Tommy Stockdale, a Melburnian, unexpectedly found himself at Calder Park with his high-performance 2022 BMW M3 Touring, which clinched victory at the 2025 Optima Ultimate Street Car. Stockdale credited the car’s prowess for the win, highlighting its advanced features and power.
The Optima Ultimate Street Car event, originating in Australia in 2019, has evolved into a unique and challenging competition, attracting a diverse range of vehicles and drivers. The event features various categories and tests, including Autokhana, Speed Stop, design, engineering, and drag racing, making it a comprehensive assessment of both car and driver capabilities.
This year’s lineup of 84 cars showcased a mix of returning champions and new contenders, with vehicles ranging from classic muscle cars to modern exotics. The competition saw a variety of cars, including Holden Monaros, Audis, Mustangs, Falcons, and even a Toyota Cressida and a vintage Buick Riviera, adding excitement and diversity to the event.
Stockdale’s winning BMW M3 Touring, known for its exceptional performance and cutting-edge design, proved its mettle in various challenges, thanks to its powerful engine, advanced suspension, and lightweight construction. The car’s adaptability and traction played a crucial role in securing victory, especially in the face of unpredictable weather conditions.
The intense competition between Stockdale and Reece McIntosh, the 2019 winner, showcased the skill and determination of both drivers. While McIntosh’s BMW M2 excelled in certain events, Stockdale’s M3 Touring demonstrated superior performance in critical challenges, ultimately securing the overall victory by a narrow margin.
Heath van der Waerden’s retro-inspired Holden Torana hatch, the 2025 Eagle Auto Parts Street Machine of the Year, also impressed with its durability and performance, earning him fifth place overall and first in the Muscle class. The event saw a mix of classic and modern vehicles vying for top honors across different categories.
The competition highlighted the importance of driver skill, vehicle capabilities, and adaptability to changing conditions, as participants faced challenges ranging from wet tracks to drag racing. The event’s multidisciplinary format tested the limits of both cars and drivers, making for an exhilarating and closely contested competition.
The success of Stockdale’s BMW M3 Touring underscored the significance of pairing a high-performance vehicle with a skilled driver, showcasing the winning combination needed to excel in events like the Optima Ultimate Street Car. The event’s organizers and participants lauded the competition for its unique format and challenging nature, setting the stage for more thrilling showdowns in the future.
As the Optima Ultimate Street Car continues to attract enthusiasts and drivers from diverse backgrounds, the event remains a premier platform for showcasing automotive excellence and pushing the boundaries of street machine performance. The 2025 edition was a testament to the passion, skill, and innovation driving the street machine community towards new heights of competition and camaraderie.
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