWallisMiniCooper S2002Silver
EdwardWallisMiniCooper S2002Silver
TonyWallisMiniCooper S2002Silver
AlexisWattRenaultClio2002Red
JoshuaWhitbreadMazdaMX51994Red
DavidWhitesideCheapB.O.S.S.2018Grey
CraigWilliamsMINIGP2020Grey/ Silver
PhilWilsonToyotaSoarer1989White
DamienWilsonNissanS13 Silvia1991White

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