The Phillip Island Auto Racing Club’s grand return to motorsport has been a roaring success with more than 200 drivers competing in the two-day event.
Taking place at the iconic Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit, there were four categories running throughout the weekend in what was a combination of the club’s Festival of Motorsport and November Supersprint.
Saturday’s order of events saw the Victorian Superkart Club and Hyundai Excels get multiple races each, interchanging with practice sessions for the Supersprint’s competitors.
There were plenty of close battles throughout both categories as Anthony Stevens won Superkarts’ first two races before Tim Clark and Matt Bass each shared a victory in the remaining outings.
While the Excels produced a similar standard of intense competition, it was Jay Hanson who was the standout performer with the teenager producing three wins from three races.
On Sunday, all 150 Supersprint competitors began their official competition, while the Porsche 944 Challenge got its chance to take centre stage with three races of its own.
Despite a smaller field than normal, the one-make category enjoyed a diverse set of results as John Kennedy picked up two wins from the opening races before Emanuel Mezzasalma took top honours in the final race of the weekend.
Wrapping up the Access 2020 was the final set of sessions for the Supersprint and it was Andrew Hall who ended the weekend with the fastest lap.
Behind the wheel of his Porsche 991 Cup Car, Hall was the only driver to break the one minute and 40 second barrier - his lightning quick lap in the day’s seventh session of 1:37.3032 proving enough to win the event.
In what was a weekend enjoyed by competitors, officials and the club itself, PIARC President Warren Reid was proud that the event could go ahead.
“It’s so good for motorsport to be happening at Phillip Island again. The competitors were so happy to be here and they were all compliant as well,” Reid said.
“Throughout this year, we have tried to get a meeting up and every time we have tried, we have had to cancel it. We kept trying to get it up so it is marvellous to be back here again.
“I would particularly like to thank Nick Scarcella for all his work. He has done a marvellous job in putting the event together. He has been with me along the way as we have gone through the up and downs of organising events and then cancelling them.
“Finally we got one through and it’s fantastic. Nick put so much effort into it. Great to see it come up for all of us.”
PIARC’s next major event is the highly anticipated Island Magic, which takes place at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit on 28-29 November.