The first car race meeting to be held at Calder Park Raceway in 15 years is the highlight of the 2023 VMRC (Victorian Motor Racing Championship) calendar, which was announced today.
The VMRC is a series run and promoted by the Benalla Auto Club and sanctioned by the Australian Auto-Sport Alliance (AASA), that caters for various Victorian motorsport categories.
Throughout the 2000s, the VMRC held rounds at both Winton and Calder Park, and in fact the last car racing event to be held at Calder was a round of the VMRC in June, 2008.
Benalla Auto Club General Manager Stephen Whyte said it is exciting for the BAC to host the return of racing at Calder Park.
“Calder Park’s last circuit racing chapter closed with a VMRC round, so it’s fitting that a VMRC round will open the next chapter,” Whyte said.
“There has always been an historical connection between Calder Park Raceway and the Benalla Auto Club and that’s why this is such a great announcement.
“As a sanctioning body, the AASA prides itself on making the process of going motor-racing accessible to as many people as possible, and we recognise the importance of permanent motorsport facilities, so the recommencement of Circuit racing at Calder Park is a landmark occasion for the Victorian motor racing community.”
In addition to the Calder Park race meeting, the VMRC will consist of four events at Winton Motor Raceway, from April through to November. Two of these race meetings (July and September) will encompass rounds of the Australian Super Truck Championship, and there will be a mixture of races on the Club and National circuits.
Other categories set to run at VMRC rounds throughout 2023 include Super TT, Legend Cars, 2 Litre Sports Sedans/Victorian Pulsar Racing Series, Hyundai Excel Racing Victoria, Victorian Formula Racing Series and Miniature Race Cars.
“After a couple of COVID-affected seasons, we were able to restart the VMRC in 2022 with a strong response from categories and competitor groups, and we’re excited to carry the momentum into 2023,” Whyte concluded.
2023 VMRC Calendar
Round 1. 29-30 April, Winton Raceway
Round 2. 15-16 July, Winton Raceway
Round 3. 12-13 August, Calder Park Raceway
Round 4. 16-17 September, Winton Raceway
Round 5. 18-19 November, Winton Raceway
