March Access 2023
Press Release #1
PIARC ACCESS – March 4-5th Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.
The Phillip Island Auto Racing Club’s (PIARC) first race meeting for 2023 roars into life this weekend at the world-famous Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit. This year’s March edition of PIARC ACCESS will see a range of Australia’s top racing categories battling it out over the 4.45-kilometer track from Saturday to Sunday.
Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia Series.
Highlight of the event is the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia Series, returning to Phillip Island, following from concluding their 2022 season at PIARC’s Island Magic last November.
The series that has become one of Australia's top one-make categories in its own right.
It might be the junior category to Carrera Cup, but in 15 years of racing it's created its own records and legends as it plays a key role in showcasing the next generation of racing talent. The opening round of the 2023 series has every indicator of being a classic with a host of new names and faces joining the series - and it's likely to be one of the most competitive seasons yet with practice and qualifying on Saturday, three quickfire races on Sunday - including the Jim Richards Endurance Trophy opener - will see out Round 1.
At McElrea Racing, Perth teenager Caleb Sumich makes his debut alongside Tom McLennan, who spent summer racing open wheelers in New Zealand. Their arch-rivals at Sonic Motor Racing have also secured a quick trio, including Ronan Murphy - son of Bathurst legend, Greg - plus second-generation driver Marcus Flack and the returning Harrison Goodman. The Kiwi invasion has grown in strength too with Team Porsche New Zealand fielding a two-car team including Zac Stitchbury and Marco Giltrap. The pair carry famous Kiwi racing surnames and come with the full backing of Porsche's New Zealand branch and two-time Le Mans winner, Earl Bamber.
Brett Boulton won the Morris Pro-Am class for the first time last year after two prior attempts finished in runner-up positions. He'll have to battle a strong field in a bid to defend his crown against the likes of regular contender former champion, Sam Shahin. In Class B, Lachy Harburg was only supposed to make a one round cameo last year - one that resulted in a full-time campaign and an unexpected class title. He's back to try again this year.
NSW Suspersports.
The NSW Supersports series returns to Phillip Island. The fastest state-based circuit racing series in Australia is coming to the fastest racing circuit in Australia. Supersports cars comprise the prototype Le Mans style Sports cars and Sports racers, such as the ubiquitous Radical trio of the 1500cc four cylinder SR3, the eight cylinder SR8, and the four cylinder turbocharged SR10, or the Euro CN cars like the Juno SS, and the Wolf twins of Tornado/Mistral, or the central seater motorcycle engined Stohr WF1, and West twins of the WR1000/WX10's.
The low and sleek, aerodynamic Supersports cars feature, feather-light weight, bitumen sucking downforce, super-soft racing slicks, high specific power output and high-revving engines, combined with the latest technology racing car engineering.
For Round 1 of the 2023 Industrie Clothing New South Wales Supersports Championship at Phillip Island, many of the regular New South Wales drivers like Peter White in his First Neon Radial SR8, Simon Copping in his West WX10, Nick Kelly in his Industrie Clothing/Roler Radical SR8, Steve Roberts in his Austwide Freight Radical SR8, and Mark Brame, Stephen Champion, Jonathon Canavan, Paul Braico, Warwick Morris, and Paul Royal, all in their Radical SR3’s, will travel the 1000 km from Sydney to Phillip Island, all deadly serious in their intentions to get off to the perfect start in the 2023 championship In addition, Justin Tigani is making his track debut in his Supersports, while Victorian Michelin Porsche driver Terence Knowles, will be there with his Radical.
Victorian Sportscar Championship.
The newly formed Victorian Sportscar Series, a proudly independent series, has been created to enable those who own and love to race sports cars, to do so within a culture that could be best described as competitive comradery. It’s expected that the outright championship will continue on from last year’s state series with Jamie Lovett, Andy Hall and Michael Kokkinos fighting for outright wins. The club championship is wide open and could come from any of the classes in the series this year, with a field of exotics marques such as Porsche, Audi, Nissan and Ford entered for the event.
BMW E30 Racing.
BMW E30’s, also starting their club series where they finished with PIARC last December with the 1st round of the Garagistic BMW Drivers Cup.
Two-time Champion Alex Jory will be keen to score a hat-trick but will be under more pressure than ever in 2023, Jory will have to contend with a rejuvenated Brian Bourke, while Jesse Bryan put the grid on notice in 2022. Meanwhile, last year's final round gave us a hint of what is to come from young newcomer Royce Lyne, who dazzled on debut and will doubtless be challenging for silverware throughout the season.
The revamped Red Rocket Racing machine of Simon Shiff will be aiming for podiums, along with 2022 newcomer Goose Rogers - both drivers impressed last year. Like Geoff Bowles, they will hope to take advantage of any slip-ups from the frontrunners.
Round 1 will also feature the return of Jess Bell, Rory Plant, Darryl O'Neill and Shannon Cooper who will be snapping at the heels of the front-running pack and building on their prior experience to reduce their lap times while battling hard in the midfield.
Newcomers for 2023 are Peter Knight, Adam Trapski and Seth Burchartz - what a way to start their careers, at one of the great racing circuits in the world.
Hyundai Excels.
Finally what event wouldn’t be complete without Hyundai Excels. Also starting the first round of the Hyundai Excel Racing Association of Victoria’s club championship this weekend.
We will see a large contingent of the ever-popular series on track with 2 grids for the Trophy and Masters classes and if last year’s Burson Island Magic Excel Enduro was anything to go by this could be one of the races of the ages. In the Trophy class it will be a battle of youth with last year’s Excel National’s winner Ethan Grigg-Gault returning for some unfinished business against the likes of Brad James, Toby Waghorn, Harry Tomkins, and back in an Excel, is current Trans-am, Super2 and 2022 Bathurst wildcard start Jaylyn Robotham.
In the Masters class – the over 40’s will be hotly contested with current club champion Glenn Mackenzie, taking on former champs Adam Bywater, Tim Rouse and others over their 3 races.
With PIARC Access events being closed to the public, live streaming will be provided both days by BlendlineTV with something for every race fan and providing access to motorsport that PIARC is renowned for.
Live streams will be available:
- Saturday: https://youtube.com/live/sZ6S8N3ie4s
- Sunday: https://youtube.com/live/J5M3YVzrJbU
President Nick Scarcella:
"PIARC is really looking forward to our first Access Event for 2023, building from the momentum of a fantastic 70th Anniversary Event and year following, the club has formed some great partnerships that will showcase great racing for competitors and members alike. Our Access Events are just that, giving classes and competitors access to race at one of the world’s greatest circuits."
For further event information and streaming information, follow the PIARC website and social media channels:
Website: piarc.com.au
Instagram: @phillipislandautoracingclub
Twitter: @PIARC
Facebook: Facebook.com/phillipislandautoracingclub