Festival of Horsepower is a month-long program packed full of high-octane events including a number of Australia’s signature horseracing and motorsport championships.
Taking place in June, the Festival of Horsepower combines all things adrenaline pumping with a highlight being the Gulf Western Oil Winternationals.
The Winternationals is the largest championship drag racing event held outside of North America and is the final round of the national 400 Thunder season for national championship honours.
Willowbank Raceway will host flame-throwing 500km/h top fuelers through to junior dragsters with more than 500 cars and motorcycles expected on track over four big days of racing from Thursday 10 to Sunday 13 June.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said council is pleased to welcome another world-class event to Ipswich.
“Our two million annual visitors come to Ipswich for a range of wonderful experiences, from our vibrant restaurant and dining scene to our 7,500 heritage sites and beautiful parks and reserves,” Mayor Harding said.
“Planes, Trains and Autos was a fantastic curtain-raiser for the Festival of Horsepower, with international motorsport champions Troy Bayliss, Toby Price and Craig Lowndes joining the RAAF’s Roulettes and Red Thunder Warbirds.
“June promises to be another spectacle, with the best of racing on show.”
The Festival of Horsepower Soiree will officially launch the calendar of events on Saturday 5 June at the Ipswich Events and Entertainment Centre, a social event not to be missed.
Fillies and fascinators will be out in force at one of Queensland’s most popular race days, the TAB Ipswich Cup on Saturday 19 June.
Racegoers will enjoy a transformed Ipswich Turf Club to watch the Cup, a race rich in history, heritage and horses.
For the first time you can watch all the action from the Festival of Horsepower Marquee overlooking the home straight, this will be the prime spot to soak in the atmosphere of the day.
TAB Ipswich Cup is a highlight in the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival calendar alongside the Channel Seven Family Race Day on Sunday 6 June which features kids Fashions on the Field events and an animal farm.
There will be plenty of free kart racing action to watch at Ipswich Kart Club when they host the two-day IKC Endurance Challenge with teams competing across multiple classes to be crowned the Endurance Champions of 2021.
The IKC Endurance Challenge is a great day out for the whole family bringing together the best local and interstate kart racers to compete across the two-day event on Saturday 5 June and Sunday 6 June.
2 Days of Thunder wraps up the Festival of Horsepower, celebrating the big bangers of the motorsport world, both old and new, this year with Porsche Motorsport as the feature.
Delivering two-days of fast and hard racing action on Saturday, 26 and Sunday, 27 June, there will be plenty to see and do with some of the loudest, fastest and most awe-inspiring categories thundering around the Queensland Raceway.
Ipswich is the place to be this June and the Festival of Horsepower promises to deliver for the whole family.
Highlights of Festival of Horsepower include:
Festival of Horsepower Soiree – Saturday 5 June
The official launch of the month-long calendar of Festival of Horsepower events and the Ipswich Winter Racing Carnival.
IKC Endurance Challenge – Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 June
Two days of kart racing action at Ipswich Kart Club with teams competing across multiple classes to be crowned the Endurance Champions of 2021.
Channel Seven Family Race Day – Sunday 6 June
A highlight of the Ipswich Winter Racing Carnival and a great day out for the whole family.
Gulf Western Oil Winternationals – Thursday 10 to Sunday 13 June
The largest championship drag racing event held outside of the US and the final round of the 400 Thunder season.
TAB Ipswich Cup – Saturday 19 June
Ipswich’s social event of the year. Rich in history, heritage and horses, the Ipswich Turf Club will host the Ipswich Cup.
TAB Ipswich Cup Festival of Horsepower Marquee – Saturday 19 June
Overlooking the home straight located on the grandstand side of the track, catch all the Ipswich Cup action.
2 Days of Thunder – Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 June
Two days of fast and hard racing action with some of the loudest and most awe-inspiring categories thundering around the track at Queensland Raceway.
More information here.
