16 February 2025
The 2024 Historic Leyburn Sprints, which celebrated the 75th anniversary of Leyburn’s Australian Grand Prix, has been named Queensland State Event of the Year by Motorsport Australia.
The honour was announced at the annual Motorsport Australia Awards presentation in Brisbane last night. It coincided with confirmation the Sprints has received fresh funding of $25,000 from the Queensland Government to support its 2025 event, which will be run on 23-24 August.
Last August’s 28th annual Historic Leyburn Sprints, staged on the closed streets of the tiny Darling Downs town, was the most successful on record. Almost 18,000 people attended across the weekend to see 230 cars on track, feature cars including some original 1949 grand prix entries and meet former Australian Grand Prix drivers Warwick Brown, Bruce Allison, John Bowe and Charlie O’Brien.
Sprints President Tricia Chant accepted the award on behalf of the community volunteer organising committee.
“The 2024 Queensland State Event of the Year award is a huge thrill for everyone involved with the Historic Leyburn Sprints. We’re one big family – the volunteer community organisers, Motorsport Australia officials, the competitors and the loyal spectators and supporters who all return every August for a wonderful celebration of grassroots motorsport,” Mrs Chant said.
“Last year was truly special. It was an enormous weekend and our VIP former grand prix drivers were blown away by the atmosphere and scale of an event they had known little about.
“We already have great plans for 2025 and so the news that Tourism and Events Queensland’s Queensland Destination Events Program (QDEP) has renewed and increased its funding is extremely welcome. This year will be the 29th running of the event.
“The Sprints brings a very significant community and economic benefit to the Southern Darling Downs region, and particularly to our local organisations, and the funding will help boost that return even more.”
Southern Downs Mayor Melissa Hamilton congratulated the event organisers and highlighted the role volunteers play in making the iconic event an annual success.
“Huge congratulations to Tricia and all of the volunteers who have made the Historic Leyburn Sprints such an iconic event and which draws so many visitors to our region every year,” Mayor Hamilton said.
“Your commitment and hard work are the driving force behind this remarkable achievement.
“Beating out events at major facilities like Willowbank and Morgan Park is a massive achievement. The Historic Leyburn Sprints is truly a one-of-a-kind event that transforms an entire town.”
Peter Homan, CEO of Queensland Country Tourism, said the Historic Leyburn Sprints was an iconic event that truly put Queensland Country on the map.
“Leyburn Sprints has history, heart and a whole lot of horsepower and this well-deserved recognition from Motorsport Australia reinforces what we already know - Leyburn knows how to put on a fantastic event,” Mr Homan said.
“The 75th anniversary was a huge milestone, drawing visitors from far and wide, showcasing just how special Leyburn is. This event not only honours the legacy of the Australian Grand Prix but also drives visitation and economic benefit to the region.
“A big congratulations to the organisers, volunteers, and the entire community for making it such a success.
The Historic Leyburn Sprints is run on a 1.0 kilometre course on the closed streets of Leyburn. A busy goldrush centre in the 1860s, the township now has around 400 residents. The many historic sites include the 1863-licensed Royal Hotel and farmland just outside the town that hosted the 1949 Australian Grand Prix on an ex-WW2 airfield.
The 2025 Historic Leyburn Sprints is proudly supported by the Queensland Destination Events Program, Motorsport Australia and many commercial sponsors. The Historic Leyburn Sprints was named 2024 and 2017 Motorsport Australia Queensland State Event of the Year. Proceeds assist local organisations and projects through the Historic Leyburn Sprints Community Benefit Fun.
