Coalition promises new major Festival of Motorsport for Phillip Island
The Coalition has pledged to support a Phillip Island Festival of Motorsport from 2027 running from March 12 to March 14 with a long-term plan to extend the celebrations to a ten-day event.
COINCIDING with Labor’s announcement of a five-year deal to bring back the Supercars to Phillip Island the Coalition has pledged to support a Phillip Island Festival of Motorsport from 2027.
The proposed Festival of Motorsport would be a three-day event running from March 12 to March 14 with a long-term plan to extend the celebrations into a ten-day event.
Touted as Australia's answer to world-renowned motorsport events like the United Kingdom’s Goodwood Revival, and California's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, the Phillip Island festival has been described as a homegrown festival to showcase the Island’s rich racing heritage.
Festivities will include classic cars, historic track racing, and club car displays. A marquee motorcade will depart Melbourne on Saturday, March 13 pausing at San Remo for a community Show and Shine event, before finishing at the Phillip Island circuit.
“We’re getting behind a locally put together event,” said Rochelle Halstead, Liberal Candidate for Bass.
“This is what the community needs to support ongoing economic investment.”
Shadow Minister for Major Events and Tourism, David Southwick, emphasised the Coalition’s long-term vision to drive tourism to the region. “We haven’t stopped the fight to try and get the MotoGP back, but what we can guarantee is homegrown events are here to stay,” Southwick promised.
“Whether it be classic cars that have been running for 30 years or vintage cars having a fantastic drive to the Island, that’s what we will do in this new event.”
Southwick contrasted the initiative with the state government's Supercars announcement at Federation Square, stating, “It all starts with home-grown events.”
Bass had "lost its mojo over the years," said Southwick.
Addressing the notorious traffic delays on Phillip Island Road and the San Remo bridge during peak periods Southwick acknowledged the frustration of being stuck for hours at the Island's single entry and exit point.
Southwick committed to ensuring that Bass Coast and Phillip Island receive their fair share of major infrastructure funding to alleviate these pressure points.
The initiative expands the Phillip Island Classic, an event that has attracted international and national crowds for over 35 years. Michael Herlihy, Vice-President of the Victorian Historic Racing Register, called the expansion from a race meeting to a massive festival as wonderful for both motoring enthusiasts and the community.
Supported by the Association of Motoring Clubs and local businesses like the San Remo Fisherman's Co-Op, the festival will feature a massive Show and Shine in San Remo, signalling what local leaders call the start of bigger things to come.
Rosa Scarlato, co-owner of the iconic Pino’s Trattoria in Cowes, shared her support for the Festival of Motorsport following the loss of the MotoGP. “It’s a good thing,” she said.
“It’s an international event, a local food event, fantastic,” although Scarlato added that she would like to see the MotoGP and Superbikes back.
