Sydney Motorsport Park

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Sydney Motorsport Park
"The Home of Australian Motorsport"
Sydney Motorsport Park Gardner.png
LocationEastern Creek, New South Wales
Time zoneUTC+10:00
Coordinates33°48′15″S 150°52′14″E / 33.80417°S 150.87056°E / -33.80417; 150.87056Coordinates: 33°48′15″S 150°52′14″E / 33.80417°S 150.87056°E / -33.80417; 150.87056
FIA Grade2
OperatorAustralian Racing Drivers Club
Opened10 November 1990
Major eventsAustralian motorcycle Grand Prix
A1 Grand Prix
International V8 Supercars Championship
Muscle Car Masters
World Time Attack
Brabham Circuit (Extended Circuit)
Length4.5 km (2.796 mi)
Turns18
Race lap record1:50.2739 (Australia , Matich A50, 2012, Formula 5000)
Gardner Circuit (Grand Prix Circuit)
Length3.93 km (2.442 mi)
Turns11
Race lap record1:19.1420 (Germany Nico Hülkenberg, A1GP Lola Zytek, 2007, A1 Grand Prix)
Druitt Circuit (North Circuit)
Length2.8 km (1.74 mi)
Turns8
Race lap record0:59.6077 (, Swift 014, 2012, Formula Atlantic)
Amaroo Circuit (South Circuit)
Length1.8 km (1.118 mi)
Turns13
Race lap record0:53.3600 (, Radical SRS, 2013, LeMans Sports)
Websitewww.sydneymotorsportpark.com.au

Sydney Motorsport Park (known until May 2012 as Eastern Creek International Raceway) is a motorsport circuit located on Brabham Drive, Eastern Creek (40-kilometres west of the Sydney CBD),[1] New South Wales, Australia, adjacent to the Western Sydney International Dragway. It was built and is owned by the New South Wales Government and is operated by the Australian Racing Drivers Club. The circuit is one of only two permanent tracks in Australia with an FIA Grade 2 license[2] and is licensed for both cars and motorcycles.

History[]

The development of circuit was approved in 1989[3] and construction began soon after. However, construction was delayed by poor weather and debates over land ownership. A test race open to Superbikes was held in July 1990 and the circuit was officially opened by then-New South Wales Minister for Sport Bob Rowland-Smith on 10 November 1990 with the running of the Nissan Sydney 500 endurance race for Group A touring cars. In 1991, the consortium formed to fund the circuit suffered financial problems and the complex was purchased by the New South Wales Government.[4] The pit facilities provide fifty garages with direct access to the paddock area and a covered 4,000-seat grandstand overlooks the finish line, providing a view of the majority of the circuit. Events are held at the circuit on most weekends during the year.[2]

Redevelopment[]

On 11 August 2006, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that Ron Dickson, the A1 Grand Prix circuit designer who also designed the Surfers Paradise Street Circuit, suggested that Sydney Motorsport Park was not up to modern standards and needed to be upgraded.[5] On 28 April 2008, it was announced that Apex Circuit Design Ltd. had been commissioned to perform a $350,000 feasibility study on upgrading the track to suit more purposes and hold larger events such as the Australian Formula One Grand Prix,[6] however nothing came of this proposed upgrade.

In early 2011, the circuit received funding for a $9 million upgrade, with the New South Wales Government providing $7 million and the Australian Racing Drivers Club funding the other $2 million.[7] The upgrade reconfigured the circuit into four layouts, with two able to be operated at the same time, with a total length of 4.5 kilometres. The upgrade also included an additional pit lane facility to cater for the new configuration, a new race control tower and new amenities buildings.[2] Work on the upgrades began in June 2011, with a new piece of road joining turns four and nine.[8] This link road, finished in October 2011, created the new "Druitt Circuit", also known as the North Circuit.[9] The 830-metre extension on the south-eastern part of the circuit was completed in May 2012 to create the new "Amaroo Circuit" (or South Circuit). On 21 May 2012, the circuit was renamed from Eastern Creek International Raceway to Sydney Motorsport Park.[10] Construction of the new pit lane between turns four and five also began at this time.

Configurations[]

Brabham (Extended) Circuit
Gardner (Grand Prix) Circuit
Druitt (North) Circuit
Amaroo (South) Circuit

Major events[]

The turn one spectator hill.
The race control building and the main pit lane.
The secondary pit lane constructed for the South Circuit. The main pit lane and grandstand can be seen in the background.

Motorcycling[]

After the first Australian motorcycle Grand Prix held at Phillip Island in 1989, there was a conflict over advertising between the Victorian Government and the tobacco industry, who were major sponsors of the Grand Prix teams. The New South Wales Government saw this as an opportunity to bring the race to Sydney and in October 1990, a deal was made for the Grand Prix to be held at what was then known as Eastern Creek International Raceway from 1991 to 1993. The race remained at the circuit until 1996 before returning to Phillip Island in 1997.[4]

The circuit has also hosted rounds of the Australian Superbike Championship.

