Fun in the (winter) sun with 2009 Suncoast Classic

Queensland's Sunshine Coast will reverberate to the sounds and reflect the glossy paintwork of many of the world's most exotic cars when the second Suncoast Classic tarmac rally rolls out of Coolum Beach on July 22 next year.

Following the inaugural event in 2007, the 2009 Suncoast Classic is expected to attract entries from Australia and overseas while featuring marques such as Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Maserati, Lamborghini and Lotus, as well as "many other exotic thoroughbreds."

Divided into Competition and Touring classes, the event will cover more than 1000 kilometres on the undulating, picturesque roads through the hills and valleys of the Sunshine Coast hinterland.

Contestants will return each day to rally headquarters at the five-star Hyatt Regency on Coolum Beach.

A prologue event to determine the starting order for four days of special-stage rallying will take place on the historic Lakeside race circuit.

Among the luminary drivers expected to take part in the 2009 event is seven times Targa Tasmania winner Jim Richards, who has said he wants to enter his Porsche GT2 in the outright competition class.

Richards finished fourth in the 2007 Suncoast Classic in a Porsche 911 Turbo co-driven by Barry Oliver "I thoroughly enjoyed the Suncoast Classic last time. It's a fantastic event and we hope to be there with the Porsche GT2 in 2009," Richards said.

The Sunshine Classic is organised by Adelaide-based Silverstone Events and enquiries should be directed to Louise Kosta, Sales and Sponsorship Manager (08) 8227 0666. Alternatively, the official website can be visited here

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