Motorfest brings high-octane thrills to Gatton

GATTON is revving up for this month's Motorfest, with thousands expected to flock to the event to see world-class drivers perform

GET EXCITED: Gatton Motorfest will feature burnout and drift events over two days and expects to draw thousands. Picture: Lachlan McIvor

GATTON is revving up for this month's Motorfest, with thousands expected to flock to the event to see world-class drivers perform.

The event will feature burnout and drift events across two days, with professional and semi-professional drivers showcasing their skills for the crowds.

Organiser Warren Gersekowski, President of the Downs Motorsport Club, is expecting at least 3000 people a day over the weekend - with competitors coming from all over the country.

"We've got drifters coming from South Australia, Victoria, the whole east coast ... and although we've got the inter-state guys, we're still catering for the locals as well."

Gersekowski believes the interest from around the country is because of the event's unique street-based nature.

"It's the first on the east coast, if not Australia, everything else has sort of been track based, nothing has ever been done on the street."

"The guys just want to come and do something different - doing it legally on the streets."

This Motorfest, held on March 17 and 18, replaces the former Gatton Street Sprints Event that has now changed venues and moved to October this year.

Gersekowski said that the decision to move the Street Sprints to Morgan Park Motorsport Complex at Warwick was difficult but necessary.

"With insurance and traffic control, we just couldn't afford to do the sprints - so we decided to do this two day drift and burnout event."

He said that moving the sprints to a purpose built track like Morgan Park made the planning far easier, and the reaction from competitors and attendees had been positive.

He also thanked the Gatton community, saying it has always been supportive of the event.

"We'd be lost without them."