Phillip Island Classic
March 14-15, 2026
Pics by Phil Wisewould
The Racer Industries / Cooldrive Historic Touring Cars rolled out for a fabulous weekend.
UNDER 2 LITRE – Qualifying
David Brown has claimed pole position for the Under 2 Litre Historic Touring Cars at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, emerging fastest in a competitive and tightly contested qualifying session.
Driving the Brown Davis Motorsport Datsun 1600 SSS, Brown delivered a standout lap of 1:55.531, setting the benchmark late in the session to secure top spot by just over half a second. His pace proved decisive in a field where the margins at the front were razor-thin.
Western Australia’s Cono Onofaro pushed hard to claim second in his Morris Cooper S, finishing just 0.56 seconds shy of pole after a consistent six-lap effort. Fellow West Australian Blake Watson ensured a strong showing for the Mini contingent, placing third in another Cooper S.
Adriano Dimauro slotted into fourth aboard the Alfa Romeo 2000, leading the chasing pack of larger-capacity under 2-litre machinery, while Paul Onofaro rounded out the top five to give Minicraft Motorsport two cars inside the first five positions.
The midfield proved just as competitive, with Richard Hill securing sixth ahead of Shaun Relf’s Volvo 142S. Victor Draper and Jim Schilling followed closely behind, while Geoffrey Hulbert completed the top ten after a busy session navigating traffic.
Further back, the field remained tightly packed, with less than two seconds covering a large portion of the grid. A mix of Datsuns, Minis, Cortinas, and Volvos ensured constant on-track action, with drivers jostling for clear track to set their best times.
With slipstreaming set to play a major role around Phillip Island’s fast layout, the grid is now perfectly poised for close racing. Brown may start from pole, but with multiple challengers within striking distance, the Under 2 Litre races are shaping up to be some of the most competitive of the weekend.
Race 1
Adriano Dimauro has taken victory in a fiercely contested opening race for the Under 2 Litre Historic Touring Cars at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, edging out a tightly packed front group in one of the closest finishes of the weekend.
Driving the Alfa Romeo 2000, Dimauro made the most of his pace and racecraft to secure the win, crossing the line in 15:11.887 after six hard-fought laps. His 1:55.195 fastest lap underlined his speed as he held off relentless pressure right to the chequered flag.
Pole-sitter David Brown pushed hard throughout the race in the Datsun 1600 SSS, finishing just over two seconds behind in second place. Brown remained within striking distance but was unable to find a way past the leading Alfa.
Close behind, Cono Onofaro completed the podium in his Morris Cooper S, making it a three-way battle at the front. The top three were separated by just a handful of seconds after an intense and closely fought race.
Paul Onofaro delivered a strong drive to fourth, ensuring both Minicraft Motorsport entries featured prominently, while Richard Hill brought his Cooper S home in fifth after a consistent performance.
Further back, Victor Draper led the next group in sixth, followed by Shaun Relf and Geoffrey Hulbert in a tightly contested midfield scrap. Derek McLaughlan and Max McKay rounded out the top ten after navigating heavy traffic and constant position changes.
The race wasn’t without drama, with Blake Watson—who qualified on the front rows—failing to finish after an early retirement, while Jim Schilling also dropped out before the end of the race.
Throughout the field, battles raged in classic touring car fashion, with Minis, Datsuns, and Cortinas running nose-to-tail in slipstreaming duels around Phillip Island’s fast, flowing layout.
Race 1 has set the tone for a thrilling Under 2 Litre contest, with multiple contenders showing race-winning pace and no clear runaway leader emerging—setting up an exciting fight for the remainder of the weekend.
Race 2
Adriano Dimauro has capped off a superb weekend at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, claiming his second victory of the Under 2 Litre category in the final race and stamping his authority on the field.
At the wheel of the Alfa Romeo 2000, Dimauro once again proved the driver to beat. Controlling the race from the front, he completed six laps in 15:37.783, setting the fastest lap along the way with a sharp 1:54.503 to secure back-to-back wins.
Behind him, Cono Onofaro delivered another strong performance in his Morris Cooper S to finish second, maintaining pressure but unable to challenge the Alfa’s outright pace. David Brown rounded out the podium in third, adding another consistent result to his weekend after starting from pole in qualifying.
Paul Onofaro was once again in the mix, narrowly missing the podium in fourth after a close battle with Brown, while Blake Watson bounced back from his Race 1 retirement to finish fifth in a solid recovery drive.
Further down the order, Victor Draper led the midfield in sixth, followed by Geoffrey Hulbert and Max McKay, as the tight pack of Minis and Datsuns continued to deliver close racing throughout the field.
