The Melton Motor Sports Club will run its inaugural Melbourne Challenge this weekend with more than 35 members locked in to take part in the three-discipline event.
 
Taking place at Bacchus Marsh Motorsport Park, the event will include motorkhana, autocross and rallysprint as the club aims to give inexperienced drivers an opportunity experience multiple types of grassroots motorsport.
 
In what will be a busy weekend for club and competitors, the motorkhana is the first event to run with participants to get a minimum of three runs across four tests.
 
Also taking place on the Saturday will be the most popular event of the three, the autocross, where competitors will get a minimum of three runs on the club’s new autocross course.
 
On Sunday, a large portion of the 35 autocross participants will get a run at the brand new four and half kilometre course with the format to see them complete three runs in both directions.
 
Unfortunately, the event fell short of its estimated 60 competitors, however with the recent restrictions making life difficult for the club, event secretary Peter Sweeney was happy to welcome a large field.
 
“While we certainly wanted more numbers, I think there were a few reasons as to why we only got half – the most telling being that when we initially organised the event three months ago, we had no idea if we would be able to do it,” Sweeney said.
 
“I think another factor to less people entering was that the event was in its infancy and people didn’t really know what it was about, so we’re hopeful that this weekend goes well, and we can showcase the event properly.
 
“A lot of hard work has gone into putting it on this weekend and we’re really pleased to be in a position where we have the new rallysprint track and the autocross track.
 
“For us, the rallysprint track takes about seven minutes to complete and Sunday’s action will be run as if it was a rally with each entry to include a driver and co-driver. While an experienced rally driver should tackle it with ease, it’s the perfect course for a rookie.
 
“Basically, our aim is to encourage people to look at transitioning into a rally. The logical pathway would be to go from motorkhanas to autocrosses and then to rallysprints, which give someone all the preparation they need to run in a rally.
 
“We’re really looking forward to this weekend and as long as the weather stays friendly, I think it should be a fantastic weekend.”
 
The action gets underway from 9am AEDT on Saturday and 10am AEDT on Sunday with spectators allowed to attend for free.
 
Click here for more information.
 
The Melton Motor Sports Club’s Melbourne Challenge takes place at Bacchus Marsh Motorsport Park on 20-21 November.