ADELAIDE MOTORSPORT FESTIVAL 2023

WRITTED AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY HARRY WILLIAMS, HILLSIDE MEDIA

After a four-year hiatus, the widely popular Adelaide Motorsport Festival made its long-awaited comeback from March 25 to 26. Hillside Auto News had the pleasure of working with the team behind the Adelaide Motorsport Festival (AMF), where I had unprecedented access to everything in and around the event. Over three massive days, the AMF returned in the best way possible: with a larger and stronger format than in previous years, and never-seen-before hospitality with the likes of Zagame Automotive and Aston Martin offering VIP suites. Hillside Auto News was there every step of the way – so sit back, relax, and read our exclusive round-up of all the action on and off the track.

Friday Practice Day

A bright and sunny morning graced the Victoria Park Circuit in the Adelaide CBD, as cars rolled into the Adelaide Motorsport Festival for practice sessions. While the hum of engines cut through the usual peaceful parklands, the atmosphere was still rather tranquil - seemingly the calm before the storm when gates opened to the public on Saturday. The practice day allowed the Adelaide Motorsport Festival competitors to come to grips with the track, four years since this track layout was last used. Friday was a perfect opportunity for Hillside Auto News to get a sneak-peek of some of the incredible cars before their public appearances, while also meeting some of the talented drivers competing. The morning saw the Heritage Touring Cars, GT Style and Formula One warm up the tarmac. After mingling with the drivers and wandering amongst garages full of unbelievable cars, I took to one of the many grandstands available. Watching the McLaren category was exciting - but I was blown away by the skills shown with the Drift demonstrations. The hairpin saw modified drift-monsters tackling reverse entries and tandem sequences - and this was just the practice day. After the drift style lay down some rubber, historic Formula One cars from various eras emerged. Star driver Stefan Johansson found himself reunited with his Ferrari 156/85, which graced a section of the former Adelaide Grand Prix Circuit in a spectacular demonstration of sound, skill and lots of flames. Practice sessions all ran smoothly, with drivers all seemingly comfortable with the track layout.

Peak Hour of Power and East End Street Party

The 2023 Peak Hour of Power was a ludicrous example of why Adelaide is the motorsport capital of Australia. The East End is renowned for its world-class restaurants and dining precincts, while also being the district that hosted the historic Adelaide Grand Prix. Twenty-five hero cars of the Adelaide Motorsport Festival took to public streets, parading the layout of the Grand Prix Circuit before coming to a stop in front of The Stag Hotel for the East End Street Party. The atmosphere was truly like nothing I had ever experienced before - crowds lined the street in the masses, with a diverse mix of enthusiasts all jumping at the opportunity to get up close to AMF headliners such as iconic Formula One cars, exotic and rare vehicles. Attendees enjoyed the fun and vibrant atmosphere of the East End, further accentuated by a DJ and guest speakers on stage. Those wandering into the city for after-work gatherings were side-tracked by the cacophony of engines, with the crowd building up to tremendous qualities, all in preparation for the weekend of motorsport. There was truly something special about this night - I don't believe I will ever be able to forget it. Wandering amongst the cars, seeing the astonished expressions plastered on people's faces, the light slowly diminishing as the cars sat still, worshipped for their status. It was the sort of event some would hope to experience only once in their lifetime. As the night began, the mechanical symphonies of engineering excellence sprung into life. Exhaust notes echoed between buildings; and Formula One cars warmed up with bursts of flames. Excitement arose and crowds flocked to the sides of the road to watch the cars exit in the most spectacular way. In a green-light corridor formation, the cars filed out, continuing the route of the Grand Prix Circuit. While in a safe manner, the noise, sight and speed of the cars was an adrenaline rush. The feeling of standing on the roadside, with F1s roaring past is simply unexplainable. This was the craziest, most exciting and utterly mind-blowing night that Adelaide has seen in recent years, and I cannot wait to see this event evolve in the future.

Public Day One - Saturday

Gates opened bright and early to the public, with hundreds of ticketholders bustling into Day One of the Adelaide Motorsport Festival. Competition began with the Ferrari category taking to the circuit, featuring Modena's greatest V8 and V12 machines. Soft morning light highlighted the field of cars, creating an incredible atmosphere - the ultimate dream for those enthusiastic about motorsport. As the day went on, people continued to file through the entrance, with constant action over the course of the day. In the late morning, Aston Martin's latest hypercar, the Valhalla, made its South Australian unveiling. The spectacular flaked paint shone in the sunlight and was a crowd favourite. Taking a break from the racing, the Grand Marquee was the place to be. Guest speakers were interviewed by presenter Charlie Barlow, with insightful and interesting talks about races, such as the history behind Leyton House F1, the unveiling of the new Ronin FZED and a breakdown of Hayden Paddon's Electric Rally Hyundai Kona. It was great to see such effort behind the scenes all being validated, with such a successful event loved by many. Saturday's mixture of perfect weather, on-track action, and bustling atmosphere marked the comeback of the Adelaide Motorsport Festival as bigger and better than ever.

Public Day Two - Sunday

Sunday's weather couldn't be more of a contrast to the previous day. Overnight rain and chilly conditions resulted in challenging track conditions, requiring drivers to dust off the wet tyres. However, this didn't seem to deter punters from rushing through the gates early in the morning. Sunday was the headliner day of 2023, with star F1 driver Valtteri Bottas making a special appearance. The ten-time Formula One race winner arrived at the track, where he was introduced to one of his two rides for the day; the Alfa Romeo GTV Group A. Crowds swarmed, frenzied to get a glimpse of the Finnish driver. The Adelaide Motorsport Festival is unlike any event in the world - nowhere else would people have this opportunity to meet, greet and be around drivers of such status. In wet weather, Bottas took to the track, chasing down fellow Historic Touring Cars and demonstrating his skill behind the wheel of whatever he is thrown into. With a mere ten-minute briefing before hitting the track, he did superbly well to drive something that he is not at all familiar with. I had the opportunity to meet Bottas, and he was extremely enthusiastic about the event, saying that there was an "amazing atmosphere". After interviews with Mark Gallagher, signings and spending time in the Club Zagame suite, Valtteri took to the wheel of a V8 Supercar. With a damp track, he struggled to tame the V8, resulting in multiple instances of skidding and showboating. Supercar legend Craig Lowndes, who took to the track alongside Bottas, said the Formula 1 star “seemed to enjoy it”.

After two massive days of racing in Victoria Park, the Adelaide Motorsport Festival concluded. I could not be more amazed by the efforts put in by the team to hold such an incredible event – they staged a solid comeback that provides a great foundation for the event for years to come. It was an absolute privilege to be involved behind the scenes with the Adelaide Motorsport Festival team, and I cannot wait to work further in the future. Overall, the 2023 AMF was an excellent example of what Adelaide has to offer, displaying the deep motorsport heritage that the city is famous for while extending on this and highlighting the present and future of automotive endeavours. Here's to 2024!

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