Remember this date. Monday the 14th of April 2025 will go down in history as a major milestone for South Australian motorsport. It marked the very first-ever Hillclimb event held at Shell V-Power Motorsport Park, hosted by Hillclimb SA and Motorsport Service Solutions.

This wasn’t just any practice day — it was the practice for the 2025 Australian Hillclimb Championship, and for the first time ever, it was run in reverse on the Eastern Circuit at The Bend Motorsport Park. Yes — you read that right — in reverse! The course covers approximately 2km of South Australia’s only international-standard race surface, and it did not disappoint.

 

What We Learnt & Loved:

• Turning Dreams into Reality:

The smiles on drivers’ faces and the feedback from entrants made it clear — all the hard work in bringing this event to life was absolutely worth it.

• World-Class Track Surface:

A full 12-metre-wide track with ample run-off makes for one of the safest and cleanest Hillclimb venues in Australia. No rocks. No hidden surprises. Just pure, clean racing.

• Officially Accredited:

The Eastern Circuit now holds a Track C License, fully approved and sanctioned by Motorsport Australia — meeting and surpassing every requirement for Hillclimb competition.

• Longest Permanent Track-Based Hillclimb in SA:

At nearly 2km, this Hillclimb takes the crown as South Australia’s longest permanent track-based Hillclimb — and it’s only just getting started.

• History Made with Electric Vehicles:

We proudly welcomed EV entrants to the event — marking the first time Electric Vehicles have participated in a Hillclimb event in Australia. They performed faultlessly all day without a recharge, loving the technical layout and fast-flowing sections.

• Purpose-Built Cool-Down Lap:

The return road — the second half of the East Track — allowed competitors a proper cool-down run after each lap, protecting brakes, intercoolers, and tyres from dust and debris. A small touch, but a big win.

• Special Guest Appearance:

One of the JAM Motorsport cars, based at The Bend, joined us for several laps. While they know the track better than anyone, even they had never tackled it in reverse — and yes, they'll be back to compete on this Hillclimb track for the Championship

• Spectator Friendly:

From the start line to the chicane and beyond, this layout delivers outstanding viewing opportunities for spectators — something we’re keen to build on for the Championship weekend.

 

Not a “Traditional” Hillclimb — and Proud of It.

We’ve heard some of the commentary about this not being a ‘traditional’ Hillclimb for South Australia. And to that we say — we make no apologies. This event meets every requirement set out by Motorsport Australia, and we’ve created a Hillclimb that’s safe, inclusive, and thrilling for every type of vehicle and driver. It’s a new chapter for South Australian motorsport, and it will become a new tradition for Hillclimb’s in South Australia for the years to come.

 

Thank You

A huge thank you to our dedicated committee, our amazing volunteers, and to our valued major sponsor Supaservice Tyre & Auto. Shannon and his team have supported Hillclimb SA from the start, and we’re proud to have them on board.

A big shout out as well to The Pit Walk for capturing some incredible footage and competitor interviews from the day — stay tuned for those!

And finally — thank you to everyone who made the journey (including those from as far as Townsville) to be a part of this special day.