Five 'other' cars you'll see at the Oz GP

The Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix kicks off the F1 calendar and delivers paying customers their first look at the latest grand prix machinery.

But unlike many other grands prix around the world, the Aussie event brings a wide range of racecars to the Albert Park circuit. And in 2018, the support line-up is bigger and better than ever before including international heroes, local series favourites and historic charm.

If there’s not a car here to satisfy your most heady motoring needs, we’ll go he for tiggy.

Ferrari

The Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Asia Pacific Series kicks off its 2018 championship at the Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix this weekend.

The international one-make series spans three continents (Europe, North America, Asia Pacific) and will start with a full 33-car grid.

The focus is on the 488 Challenge, powered by a 3.9-litre turbo-charged V8. It’s the Italian supercar maker’s most powerful Challenge car and the first turbo entrant.

A tweaked engine and aero upgrades have seen the 488 Challenge up to a second quicker than the outgoing 458 Challenge. We await good things.

Porsche


The Porsche Wilson Security Carrera Cup Australia returns to Melbourne bringing with it around 24 of Stuttgart’s most loved to the Formula 1 track.

The next generation 911 GT3 Cup cars take to the track with the new naturally aspirated six-cylinder rear-mounted boxer engine that has grown from 3.8 to 4.0-litres, delivering 375kW and 480Nm. Australia’s fastest one-make series is poised to thrill fans and smash lap records in round two of the series.

Supercars


The Coates Hire Supercars Melbourne 400 will storm onto the track in a series-first bid for championship points this coming weekend, as Shane van Gisbergen looks to secure his series lead in the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship.

The supercars will enjoy a fast and wide track, but a new qualifying format and two compulsory pit-stops for fuel and tyres (in two of the four races) will make it a greater game of tactics than usual.

A 13-lap, 30-minute Supercar battle will be the fast and furious entre to Sunday’s Formula 1 race.

Australian GT


The Australian GT series boasts a who’s who of manufacturers, with the likes of Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Audi, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG and more vying for a spot on the podium.

With growing numbers under the umbrella of international GT3 race regulations, the exotic series is booming once again and up to 30 vehicles with a group value of around $30m will hit Melbourne’s F1 circuit for their season opener.

It’s the automotive eye-candy we’ll be waiting for.

Historics


The final day of the four-day Rolex F1 festival opens with a historic parade featuring classics from Ferrari, Brabham, Alfa Romeo, Austin Healey, Allard, McLaren and several Australian specialist vehicles. The historic vehicles span decades of manufacturing in a salute to the upcoming ninety-year innings of Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix.

Don’t worry if you miss them on track, you can find them on show with various other club displays at the Legends Lane area located behind the main straight Fangio stand across all four days of the event.

And steak knives…

But wait, there’s more — if that’s not enough, there will be Lamborghini and Ferrari parades, an Ultimate Speed Comparison, Aston Martin hot laps, RAAF Roulettes show and the usually thrilling F/A18 jet display.