Formula 1 machines return to Adelaide streets

A valuable collection of 1980’s spec Formula 1 cars are among a growing list of machinery for the Adelaide Motorsport Festival in October.

The Festival embraces both the Classic Adelaide Rally and the Victoria Park Sprint which will be based within the Clipsal 500 event parklands.

The Sprint, scheduled for October 17-18, has attracted a capacity field of 240 cars, seven of which are F1 cars from the 1980’s Adelaide Australian Grand Prix era.

Across 20 categories, the Sprint will also see 5-Litre Touring Cars, Heritage Touring cars, Group N and varying generations of Porsches.

Included among 15 Heritage Touring Cars is Jim Richards driving the Group C BMW 635 CSi (JPS livery) and the ex-Colin Bond/Allan Grice Group C Commodore and Grice/Win Percy Walkinshaw Commodore Group A.

The diverse field will see examples ranging from a 1927 Bugatti to Gerhard Berger’s 1987 Australian GP winning Ferrari.

Among the star grand prix machines is the 1985 JPS Lotus Renault that was harried to pole position for the inaugural Adelaide Australian F1 World Championship GP by Ayrton Senna.

The rally (run from October 16-17) field has attracted a Mk1 Group 4 Escort driven by double Le Mans class winner Ray Bellm and Tony Quinn’s Ford RS200 as well as an eclectic spread of other marques.

Taking in 15 closed road stages over two days, the rally includes a new 43km long stage named The Cape along the bottom of the Fleurieu Peninsula.

The competitive side of the rally is reserved for pre-1986 vehicles.

Other F1 cars from the Adelaide grand prix years is the Beatrice Lola which coaxed Alan Jones out of retirement in 1985 and the 1986 Benetton BMW turbo that was driven by Gerhard Berger and is regarded as one of the most powerful F1 machines ever built.

Ivan Capelli’s Leyton House March from 1989 will make an appearance along with the Ayrton Senna Camel Lotus from 1987.

In what will provide a rare spectacle, seven of the F1 cars will be permitted to drive through the city streets on October 16 under police escort to the Gouger street party.