THE high-flying stars of Australia’s most spectacular motorsport series will return to the Lockyer Valley to fight out their national championship in the TJM Pro Locker Lockyer 300 on 25-27 October. The fifth and final round of the Australian Off Road Championship has attracted almost 45 top cars and crews from as far afield as the Northern Territory to tackle a total of 300 kilometres across challenging bush terrain around Mulgowie, 70 kms west of Brisbane.
The annual event promises an exciting weekend for spectators as competitors battle for the 2013 outright and class National and State championships. Pro Buggy drivers Hayden Bentley (South Australia) and Shannon Rentsch (Victoria) are expected to fight down to the last kilometre for the Australian title.
Competition begins with a prologue test over a seven-kilometre course on Saturday morning, 26 October. The prologue will determine starting order for the first of three 100 km sections, each comprising two laps of a loop course on private land. Section one will be on Saturday afternoon and the remainder on Sunday. Before competition starts at Mulgowie, the public will be able to see the cars upclose and meet the crews for free during a technical scrutineering session at Gatton Showgrounds from 5.30pm to 8.30pm on Friday night 25 October. While the session will be primarily to check that all entries comply with technical regulations, including safety, cars also will take to the showground’s speedway track to give the public a taste of their speed and agility during demonstration runs.
Battling dust, creek crossings, trees and other hazards, drivers will demonstrate skill as well as endurance on the TJM Pro Locker Lockyer 300.
“The TJM Pro Locker Lockyer 300 will certainly give spectators a thrilling experience, with exotic, fast, loud cars jumping and power-sliding in a way you won’t see anywhere else,” says event Clerk-of-Course Barry Neuendorff.
“Off road racing is also a family-friendly sport, so spectators will find themselves welcomed by competitors and officials and given every opportunity to enjoy their experience in a relaxed atmosphere without undue restrictions.”
“Ticket prices are inexpensive and to top it all off, the setting is the beautiful Lockyer Valley, an easy drive from Brisbane, the Gold and Sunshine Coasts, the Darling Downs and Brisbane Valley.
”We’re also delighted to be bringing the Australian Off Road Championship back to the Lockyer Valley, where the community, after enduring catastrophic floods in 2010-11 and 2012, has shown great character and resilience through its flourishing farming industry and warm welcome to visitors.”
Spectating on the Lockyer 300 will be available at two points on the course. The first will be adjacent to the event headquarters, start-finish line and competitors’ paddock, located opposite the Mulgowie Hotel, 10 kms south of Laidley. The second location will be at a remote point on the course, with free shuttle-bus transport from the headquarters area.
Adult tickets will cost $10 a day or $15 for the weekend – entry is free for children under 12 – and can be bought at the gate or pre-event through the event website www.lockyer300.com.au Further information is available at facebook.com/Lockyer300.
The TJM Pro Locker Lockyer 300 is supported through Tourism and Events Queensland’s Regional Development Program, as part of a growing calendar of events across the State, and by the Lockyer Valley Regional Council.
