History recreated and big-money plate sales on day one of the 2025 Adelaide Motorsport Festival
Patrick Jackson •8 March, 2025
This Beatrice Haas Lola THL1 cut the first Formula 1 lap of the Adelaide circuit 40 years ago in 1985, and lapped it once again today (Image: Adelaide Motorsport Festival)
Day one of the 2025 Adelaide Motorsport Festival offered a throwback to the very first Adelaide Grand Prix 40 years prior, with history recreated on the Victoria Park circuit.
The first Formula 1 lap of the track was driven by Aussie driver Alan Jones in a practice session on October 31, 1985 in his Beatrice Haas Lola THL1.
Today, that same car – an AMF regular – completed a special demonstration lap of the track once again, ahead of its involvement in the Formula 1 category across the weekend.
While historic Formula 1 cars were the day's stars on track, the iconic Mazda 767B also cut some laps and was a fan-favourite in the paddock (Image: Patrick Jackson)
While Jones, the 1980 F1 World Champion, was due to appear in Adelaide to witness the lap, he was unable to attend due to travel disruptions caused by Cyclone Alfred.
There were other Formula 1 drivers who managed to take to the track, however, including Damon Hill, who won the final Adelaide Grand Prix in 1995, getting behind the wheel of the 1992 Brabham BT60B Judd car he drove in his debut season.
David Brabham, the only other Aussie along with Jones to race the Adelaide GP, also took to the track in his 1990 Brabham BT59 Judd, while 1989 winner Thierry Boutsen drove the Benetton B190 Ford that won the following 1990 edition.
The SA numeric plate auction saw '555' bring in the highest bid at $260,000 (Image: Patrick Jackson)
In the numeric number plate auction, the highest bid came online for SA plate '555', commanding a $260,000 final offer on its first-ever sale. Next highest came from in the room, with plate '142' fetching $205,000.
One of 199 limited-run Adelaide Grand Prix plates issued ahead of that first race in 1985 – 'GP 10', which was previously owned by Formula 1 driver Vern Schupann – also sold for big money at $175,000 to an online bidder.
Punters were also treated to the sights of some mega-money hypercars taking to the track, including the Bugatti Bolide and the Pagani Huayra R.
Craig Lowndes took to the Victoria Park circuit in this €2.6 million track-only Pagani Huayra R (Image: Patrick Jackson)
1999 Adelaide 500 winner Craig Lowndes was behind the wheel of the latter, and he spoke to Retro Rides about what it was like to drive that car among many others he'll steer over the weekend in a video you'll see on our social media channels soon.
Former Haas F1 Team principal Guenther Steiner was the flagship speaker in the grand marquee, promoting his second book Unfiltered: My Incredible Decade in Formula 1 including meeting fans and signing a limited number of copies.
There's still one more day of festivities on Sunday March 9, including signing sessions with Bathurst legends, Adelaide GP winners, and Valtteri Bottas.
Former Haas F1 Team principal Guenther Steiner starred on stage in the grand marquee as he promoted his latest book, Unfiltered (Image: Adelaide Motorsport Festival)
Patrick Jackson
More inNews
Star drivers steal the show on day two of the 2025 Adelaide Motorsport Festival
The second and final day of the 2025 Adelaide Motorsport Festival didn't disappoint, with attendees treated to impressive on-track displays and plenty of celebrity signing sessions.
Classic Alfa Romeos claim top honours at Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance
Alfa Romeo took centre stage at the 2025 Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance, with one particularly stunning example of the Italian brand’s heritage claiming top honours.
Everyday cars to sit centre stage at the 2025 Festival of the Unexceptional
While glamorous exotics or rowdy muscle cars are the classics many enthusiasts crave, for others, there’s still some appeal in the humble everyday car. That's exactly what will feature this July at one of the UK’s biggest and most distinctive car shows, the 2025 Festival of the Unexceptional.
More inRetro Rides Originals
Top Tips for Buying a Used Dodge Challenger (1970-73)
When Chrysler in the US belatedly got around to building a proper Pony Car, it came in two sizes, with different length wheelbases and some of the most powerful production engines ever made. Collectively, they were the Dodge Challenger and Plymouth Barracuda, a feisty duo which offered too little and arrived too late to take full advantage of the relatively short-lived Muscle Car era.
Magnarrific: Here’s why the Mitsubishi Magna deserves more love
While Holden and Ford may have produced the best-known locally-designed darlings of the Australian automotive industry’s heyday, the Commodore and Falcon you’ve likely owned at least one of or were at least driven around in as a child, there was of course a third major player that sat alongside them: the Mitsubishi Magna.
Legends: Meet the ‘Porsche of the East’, the Škoda 130 RS
Turning 50 this year, the Škoda 130 RS was a powerhouse in Czechoslovak motorsport during the 1970s and 1980s, winning numerous titles in both international rallying and circuit racing.
Get The Latest
Sign up for the latest in retro rides, from stories of restoration to community happenings.