It’s now been confirmed, the V8 supercars will race at Phillip Island in November, the same weekend as the traditional Historic Sandown, Return of the Thunder.

The Island race will feature two sprint races under the banner of the Phillip Island 300.

Confirmation of the race has came as a huge blow to the Victorian Historic Racing Register who will clearly lose spectators and possibly trackside officials as a result of the clash.

It’ll be a big weekend for local marshals with a round of the Victorian Motor Racing Championships also on at Winton that weekend.

In a statement to In Pit Lane V8 supercars Australia said that the rescheduling of the event from Bahrain to Phillip Island was not an intentional clash with the Return of the Thunder meeting at Sandown.

The statement said that the event was rescheduled to Phillip Island. because of “V8 Supercar’s ongoing relationship with the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.”

As for the timing of The Island 300, television commitments meant that V8 Supercars had to hold the event on the November 7-8 weekend.

Appearing on C31’s In Pit Lane, Ian Ross and Noel Robson from the VHRR said that they were disappointed by the clash but that the club had little choice other than to “just get on with it”.

Mr Robson said that the club was going ahead full steam with the meeting despite the clash.

“we have 370 odd entries and it’s all happening at Sandown.” he said.

Mr Robson admitted that the club had been concerned about the state of volunteer marshals and other officials, however after discussion with those groups the club had been assured of their full support.

“we look after them (the officials), it’s a wonderful meeting and they like historic racing cars”

Ian Ross said that the theme of the meeting “Return of the Thunder” was a celebration of the big V8’s. “We have 16 races, (featuring V8 powered touring and sports cars) close to 400 entries and the Biante series, they’re not technically historic cars but they are classic Falcons, Monaros, Mustangs, Camaros etc.. plus a huge field of Group S sports cars including Shelby’s Corvettes, DeTomaso Panteras, all the way down to Datsun 2000s.”

Also announced was a gathering of three generations of the famous Brabham family. Three time World Champion Sir Jack Brabham will attend along with his son Geoff, winner of the Le Mans 24 classic and Geoff’s son Matthew who is currently racing in the Victorian Formula Ford Championship.

Despite earlier this year telling In Pit Lane that his days behind the wheel were over, Geoff will return to the track in a three car speed comparison with Matthew and V8 legend John Bowe.

Bowe will drive a genuine Ford GT40 while Geoff will be behind the wheel of a BMW. Matthew will drive the Spectrum Formula Ford that he took to second place in last weekend’s Victorian State Championship round at Phillip Island.

The “Return of the Thunder” meeting is at Sandown Raceway, Springvale, VIC on November 6 - 8.