50+ PHOTOS: Massive day of action at Historic Leyburn Sprints

Thousands of people descended on the region for 2022 Historic Leyburn Sprints, with motorsports enthusiasts and industry legends eager to see some of the best drivers in the country battle it out on the track. See our huge event gallery here:

The Historic Leyburn Sprints made an epic return at the weekend, bringing huge crowds to the region for one of the biggest motorsports events of the year.

Thousands of people flocked to Leyburn for the annual event, which sees some of the nation’s most celebrated drivers hit the track for an action-packed day of racing.

Motorsports Australia president Andrew Fraser described the event as truly historic for the sport, with community pride running deep in Leyburn’s motorsport traditions.

“It speaks to our history, but also the nature of the sport today as it’s still very much community-based,” he said.

“Here in the Southern Downs there’s a big commitment to motorsports and attracts people from southeast Queensland and all of Australia regularly.

“There’s people who come from far and wide, it’s circled on the calendar for a lot of people across the country. It’s not just about what happens when the engines start, it’s the whole weekend and the community.”

See all the action from the Historic Leyburn Sprints in our event galleries below:

40+ PHOTOS: Massive day of action at 2022 Historic Leyburn Sprints

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Organisers ensured this year’s Leyburn Sprints kept alive the memory of one of its most prominent members.

Race director John Mellon was a crucial part of orchestrating the annual races and tragically died in January.

Leyburn organisers and competitors made the unanimous decision to honour Mr Mellon alongside Sprints founder Mike Collins, who died in June.

All competitors’ cars bore a sticker featuring the two men’s names, allowing them to once more be part of the event they worked so hard to build.

IN PHOTOS: Huge weekend of rubber-burning action at 2022 Leyburn Sprints

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Mr Mellon’s son, Darren attended the Sprints and shared precious memories of his father and his involvement with the event.

“He absolutely loved all this, which is why they’re doing the tribute for him. He lived and breathed Leyburn and for six months of the year he dedicated his life to the Sprints,” he said.

“We went up to the cemetery today and put some flowers down and we could hear the sounds of the cars going around and you could feel him there with us. It’ll always be my second home now.

“He was at the forefront of it all.”

Originally published as 50+ PHOTOS: Massive day of action at Historic Leyburn Sprints