The last state round event for 2019 takes place this weekend with Tasmania’s hill climb cup to wrap up the year with its fifth round.

 

Taking place in Highclere, around 35 entries are scheduled to compete in the event, which is also hosting the standalone BJR Tasmanian Hillclimb Championship.

 

Seeing off what has been a busy year for the North West Car Club, the event has attracted some huge local names to compete with seven-time Targa Tasmania winner Jason White headlining the entry list.

 

Fresh off his Targa High Country victory in November, White will be behind the wheel of the modified Subaru WRX Molly Taylor drove during this year’s CAMS Australian Rally Championship (ARC).

 

With Orange Motorsport owner Craig Brooks and local tarmac rally star Eddie Maguire also entered in the event, Clerk of Course Stephen Peters was excited for what was to come.

 

“I’m really looking forward to this weekend and we’re thrilled to have some local stars entered,” Peters said.

 

“For the one-off championship round, we have a different list of names competing, mainly drivers who have come out of the woodwork and not competed in this year’s five round cup, the highlight certainly being Jason White.

 

“Having Jason, Craig and Eddie part of the event is fantastic. Following the ARC’s unfortunate premature ending this year, the Orange Motorsport pulled apart Molly Taylor’s car and made a bunch of changes to it to make it suitable for a hill climb.

 

“This includes a completely new engine, so both Craig and Jason will definitely be having a crack at the outright record this weekend.”

 

Throughout the event, the trio and the 32 other competitors will have seven runs at the course, which has been running consistently since opening in 1975, making it one of the oldest continually run hill climbs in Australia.

 

Lasting just over one kilometre, the course features a range of different corners, making it a popular yet challenging track.

 

Peters, who is a major part of the event’s organising club, was confident the hill climb would bring a positive end to what has been a big year for the North West Car Club.

 

“As a club, we have been very successful with our growth in the junior development area and the diversity we have offered to our members,” Peters said.

 

“Since the purchase of a new block of land, we have been running motorkhanas and driver education sessions, as well as rallies, rally sprints and hill climbs. Our success stems from our members and this hill climb is a great way to finish the year.

 

“We’re really excited for this weekend and a big thanks needs to go out to the major sponsor in BJR engineering supplies, as well as all the officials and volunteers who are helping put this event together.

 

“We obviously couldn’t do these events without them.”

 

The BJR Tasmanian Hillclimb Championship takes place in Highclere on 14 December.