The field for the inaugural Sports Racing Car Invitational is coming together nicely and the latest stunner confirmed for these high-speed demonstration sessions is Bruce Gowan’s newly restored Repco V8-powered Toyota Celica Sports Sedan. The car’s creator, John McCormack, will be on hand at Sydney Motorsport Park to chat about the unique beast; and the Jaguar XJS Sports Sedan of Mark Trenoweth, which will also hit the track.

The Sports Racing Car Invitational is a new on-track activity for 2016. It consists of a trio of 15-minute sessions – one Saturday and two Sunday – for glamour racing sportscars and historically significant Sports Sedans. The field will comprise muscular GT, Can-Am, Le Mans-style and Big Banger ‘sporties’.

We are hopeful frontrunners from the Kerrick Sports Sedan Series will also take part.

Heritage Hots Laps is being rested for 2016.

Here’s the SRCA line-up confirmed so far:

• Wall Racing’s HDT-built F5000-powered Torana Sports Sedan
• Wall Racing’s Supra Sports Sedan (formerly Bob Jane Monza)
• Bruce Gowan’s McCormack-built Toyota Celica Sports Sedan
• Mark Trenoweth’s ex-McCormack Jaguar XJS Sports Sedan
• Steve Webb’s Elfin 360 Repco V8-powered sportscar
• Andrew Kluver’s Budweiser Can-Am Lola (ex-Newman Racing)
• Andrew Kluver’s ex-Bruce Leer Milano GT2 sportscar
• Nigel Tait’s Matich SR4 Big Banger sportscar (1969 ASSC winner)

More sexy beasts (that’s cars, not drivers) to be confirmed. Organisers are still taking expressions of interest from owners of suitable vehicles with competition history – contact amceditorial@chevron.com.au

America’s Trans-Am TA2 formula is launching in Australia and the 2016 Muscle Car Masters will see the first TA2 cars hit the track. Three examples – a Ford Mustang, Dodge Challenger and Chev Camaro – will turn demonstration laps at the Masters for the class’s Sydney debut. Meantime, we have all fingers crossed that the eagerly anticipated first public appearance of the prototype FT5000 will occur at SMP on October 30. As AMC closed for press the 560bhp V8 open-wheeler was due to be fired up for the first time, ahead of initial testing. All going well, the prototype will hit the track to wow punters at the Masters!

Jim Richards will race the JPS Team BMW 635CSi he drove back in the Group C era in Heritage Touring Car races at the Masters. The BMW’s owner, New Zealander Pete Sturgeon, will reunite Jim and the sweet-sounding, newly restored black beauty. This will be something worth seeing… and hearing! In fact, we are expecting a big contingent of racing BMWs at Sydney Motorsport Park over October 29 and 30 given the marque’s 100th birthday.

Finnish rally ace Rauno Aaltonen and local legend Bob Holden will both attend the 2016 Muscle Car Masters to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the pair’s win in the 1966 Bathurst 500 in the mighty Mini Cooper S. Aaltonen will be in Australia for the Southern Cross Rally Festival and will visit Sydney Motorsport Park on main race day to watch his old team Holden compete in the Heritage Touring Car events.

Meantime, a special all-Mini race will be held on main raceday. The 50^th anniversary race will draw from the Group N Historic Touring Car ranks, meaning a busy weekend for ‘flying brick’ teams. Off the track, owners of Australian-built examples of the famous Cooper S are invited to display their cars in Pit Straight Car Club Corral.

 

 

With the 2016 Masters held in the same month Ford wraps up manufacturing in Australia, we’re keen to host a spread of fast factory Fords in our Featured Muscle Marques display and parade. Contact phil@ardc.com.au for more info. Meanwhile, Brock VL Group A owners will mark the 30^th anniversary of the red rocket’s launch and the 10th anniversary of Peter Brock’s passing. Holden enthusiasts will also love the 2016 A9X Torana Club Nationals’ show and shine.