1995 Simtek F1 Demo Set for Queensland Raceway Historic Event

Tony Quinn’s 1995 Simtek S951 is scheduled for demonstration runs at Queensland Raceway’s Classic QLD historic meeting, giving Australian fans a rare chance to see 1990s Formula 1 machinery in action. The car, which last ran publicly at the Adelaide Motorsport Festival in February, will appear on track and in the display paddock throughout the weekend.

Why it matters:

Opportunities to see classic F1 cars in Australia remain scarce outside major festivals, making this a standout attraction for Queensland fans. The Simtek S951 also holds a unique place in the sport’s history as the final car produced by the short-lived British team before financial collapse ended its campaign just five races into 1995.

The details:

• The S951 was built as a direct evolution of Simtek’s 1994 car and contested the first five rounds of the 1995 season.
• It was driven by Italian Domenico Schiattarella and Jos Verstappen, father of four-time world champion Max Verstappen, but failed to qualify in Monaco and scored no points.
• The team’s collapse followed financial struggles in the wake of Roland Ratzenberger’s death at Imola in 1994, leaving the S951 as Simtek’s last F1 chassis.
• Scottish-Australian businessman Tony Quinn currently owns the car and campaigns it at heritage events.
• While the Simtek will only complete demonstration laps, Classic QLD features over 100 historic vehicles across categories including touring cars, F5000, Commodore Cup, Trans Am and motorbikes.
• Friday is reserved for practice and qualifying, with racing from 7:30am on Saturday and Sunday. Spectator entry opens at 8:00am and camping is available, though there will be no broadcast coverage.

What's next:

Classic QLD runs through the weekend at the Ipswich circuit. Between demonstration sessions, the Simtek will be parked among display vehicles, allowing fans to view the mid-1990s chassis up close while a diverse schedule of historic racing unfolds on track.