IPSWICH roared to life over the long weekend as thousands flocked to the annual Planes, Trains and Autos festival, with motorsport fans treated to a rare close-up encounter with two of Australia’s rising racing stars.
Supercars drivers Brodie Kostecki and Rylan Gray drew huge crowds at the festival’s main event, Fully Charged, held at the Queensland Museum Rail Workshops on Saturday.
The pair arrived with one of their Shell V Power Racing Team Mustangs, giving fans the chance to see a genuine competition vehicle normally reserved for the nation’s top racing circuits.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said the team’s appearance was a major highlight of a packed program.
“As a motorsport-loving city, many of us have watched the iconic red, yellow and white Shell V Power Mustangs tearing up Supercars tracks from afar,” Mayor Harding said.
“Now it’s our chance to get up close to a real competition race car – and meet Brodie, the 2023 Supercars champion, and Rylan, one of the best young drivers on the circuit.”
Fully Charged also showcased an impressive lineup of emergency service vehicles, Ipswich Waste Services trucks, a Bell 206 JetRanger helicopter, and breathtaking aerobatic displays from Freedom Formation and Matt Hall Racing pilot Kris Sieczkowski.
The excitement continued on Sunday with the debut of Monster Machine Day at Stockland Providence in South Ripley, featuring SEE Civil’s largest and most hardworking machinery.
Meanwhile, motorsport fans packed Willowbank, where 2 Days of Thunder delivered high octane racing across nine categories at Queensland Raceway, while the nearby Diesel Assault brought drag racing fans to their feet.
The festival once again cemented Ipswich’s reputation as a powerhouse for engines, aviation and adrenaline fuelled entertainment.
