Gulf Oil Australia to Sponsor Classic Sports Car Racing Series 2018 in Australia
Images thanks to Gulf Oil Australia / Group S Racing
The iconic Gulf Oil brand is headed to Australia and getting involved in one of the country’s most active historic racing groups – Group S.
The Group S category is one of the most active and exciting groups in Australian historic racing. Entries routinely fill grids to max capacity and drivers put on exciting and hotly-contested races that are great fun to watch. And because the cars don’t require a period racing history or Certificate of Description and regulations only allow minimal modification, they’re an attainable option for entering historic motorsport, so you can have great fun driving as well.
We’re thrilled to see Gulf Oil supporting historic racing in Australia and grateful for the work that organisations like the Group S Racing Association put into developing their categories and contributing to the health of the sport overall.
The Gulf Oil Classic Sports Car Racing Series has a packed schedule for 2018. Check out their full calendar here and make sure to head to an event near you to check out the action.
Read on for the official announcement from Gulf Oil Australia and the Group S Racing Association.
Announcing the Gulf Oil Classic Sports Car Racing Series 2018
“Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting.” – Steve McQueen
A company synonymous with racing, not to mention Steve McQueen, is Gulf Oil. The iconic Gulf livery was a regular on the tracks of Europe in the in 60s and 70s, adorning everything from Porsche 917s to Ford GT40s… and now Gulf Oil is in Australia and on Australian race tracks.
Historic race category Group S has secured the sponsorship of what will now be known as the Gulf Oil Classic Sports Car Racing Series. A regular on Historic grids, Group S has added some new events to the 2018 calendar including the first event at Tailem Bend (Shannons Nationals) as well as the recent Bathurst 12 Hour.
“We’re very excited to announce our sponsor… and what an amazing brand to have on board. When you think of Gulf Oil, you naturally think of 1960s and 1970s sports cars… with Group S’s period correct grid, it’s the natural fit for such an iconic brand” said Alex Webster, President of Group S.
Regularly running at grid capacity, the category is one of the fastest growing historic racing classes in Australia. “With limited modifications allowed, the cars are essentially historic production sports cars, though unlike other categories they don’t require a period ‘racing history’ or ‘COD’ making the category attainable for amateur racers to get on track.” Said Mr Webster.
Gulf Oil Australia CEO Mike Ridley-Smith said the classic racing community identifies strongly with the Gulf name due to its association with some of the world’s most famous drivers and cars. “Many race teams of the 1960s and 1970s achieved great success using Gulf’s specialised lubricants and we naturally wanted to extend that opportunity to Australian racers to coincide with the introduction of the Gulf Oil brand in this country.”
The Gulf Oil Classic Sports Car Racing Series is open to machines built between 1941 and 1977, and is split into three classes:
- Group Sa – 1941 to 1960
- Group Sb – 1961 to 1969
- Group Sc – 1970 to 1977
Gulf Oil Australia welcomes enquiries from classic and performance car enthusiasts and workshops. For more information, visit www.gulfoilaustralia.com.au
For more information on the Gulf Oil Classic Sports Car Racing Series, visit www.groupsracing.org.au
