Scheduled for 21-24 October at the state’s most popular hill climb course in Mount Cotton, the 76th running of the championship will welcome the best hill climbers from around the country to battle it out for a national title.

 

After COVID-19 saw all four of Motorsport Australia’s national 2020 Speed and Auto Test Championships postponed until this year, the club has been working tirelessly to make sure it has appropriate measures in place to get the event up and going.

 

While current border closures and restrictions across multiple states have created some uncertainty about this year's future of national championships, MGCCQ Event Secretary Annette Truscott highlighted there was still plenty of time until the hill climb.

 

“It’s only natural for there to be a few nerves about whether this event will go ahead, especially since we had to postpone last year’s event and the way the current environment is looking,” Truscott said.

 

“We have a lot of confidence that things will turn around by the time it’s October, but I think there is still a bit of work to do in making sure we are ready to go.

 

“We are working very closely with Motorsport Australia to try and formulate a plan that will enable us to run trouble free and part of that is capping the entries at 110.”

Dean Amos at Mount Cotton in 2021. Photo: CH Images

Like previous editions, that event will be run over the course of four days, with unofficial practice to take place on the Thursday, official practice on the Friday, before the two competition days are run over the Saturday and Sunday.

Pending the amount of entries, the club intends to allow up to seven official timed runs for competitors and as always, the driver with the fastest time of the day will be crowned champion for 2021.

 

In a major boost for Australian hill climbing, the event will also introduce the Junior Championship for the first time ever, with the category open to junior drivers aged between 14-18 years old.

 

While the outright hill climb winner itself will be recognised on their single fastest attempt, the junior category will be run as a regularity trial, meaning the best five runs will count towards a competitor’s total score.

 

“It’s a really exciting opportunity for young teenagers to be able to come and compete on the national stage,” Truscott added.

 

“This will be the first time ever that a category like this is being run at an Australian championship event, so it’s been a bit of a learning curve for us and we think the scoring system is the best way to give these teenagers an inviting environment.

 

“To win some silverware as the best hill climb junior in the country would definitely be an exciting prospect for a young kid to come away with. We are hopeful more juniors enter knowing they could win something too.

 

“As for the outright championship title, there are a number of drivers capable of taking out top prize, however Dean Amos, Dean Tighe and David Mahon would definitely be going in as favourites.”

 

Entries for the 2021 Motorsport Australia Hill Climb Championship at Mount Cotton open in August.