The Queensland country town of Leyburn will turn into a motorsport hub this weekend as the one-time home of the Australian Grand Prix celebrates 75 years since its running in 1949.
 
Taking place at the wartime Leyburn Airfield, 240 historic and classic cars will compete in sprints around the 1000m bitumen track across sessions on Saturday and Sunday as part of the now traditional Historic Leyburn Sprints.
 
The town of Leyburn marks a moment in history for the Australian Grand Prix, long before it found its enduring home at Albert Park in 1995, and even well before its 10-year run in Adelaide from 1985 to 1995.
 
The first 21 years of the Australian Grand Prix saw the race run at several locations across Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia – it’s longest stint being the first eight years held at Phillip Island.
 
Following a seven-year hiatus due to World War II, the race found make-shift homes across temporary converted airfield and street circuits around the country, with the opportunity for small communities to grab their slice of Formula One history.
 
The Queensland town of Lowood was the original choice for the 1949 running of the Australian Grand Prix, but last-minute opposition to the traditional Sunday time slot during church mass saw the race on the hunt for a new home once more.


 
Leyburn was the answer, the town’s 500-person population swelling to more than 30,000 when motorsport fans descended on the local community 200km west of Brisbane.
 
John Crouch took out the top honours in his Delahaye 135MS at the Leyburn Airfield over 35 laps of the seven-kilometre circuit
 
The 28th anniversary of the Historic Leyburn Sprints will treat spectators to a raft of on and off-track action, including a special display of 1949 Grand Prix cars and appearances from retired Australian stars Warwick Brown and Bruce Allison.
 
Touring car teammates Dick Johnson and John Bowe will also be in attendance this weekend in Queensland.
 
The 28th Historic Leyburn Sprints takes place at Macintyre Street, Leyburn from 17-18 August.

For more information on the event, visit the Historic Leyburn Sprints website.