The race featured plenty of attrition, with several notable retirements shaping the final result. Richard Hill and Graeme Hill both failed to finish after showing promising pace earlier, while Shaun Relf and Julian Bingley also exited before the chequered flag.
Despite the setbacks, the racing remained intense across all positions, with classic slipstream battles playing out around Phillip Island’s high-speed layout.
In the end, however, the story of the weekend belonged to Dimauro—two race wins, relentless pace, and a composed drive under pressure—marking a fitting conclusion to the Under 2 Litre contest.
Race 3
Adriano Dimauro has delivered a commanding performance to close out the Under 2 Litre Historic Touring Cars weekend at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, claiming victory in the final race and completing a clean sweep of the category.
At the wheel of his Alfa Romeo 2000, Dimauro once again proved untouchable. Controlling the five-lap race from the front, he crossed the line in 13:51.634, sealing his third win of the weekend. His 1:54.983 fastest lap further underlined his pace, as he maintained a narrow but decisive margin over his closest challengers.
Cono Onofaro pushed hard throughout in his Morris Cooper S, finishing just over two seconds behind in second place after another strong and consistent drive. Paul Onofaro completed the podium, ensuring a double podium result for the Minicraft Motorsport team.
Blake Watson backed up his earlier recovery drives with fourth place, narrowly missing the podium but showing strong pace across the race distance. Graeme Hill rounded out the top five in his Cooper S after a solid run in the closing race.
Midfield battles remained intense, with Victor Draper leading the next group ahead of David Cheney and Stuart Barnes, while Derek McLaughlan and Chris Finlayson completed the top ten after another closely fought contest.
Further back, the tightly packed field of Minis, Datsuns, and Cortinas once again produced classic slipstreaming battles, with multiple position changes throughout the race. The only retirement came from Max McKay, who was unable to finish after an early exit .
As the flag fell on the Under 2 Litre category, the story was clear—Dimauro’s dominance. Three races, three wins, and complete control across the weekend, marking a standout performance in one of the most competitive fields of the event.
Over 2 litre – Qualifying
Paul Stubber laid down a statement lap in over 2-litre qualifying at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, powering his Chevrolet Camaro to pole position with a commanding performance.
The Western Australian driver wasted no time asserting control of the session, stopping the clock at a blistering 1:45.753, the fastest lap of the session by a clear margin. His pace proved untouchable, finishing over 2.4 seconds clear of his nearest rival
Adrian Moyle secured a strong front-row start in his Camaro SS, edging out fellow Mustang driver Ian Mewett in a tight contest for second and third. The pair were separated by less than two tenths, setting up an intriguing battle heading into the races. Scott Pierce continued his consistent form to claim fourth in the Pierce Plumbing Mustang, while Marc Tessari impressed in the Holden HQ Monaro to round out the top five.
A tightly packed midfield saw Andrew Beard, Peter McNiven, and Trevor Talbot all within a few tenths of each other, highlighting the depth of competition in the category. Geoff Munday and Graeme Woolhouse completed the top ten, both delivering solid laps in the closing stages of the session.
Further back, the field remained fiercely competitive, with just over a second covering positions inside the top 20. Notably, Jervis Ward placed 17th in the Ford Falcon Rallye Sprint, steadily improving across his six laps in a crowded and fast-moving session.
With Phillip Island’s long straights and high-speed corners set to reward both power and precision, the grid is now primed for an intense battle when the lights go out. Stubber may hold the advantage on paper, but with a field stacked full of Camaros, Mustangs, and classic touring machinery, the fight for victory is far from settled.
Race 1
Paul Stubber converted pole position into a commanding Race 1 victory at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, delivering a clinical performance in the opening over 2-litre encounter of the weekend.
From the rolling start, Stubber’s Chevrolet Camaro launched cleanly and immediately controlled the pace, building a steady gap across the six-lap, 11-minute race. Unchallenged at the front, he crossed the line in 14:34.719, also setting the fastest lap of the race with a 1:47.068, underlining his dominance
Behind him, the fight was about to get turned on it’s head. On the first lap at turn one, Trevor Talbot and Peter McNiven came together forcing half the field to take action, mostly using the run-off to avoid the spinning cars. The first 5 cars seemly unaware of what happened. Adrian Moyle held firm in second place aboard his Camaro SS, fending off constant pressure from Ian Mewett’s Ford Mustang. The pair ran nose-to-tail for much of the race, with Moyle ultimately securing second, just ahead of Mewett in third.
