Dean Tighe clinches maiden Victorian Hill Climb title at Mount Leura

The 2025 Trydel EZIUP and GO Victorian Hill Climb Championship (VHCC) advanced to Round 3, with the Ballarat Light Car Club hosting the event at Mount Leura.

The weekend attracted 83 competitors who enjoyed ideal weather conditions throughout the two-day public road event.

Participants had the chance to refine their speeds with five runs on Saturday and four on Sunday, presenting ample opportunities to improve their times.

Securing his first VHCC Round victory, Dean Tighe completed the course in an impressive 28.39 seconds driving his Dallara F395.

Throughout the weekend, David Mahon and Alan Foley kept up the pressure on Tighe, with Mahon finishing in a commendable 28.59 in his Dallara F394 and Foley achieving his best time of 28.70 in his RFoley Libre.

Both Mahon and Foley displayed remarkable performances during their final runs, vying for position against 2024 VHCC Champion Mike Barker, who did not make the podium, finishing with a time of 29.01 in his Hayward 6.

Mirko Grbic claimed fifth place overall and was the fastest tin top of the weekend in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7.

In the tin top contest, Grbic showcased dominance, finishing well ahead of David Harris in his Subaru WRX and Zachary Hanlin in his BMW 140i.

With a noteworthy lap of 29.96 seconds, Grbic entered the ranks of the elite sub-30-second tin tops in the history of Mount Leura.

Sarah Bail earned the title of fastest female competitor, clocking a 36.99 in her Mallock U2 Mk21 Sports Car.

The class battles provided some of the closest racing seen over the weekend, as David Casey clinched victory in the Sports Cars Open/Closed up to 2000cc class, edging out Sei Vella by just 0.37 seconds.

In the Sports Sedan AWD category, Geoff Cooling and Tom Foley were separated by an astonishing 0.1 seconds, while John Read and Lasith Liyanage were locked in a tie in Production Sports, both recording identical times of 38.89 seconds.

Damian Faulkner managed to hold off Peter Lock by a slim margin of 0.29 seconds in the Improved Production 0-1600cc class, and the Formula Vee category concluded dramatically as Leigh Ball and Harold Roberts finished in a tie for second place, each with matching laps of 39.91 seconds.

With numerous tight finishes and record-breaking performances, Mount Leura continues to stand out as one of the most thrilling challenges in the championship.

Round 4 of the 2025 Trydel EZIUP and GO Victorian Hill Climb Championship is set to take place on April 27 at Bryant Park, with the event being hosted by PIARC.