A FORMER staple on Sandown Raceway’s calendar, Easternats, is set to make a return in 2027, albeit at a new Victorian home.
The event has been acquired by the Tuff Streeters group, and it is moving to Victorian Motorsports Park, formerly known as Heathcote Park Raceway.
The new organisers have been working closely with the event’s founder and promoter, Jon Davison, to bring the fixture back.
The original event ran from 1997 to 2009.
In 2010, the fixture’s cancellation caused a furore amongst its supporters.
Sandown is permitted to run five events a year at up to 95 dB, which this year includes the Penrite Oil Sandown 500 for Supercars, the Shannons SpeedSeries, and a pair of Victorian Trophy Tour events.
The originally scheduled VHRR Historic Sandown was cancelled for 2026 after a date shuffle to accommodate the Supercars event, amid a growing slate of horse racing meets at the venue.
“This marks far more than the return of an event; it represents the revival of a legacy deeply embedded in Australian automotive culture,” read a statement from the event.
“For an entire generation of enthusiasts, Easternats was more than just a motorsport festival. It was a rite of passage, a staple on the calendar, and one of the most influential automotive events of its era.
“To ensure the authenticity and spirit of the original event is preserved, we have been working closely alongside original founder and promoter Jon Davison, who successfully led Easternats from 1997 to 2009.
“His involvement has been instrumental in helping shape the next chapter of this legendary brand.
“Tuff Streeters founder Rory Higgins and business partner John Rica are honoured to lead the relaunch.”
“Easternats was a household name growing up,” said Rory Higgins, Tuff Streeters founder.
“John and I attended the event every single year at Sandown, so to now be entrusted with bringing it back is something incredibly special to us.
“We know what this event meant to people, and our goal is to honour that legacy while building an experience that inspires the next generation of car enthusiasts.”
Easternats is scheduled for March 26-28, 2027.
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