Historic Winton 2026 preview

Tomorrow will see the commencement of the 49th edition of Historic Winton, an annual classic motorsport event held at Winton Motor Raceway. ‍

The 2026 Historic Winton is set to be the biggest in recent history with the race meeting attracting its biggest entry list since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event is run by the Austin 7 Club and sanctioned by the Australian Auto-Sport Alliance.

Historic Winton is Australia’s longest running historic motorsport event and is known for not only its on-track action, but also the quality activities off it also including hundreds upon hundreds of static displays, many of which are celebrating significant anniversaries.

One of the unique things about Historic Winton is the age of some of the vehicles, Historic Winton features cars that are 100 years old.

“The J (pre-1931) and K (pre-war and WW2 era cars) will be a highlight that not all other historic events include on their programs,” said event secretary, Peta Lee of the Austin 7 Club.

“Spectators will see every era racing from a rare 1927 Lancia Meadows to a 1971 Datsun Bluebird to our youngest car a 1983 Formula Ford T642.”

Categories include Group N, Group S, Formula Ford, Formula Vee, Sports & Racing over the years as well as several regularity classes.

Each category has a minimum of three races across the course of the weekend. The full schedule can be found here.

As always there will be feature ‘Trophy’ races, with J/K and LB Sports and Racing featuring the Lou Molina and Coad Memorial Trophies on Sunday, and in Group S drivers are competing for the honour of the Alan Jones Trophy.

“The big crowd-pleaser, Group Ns, always provide neck-a-neck race action as Minis dual with their contemporaries like Cortinas, EH and FJ Holdens,” Peta said. “They join in the Tin Top Regularity, introduced three years ago.”

While there are over 250 competitors on track this year, there are also 300 display vehicles and 30 trade stands/food stores.

Off-track Shannons are supporting the car displays, titled the Shannons Car Park, these celebrate anniversaries, heritage and even some special displays.   

“The Shannons Car Park and surrounds will be brimming over with motoring treasures,” she said.

“Some of the oldest anniversary marques include Lagonda (120 years) and Mercedes Benz, Ford, Riley 9, Willys Overland Whippet (100 years) and even more paddocks-full of showpiece vehicles.  We’ve lined up so many cars to drool over.”

Adding to the variety, will be historic motorcycles, racing mowers, Flxible Clipper buses, cycle karts, and Observed Section Trial cars.

Many charities will be in attendance including the Benalla and Winton Fire Brigades. Bumblebee for MND in a restored HX Holden panel van will be raising funds for Motor Neurone Disease research, while the Bendigo Health Foundation will be raffling a Corvette for Cancer.

Make sure to also visit the paddock where you can also see all the racing vehicles up close and free of charge.

“An exciting ‘must do’ element of Historic Winton is a visit to the competition paddock,” Peta said.

“Spectators can experience the noise, smell and bustle as teams ready their cars for racing.  People love chatting with the drivers in their garages and seeing the magnificent cars up close.”

Tomorrow is a practice day, with event starting proper on Saturday.

For fans in Melbourne there is a free public transport on offer to get to the event.

From 7:07am Satuday & Sunday catch the train from Southern Cross Station to Seymour. Transfer bus from Seymour to Benalla, then catch the free Shuttle Bus from Benalla to Winton Raceway.

To leave, wait outside the Racers Rest at Winton for the bus that departs at 4:15pm or 5:00pm each day. The transfer Bus departs Benalla Station at 6:45pm each day arriving at Southern Cross at 10:00pm.

Camping at the track is still available, click here to book your site.

If you can’t get trackside to watch the action don’t stress, all of the races will be livestreamed on Blend Line TV Club, click the link here to subscribe.

Winton Motor Raceway’s gates open at 7am each day. Saturday consists of morning practice, before racing commences after lunch. Sunday sees racing all day from 8.45am.

Tickets for the event can be bought here.

Tickets prices - Online and Gate

·       Friday - Free

·       Saturday - From $40 online, $45 gate

·       Sunday - From $50 online, $55 gate

·       2 Day Pass - From $80 online, $85 gate

·       Children under 17 - Register for free ticket

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