What’s driving motoring celebrities to head to Adelaide
We are all aware of the Adelaide 500, but there’s another motoring event in South Australia that is punching well above its weight when it comes to growth – and it’s just around the corner.
The Adelaide Motorsport Festival is Australia’s fastest growing motorsport event, drawing comparisons to the world’s most famous motorsport celebration, the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
The secret to its success is largely due to Adelaide’s connection with Formula 1.
Held the week before the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix, the Adelaide Motorsport Festival attracted a total crowd of 40,022 in 2024 – a 42 per cent annual growth from the previous year.
And the 2025 event, being held across the long weekend of March 7 to 9, looks set to be even bigger with international and Australian motorsport stars locked in for the event.
In the past two years it has attracted names such as Guenther Steiner, Valtteri Bottas, Damon Hill, Liam Lawson, David Croft, Stefan Johansson, David Brabham and Australian motorsport stars such as Craig Lowndes, with several of these stars confirmed again for the 2025 event and more to be announced before the event in March.
The Adelaide Motorsport Festival taps into Adelaide’s motorsport pedigree, with the event held on the Victoria Park section of the Adelaide Street Circuit, the track that hosted the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix between 1985 and 1995 and the Adelaide 500 from 1999 to the present.
Bringing together the cream of this history and heritage, with motorsport stars of today and yesteryear then combining this with iconic race cars, motorbikes and more, the event is often referenced as the “Goodwood Festival of Speed of the southern hemisphere”.
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Over 260 cars and stars take part in spirited on-track demonstrations, with the action fast, furious and frequently changing.
The format is likened to a smorgasbord for the motorsport fan; there is a different category of vehicle on track every 10 to 15 minutes, with Formula 1 cars, sportscars, touring cars, V8 Supercars, NASCARs, rally cars, MotoGP motorbikes, superbikes and more all part of the event.
As such, the Adelaide Motorsport Festival is the only motorsport event in Australia to feature such a diverse line-up of cars and motorbikes.
This format differs greatly from what we see at mainstream motoring events these days.
To underscore the links between the Adelaide Motorsport Festival and Goodwood Festival of Speed, the stars of the on-track action from the latter in 2024, a trio of high-powered wild looking Shadow Can-Am cars, will be making their Australian debuts at the Adelaide Motorsport Festival in 2025 – demonstrating that this event procures motoring-unobtanium from the other side of the earth and serves it up in a well-priced package that literally provides all-areas access except for the corporate trackside suites.
The Adelaide Motorsport Festival kicks off with the Gouger Street Party on the Friday evening of the event (March 7).
The free community event begins with a parade of star cars and motorbikes from the event that runs from Victoria Park into the city to Gouger Street to give the green flag to a massive weekend of motorsport.
Once on Gouger Street, attendees can see the cars and motorbikes up close with driver appearances, a DJ and more.
The infectious, positive vibe within the event is responsible for the uplift in attendee growth and the resultant economic benefit to the state through interstate visitation.
Also, the high-net worth individuals the event attracts from interstate and overseas leads to investment within South Australia.
Zero Petroleum, a UK-based leading-producer of carbon-neutral synthetic fuel made from just air and water, showcased its breakthrough energy solution at the Adelaide Motorsport Festival in 2024.
Zero Petroleum has now initiated a feasibility study of an aviation fuel production capability in Whyalla, with a resultant benefit of potentially hundreds of millions of dollars to the state.
Organisers state that part of the key to the Adelaide Motorsport Festival’s success is providing unique experiences that can’t be found elsewhere, such as in the Adelaide Marriott Grand Marquee, which is open to all ticketholders and is the place for the crowd to see, hear and meet the stars attending the event.
The likes of Formula 1 drivers Valtteri Bottas and Liam Lawson, Formula 1 world champion Damon Hill and more have participated in the interviews, signing sessions and more.
In recent years and these experiences are included in the modest $60 ticket price.
While the on-track actions and demonstrations take place, off track there is a picnic races setting within Victoria Park.
The crowd can enjoy fine local food, with beer, wine and spirits from local producers on the shady lawns, browse the trade stalls and check out the static displays of hundreds of cars and motorcycles.
Car brands and dealers showcase their latest products while also hosting their customers in trackside villas, featuring all-day dining with various food and wine options with celebrity chefs are on hand to serve a la carte restaurant-style gourmet food, masterclasses and more.
The Adelaide Motorsport Festival also brings together the latest electric and hybrid vehicles, electric race and rally cars, electric bicycles, scooters, motorbikes and more in the E-Motion Zone.
With the Adelaide Motorsport Festival now established on the calendar the week before the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix, the event looks set for further growth in 2025 as more international and interstate visitors, guests and fans head to Adelaide for motorsport’s fastest growing event.
Tickets can be purchased at adelaidemotorsportfestival.com.au.
