Veterans and local heroes ready for The Hill

Darren Brent drives his modified Mazda MX5 in the Noosa Beach Winter Hill Climb in June.

Engines will roar once again through Tewantin this weekend as the Noosa Summer Hillclimb fires up on Saturday and Sunday, 15–16 November.

One of Australia’s most iconic grassroots motorsport events, the Hillclimb will feature an exciting mix of modern and classic cars —

from nimble Clubmans and Formula Libre machines to thundering Super Sports and vintage racers.

Among the standout entrants this year is the Young Veterans Central Queensland (YVCQ) Racing Team, part of the Young Veterans Australia Network.

The team is dedicated to enriching the lives of Australian veterans and servicemen and women from abroad who now call Australia home.

Their mission is to empower veterans — along with their partners and families — to thrive in life after service through teamwork, community, and motorsport.

What began with a single donated AU XR6 from the Central Coast Car Club (Gladstone) has grown into a thriving grassroots racing initiative.

The program provides opportunities for veterans and their families to participate as drivers, mechanics, and officials, building camaraderie and open

communication in a supportive environment. Motorsport, they say, helps bridge the gap between veterans and civilian life, fostering connection, confidence, and purpose.

For the 2025 Noosa Summer Hillclimb, the team will proudly field seven cars, with several drivers taking on “The Hill” for the very first time.

Their story is one of resilience, mateship, and shared passion — proving that motorsport is about far more than speed. It’s about community, purpose, and belonging.

Adding to the excitement, this year’s field features a huge range of entries across all classes. Crowd favourite 83-year-old Justin will once again pilot his 1925 Austin 7, reminding spectators that passion has no age limit. The event also welcomes Sunshine Beach State High School, showcasing their student-built racing machines through

the innovative Formula Student engineering program, which gives young people hands-on experience in design, fabrication, and teamwork.

This year’s Hillclimb is proudly presented by Coastline BMW as the main event sponsor, with strong support from local businesses including Eureka Landscapes, Bob Jane Noosaville, Nexigen, Sunstate Gearbox, KM Exhausts Noosa, Elite Car Spa, and Toucan Removals.

With its mix of heritage, horsepower, and heart, the Noosa Summer Hillclimb continues to embody everything that makes Australian motorsport special — passion, people, and the pure joy of racing.