Event Updates - Round 4 Review

The 2025 Trydel EZIUP and GO Victorian Hill Climb Championship continued on April 27^th with Round 4 of the Championship hosted by Phillip Island Auto Racing Club at Bryant Park.

PIARC chose to run the Figure 8 layout for Round 4, with competitors getting the opportunity to practice the layout on Saturday afternoon. Many competitors also ran the Figure 8 layout at the Australian Hill Climb Championship, so for many it was a chance to refamiliarize and assess any changes to their cars since October.

With the weather proving to be typical Bryant Park – overnight rain meaning competitors faced a wet track to start the day, with the track drying throughout the day, with most competitors running their best times on run 4 or 5.

With some heavy hitters going for outright honours, it was going to be a close event and indeed by the end of the day, Dean Tighe broke through for his second VHCC Round victory on the trot with a best time of 52.65 in his Empire Wraith.

Greg Ackland pushed Dean all the way with a best time of 53.15 in his Ninja GA8. David Mahon rounded out the podium with a 54.05 in his Dallara Hayabusa F394.

Mike Barker finished with the 4^th fastest time with a 55.18 in his Hayward 06 with Matthew Healy rounding out the top 5 with a 58.03 in his Yacar Crosskart.

In the tin top battle, Zachary Hanlin topped the list in his BMW M140i with a 61.38, ahead of Jordan James in his Mitsubishi Evo 4 with a best run of 61.75. James McNiven was 3^rd fastest with a 62.70 in his Toyota Corolla.

Christine Crombie was the fastest female competitor at Round 4, with a best time of 69.74, a massive 1.8 seconds quicker than she ran at the Australian Hill Climb Championship in October!

In the Class Battles:

• Formula Vee was hotly contested by 4 competitors, with Cody Boys (66.88), Scott Slater (67.25), Ryan Nothard (67.56) and Harold Roberts (68.06) all separated by 1.18 seconds.

• Casey Pilcher and his Datsun 260Z (69.17) pipped Michael Hill in his Datsun 240z (69.67) by 0.5 seconds in Sports Cars 2WD Open/Closed 2001cc to 3000cc

• Lasith Liyanage (Subaru BRZ – 64.49) pipped Ian Maud (Fiat X1/9 – 64.81) by 0.32 on the final run of the day in Prod Sports 2B & 2F – up to 2000cc.

• Tom Kenworthy (Mercedes AMG A45 – 63.77) was in a tight battle with Josh Feggans (Subaru WRX – 64.52) all day in Improved Production 4wd, the pair separated by 0.75.

• Class records broken at this event were:

• Steve Buffington with a 61.34 in his Westfield Clubman in Clubman Sports Cars up to 1600cc

• Jim McNiven with a 62.70 in his Toyota Corolla in Sports Sedans up to 2000cc

• Zachary Hanlin with a 61.38 in his BMW M140i in Improved Production 3001cc to 6000cc

• Tom Kenworthy with a 63.77 in his Mercedes AMG A45 in Improved Production 4WD

• Brenton Byfield with a 63.93 in his Subaru WRX in Time Attack

Photos from Jojo at Seven70 Photography can be found HERE

Round 5 of the Trydel EZIUP Victorian Hill Climb Championship continues on June 29^th where the Victorian Mini Club will host the series at Rob Roy. The event will utilise the traditional Rob Roy layout (no chicane).

Entries are now open via the Motorsport Australia Portal.