Further back, a standout drive came from Brent Trengrove, who surged through the field to claim fourth position in the Barwon Timber Camaro, capitalising on strong race pace and consistency. Andrew Beard followed closely in fifth, keeping the pressure on but unable to break into the top four.
Ashley Heffernan brought his Holden Torana GTR XU-1 home in sixth, leading a tight midfield train that featured Robert Burns and Jervis Ward, who delivered a solid and composed drive to finish eighth in the Ford Falcon Rallye Sprint.
The midfield battles were relentless, with multiple cars running in close formation throughout the race. Daniel Van Stokrom, David Streat, and Peter Meuleman rounded out the top eleven after a race marked by constant position changes.
Attrition played a role in shaping the final result. Scott Pierce, who had shown strong pace earlier in the weekend, was forced to retire after five laps, while Michael Miceli and Ray Hepburn also failed to reach the finish. Trevor Talbot was another to encounter trouble, later receiving a post-race time penalty.
With Stubber firmly in control at the front, the opening race has set the tone for the weekend—but with fierce competition throughout the field and several fast cars recovering from setbacks, the battles are only just heating up at Phillip Island.
Race 2
Paul Stubber continued his dominant run at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, backing up his Race 1 victory with another commanding performance in Race 2 of the Historic Touring Cars over 2-litre category.
From the outset, Stubber’s Chevrolet Camaro was in a league of its own. Once clear of the pack, he controlled the race with precision and pace, eventually taking the chequered flag in 14:55.749. His blistering 1:45.294 fastest lap was not only the quickest of the race but one of the standout laps of the weekend.
Behind him, the race unfolded with far more intensity. Ian Mewett emerged as Stubber’s closest challenger this time, guiding his Ford Mustang to second place after a clean and consistent drive. Brent Trengrove continued his strong form from Race 1, securing another podium in third after fending off pressure throughout the race.
Robert Burns delivered an impressive performance to finish fourth, while Graeme Woolhouse rounded out the top five in his Mustang after a steady run in a tightly contested midfield.
Further down the order, Trevor Talbot and Marc Tessari were locked in a close battle, finishing sixth and seventh respectively, while Peter Meuleman claimed eighth after navigating heavy traffic.
Jervis Ward again showed consistency, bringing the Ford Falcon Rallye S home in ninth, narrowly ahead of David Streat in a close finish that highlighted the competitiveness of the mid-pack.
Race 2 also featured its share of setbacks. Race 1 runner-up Adrian Moyle suffered an early exit after just one lap, a major blow after his strong Saturday performance. Ashley Heffernan and Alexander Bland were also unable to reach the finish, contributing to a reshuffled order compared to the opening race.
With penalties applied and gaps fluctuating throughout the field, the race showcased both the speed and unpredictability of historic touring car racing at Phillip Island. Yet at the front, one thing remained constant—Stubber’s complete control.
Race 3
Paul Stubber completed a flawless weekend at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, delivering a clean sweep of victories by taking out the final race of the Historic Touring Cars over 2-litre category.
Once again, Stubber’s Chevrolet Camaro proved unstoppable. Launching strongly and quickly asserting control, he managed the five-lap sprint with precision, crossing the line in 12:54.312. His pace never faltered, and a 1:46.012 fastest lap ensured he signed off the weekend in dominant fashion. Behind him, Ian Mewett capped off a consistent weekend with another strong result, bringing his Ford Mustang home in second after a composed drive. Adrian Moyle rebounded from his Race 2 retirement to secure third, completing an all-Camaro/Mustang podium and reinforcing the strength of the front-running pack.
The battle for the minor positions remained fierce throughout the race. Graeme Woolhouse led the charge in fourth, narrowly ahead of Robert Burns and Scott Pierce, with the trio locked in a close contest across the closing laps.
David Streat steered his Holden Monaro to seventh, while Geoff Munday and Domenic Leo followed closely behind after a tightly fought midfield scrap. Trevor Talbot rounded out the top ten after another competitive showing.
Further back, the field remained tightly packed, with multiple cars running nose-to-tail in classic touring car fashion. However, the race wasn’t without drama—Brent Trengrove, who had been a consistent front-runner across the weekend, was forced to retire early, ending his hopes of another strong finish. Rodney Hotchkin and Darren Jones also failed to see the chequered flag.
Jervis Ward fought through to finish 20th, having somehow undone his seat belts on the formation lap and forced to come into Pit Lane to put them back on.
As the sun set on the Phillip Island weekend, Stubber’s clean sweep stands as the defining story—three races, three wins, and complete control from start to finish. Behind him, the depth of competition and relentless racing action ensured a spectacular conclusion to the event.