After just a week of opening entries, the MG Car Club of Newcastle has already received more than 70 entries for next month’s Motorsport Australia Hill Climb Championship.
 
With the club hosting the National Speed and Auto Test Championship event for the first time since 2014, 77 competitors have already registered their place for the event at Ringwood Park.
 
And club representatives are expecting that number to grow even further over the next month with 113 competitors having taken part in the club’s last running of the national hill climb nine years ago.
 
Not only has there been huge interest from competitors all over the country, but the quality of the field entered will make this one of the most highly anticipated national hill climbs in recent years.
 
Some of the notable names already entered include Dean Tighe, David Mahon, Greg Ackland, Dean Amos, Brett Bull, Alan Foley and Warwick Hutchinson – all of whom are likely contenders for the title. 


Outside of the Formula Libre class, there are many tin top cars from a variety of classes to add to the spectacle, including Wayne Penrose, Riley MacQueen and David Hussey.
 
Clerk of Course David Atkins was thrilled with the large interest already shown in the event.
 
“It’s fantastic to see so many people entered already, with a good spread of competitors from Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and of course, David Mahon from SA,” Atkins said.
 
“Our acceptance criteria for an event like this is usually favours people who run regularly in state level events; however, we still accept people with little experience, it just depends on where the overall number is at.  
 
“So, I encourage people of all levels to get in quite quickly so they don’t miss out, and at this stage, I am confident we will reach 110 people as there is still plenty of time to go and we had more in 2014.


 
“To have a huge number already entered so early, including a handful of state and national champions, makes it a very promotable event and we are really looking forward to it.”
 
As for the event itself, the club have opted to use the 720 metre A2 format, incorporating eight corners and one straight, with a minimum of seven runs awaiting competitors across the two days of official competition.
 
Interested competitors can enter via the Motorsport Australia Member Portal and have until 12 October to enter the event. 
 
The Motorsport Australia Hill Climb Championship takes place at Ringwood Park in Newcastle on 26 – 29 October.