First up was Shepparton’s Garry Jacobson, who co-drove to a 12th-place finish at Bathurst 1000 alongside Tickford Racing partner Thomas Randle.
The 31-year-old’s return to the great race was a steady one, with the Jacobson-Randle pairing narrowly missing out on a top-10 finish by a seven-second margin.
Race favourite Shane van Gisbergen topped the podium in stunning fashion, beating out former Tickford member Broc Feeney after a gearbox issue plagued him late in the 161-lap thriller.
Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri, who has family connections leading back to Shepparton, secured his best-ever finish to a Formula 1 Grand Prix race on Monday.
The Aussie prodigy, at age 22, is showcasing why is one of the most exciting prospects on the grid in his rookie season.
The McLaren driver claimed a memorable second overnight on Monday at the Qatar Grand Prix ― his second consecutive podium finish after his maiden third at Japan.
It capped an extraordinary weekend for the Melbourne-born Piastri.
The Qatar event featured the fourth sprint race of the 2023 season as F1 continues to shake up its regular Grand Prix schedule.
Piastri, in an upgraded McLaren car, went on to clinch his maiden pole in F1 during the sprint qualifying on Saturday after he qualified sixth for Sunday’s feature race.
The young gun would go on score his first F1 race win in the whirlwind 19-lap sprint.
Those who know him closely in Shepparton and who have followed his career for the past three years have always expected the promising talent to excel at the highest level.
Piastri, who claimed a three-peat of championships which included the F3 and F2 titles, bided his time as a reserve driver in 2022.
With a seat opening up this year, the youngster has grabbed his chance with both hands and turned heads in one of the best seasons compiled by a rookie in more than a decade.
That statement was once again thrust into the spotlight as Piastri worked his way from sixth to second during Sunday’s Grand Prix to clinch a career-best finish.
So with less than six races left in the campaign, what can the maestro achieve?
One thing is certain, however, and that is Piastri’s followers in Shepparton can expect more thrills and cheers this year and beyond.
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