Motorsport: Legends of Bathurst at Hampton Downs

Some of these legendary cars will be on show at Hampton Downs. Photo / Supplied

Some of the biggest names in Bathurst history will feature in some iconic cars at the NZ Festival of Motor Racing at Hampton Downs in January.

The 4Guys Autobarn Legends of Bathurst festival on January 13-14 will see the likes of Jim Richards, John Bowe, Steven Richards, Greg Murphy and Paul Radisich compete at the North Waikato track in famous cars from yesteryear.

That group of drivers boasts a staggering 17 Bathurst race wins between them.

Hampton Downs has hosted the NZ Festival of Motor Racing the past two years with previous themes focusing on legendary drivers like Kenny Smith or Howden Ganley or famous marques like Porsche or Ferrari.

"It is our second year at Hampton Downs. The festival itself has been running since 2010," Hampton Downs business development manager Mike Marsden told The Herald.
"We are certainly staying with the classic them but we wanted to make it more appealing to a wider audience. That's where the Legends of Bathurst idea came up.

"It really broadens the appeal from our perspective. Kiwis really have an affinity with the great mountain and what's happened there over many decades.

"Our plan – and this could be just stage one – is we look at how we celebrate the various eras of cars and the stars that have raced there."

A stack of famous touring cars will be at Hampton Downs for the event. There are a host of BMW's, the 1986 championship-winning Volvo, a couple of Jaguar XJs's and a Ford Sierra.

The Richards family will have divided loyalties when it comes to the Historic Touring Car category, one of the feature events at the festival. Jim will drive the Peter Sturgeon-owned, ex-Frank Gardner Group C BMW 635 CSi while Steve will climb behind the wheel of an ex-Gianfranco Brancatelli/Johnny Cecotto BMW E30 M3, also owned by Sturgeon.

Sturgeon's BMW 635 in the iconic black and gold John Player Special livery is a well-travelled car and proved hugely popular at the Silverstone Classic in the UK earlier this year where it won the Stuart Graham 'Scarf and Goggles', the award for the most admired car at the Classic. It was the first time the car was displayed outside Australasia and both the car and Richards himself, were a huge hit with the appreciative Silverstone crowds.

"Every time Jim jumps in the car it's a pleasure to watch him and it's a pleasure to watch other people's reaction when they see him in the car," Sturgeon said. "He's such a great ambassador for our sport and you can see why he's called 'Gentlemen Jim'."

Aside from the Bathurst Revival category there will be a stack of Central Muscle cars in action from all around the country.