Australia's largest car festival revs into action amid soaring temperatures
Australia’s biggest car festival roars to life amid a scorching heatwave, thrill-seeking crowds and strict policing.
Australia's largest car festival, Summernats, is underway in Canberra, with organisers anticipating the event's 38th edition to reach full capacity.
About 130,000 people are expected to attend the festival, which runs from Thursday to Sunday, and draws visitors from interstate and overseas.
The festival kicked off with its City Cruise down Northbourne Avenue, before moving to Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC) for four days of car demonstrations, burnout competitions, live music and the crowd-favourite Mulletfest.
About 3,000 cars will participate in the festival this year. (ABC News: Callum Flinn)
The celebrations come as Canberra swelters under a heatwave, with temperatures expected to climb into the high 30s.
Summernats managing director Andy Lopez said extra precautions had been put in place to keep festival-goers safe.
"We've stepped up what we can do, making sure there's more free water available on site, plenty of sunscreen being handed out by our crew, and 50,000 Zooper Doopers," he said.
Police warn against hoon driving
ACT Policing have already seized four vehicles allegedly involved in illegal activity ahead of the festival, including a 1991 Holden Commodore believed to have been used for burnouts on the Barton Highway.
Detective Acting Superintendent Mark Steel says police already seized four cars in the lead-up to the event. (ABC News: Adam Kennedy)
Detective Acting Superintendent Mark Steel said attendees should expect an increased police presence on ACT and NSW roads during Summernats.
"We've actually seized four vehicles in the lead up. We seized five in total last year. So that's disappointing,"
he said.
"But we've got resources on the ground now and we're obviously working with the event organisers to ensure a safe event."
ACT Policing's zero-tolerance approach to hoon driving and antisocial behaviour follows incidents in past festivals.
In 2024, ACT and NSW police made multiple arrests, impounded 13 vehicles and issued more than 100 defect notices in response to hooning and other antisocial behaviour linked to the festival.