Australian motorcycle Grand Prix winners[]

Year 125 cc 250 cc 500 cc
1991 Italy Loris Capirossi Italy Luca Cadalora United States Wayne Rainey
1992 Germany Ralf Waldmann Italy Luca Cadalora Australia Michael Doohan
1993 Germany Dirk Raudies Japan Tetsuya Harada United States Kevin Schwantz
1994 Japan Kazuto Sakata Italy Max Biaggi United States John Kocinski
1995 Japan Haruchika Aoki Germany Ralf Waldmann Australia Michael Doohan
1996 Australia Garry McCoy Italy Max Biaggi Italy Loris Capirossi

A1 Grand Prix[]

The Australian round of the A1 Grand Prix championship was held at Sydney Motorsport Park from the 2005–06 season to the 2007–08 season. During the 2006–07 event on 4 February 2007, German driver Nico Hülkenberg set the outright lap record for the original circuit layout with a 1:19.142 lap time in the A1 Team Germany prepared Lola-Zytek.[11]

A1 Grand Prix winners[]

Year Driver Car Entrant
2005–06 France Nicolas Lapierre Lola-Zytek A1 Team France
France Nicolas Lapierre Lola-Zytek A1 Team France
2006–07 Germany Nico Hülkenberg Lola-Zytek A1 Team Germany
Germany Nico Hülkenberg Lola-Zytek A1 Team Germany
2007–08 France Loïc Duval Lola-Zytek A1 Team France
South Africa Adrian Zaugg Lola-Zytek A1 Team South Africa

Touring cars[]

A V8 Supercar race in 2008.
A V8 Supercar race in 2014.
Prior to the main race at the inaugural Sydney SuperNight 300 in 2018.

The first touring car event at the circuit was the 1990 Nissan Sydney 500, an endurance race which was the final round of both the 1990 Australian Endurance Championship and the 1990 Australian Manufacturers' Championship. In the early 1990s, the circuit also hosted the Winfield Triple Challenge, an event which featured Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC) teams and drivers alongside Superbikes and drag racing.

The circuit first hosted a championship round of the ATCC (now known as V8 Supercars) in 1992 and held a round every year, excluding 1998 and 2006, until 2008. Further to this, the circuit hosted the season-ending Grand Finale in 2003 and 2004, with Marcos Ambrose winning the round and the championship title on both occasions.[12] In 2009 the circuit was dropped in favour of the Sydney 500 on the Sydney Olympic Park Street Circuit.[13] The circuit returned to the V8 Supercars calendar in 2012 after V8 Supercars failed to secure a second international event.[14] After another year off the calendar in 2013, the circuit has returned to the calendar from 2014 onwards.

The official pre-season V8 Supercar test day was held at the circuit in 2011[14] and 2013 to 2015. The 2013 test day was the first time that the four Car of the Future manufacturers appeared together at a public event.[15] The 2015 test day clashed with the 2015 Liqui Moly Bathurst 12 Hour, preventing V8 Supercars drivers from competing in the race.[16]

ATCC / V8 Supercar round winners[]

Year Driver Car Entrant
Group A
1992 Australia John Bowe Ford Sierra RS500 Dick Johnson Racing
Group 3A Touring Cars
1993 Australia Glenn Seton Ford EB Falcon Glenn Seton Racing
1994 Australia Peter Brock Holden VP Commodore Holden Racing Team
1995 Australia Mark Skaife Holden VR Commodore Gibson Motorsport
1996 Australia Craig Lowndes Holden VR Commodore Holden Racing Team
1997 Australia Glenn Seton Ford EL Falcon Glenn Seton Racing
V8 Supercars
1999 Australia Mark Skaife Holden VT Commodore Holden Racing Team
2000 Australia Mark Skaife Holden VX Commodore Holden Racing Team
2001 Australia Mark Skaife Holden VX Commodore Holden Racing Team
2002 Australia Mark Skaife Holden VX Commodore Holden Racing Team
20031 Australia Marcos Ambrose Ford BA Falcon Stone Brothers Racing
Australia Marcos Ambrose Ford BA Falcon Stone Brothers Racing
20041 Australia Rick Kelly Holden VY Commodore Kmart Racing Team
Australia Marcos Ambrose Ford BA Falcon Stone Brothers Racing
2005 Australia Craig Lowndes Ford BA Falcon Triple Eight Race Engineering
2007 Australia Mark Skaife Holden VE Commodore Holden Racing Team
2008 Australia Will Davison Ford BF Falcon Dick Johnson Racing
2012 Australia Craig Lowndes Holden VE Commodore Triple Eight Race Engineering
2014 New Zealand Shane van Gisbergen Holden VF Commodore Tekno Autosports
2015 Australia Chaz Mostert Ford FG X Falcon Prodrive Racing Australia
2016 Australia Jamie Whincup Holden VF Commodore Triple Eight Race Engineering
2017 New Zealand Fabian Coulthard Ford FG X Falcon DJR Team Penske
2017 New Zealand Fabian Coulthard Ford FG X Falcon DJR Team Penske
2018 New Zealand Shane van Gisbergen Holden ZB Commodore Triple Eight Race Engineering
20201 New Zealand Scott McLaughlin Ford Mustang GT DJR Team Penske
New Zealand Scott McLaughlin Ford Mustang GT DJR Team Penske
20212
Notes
  • ^1 – Sydney Motorsport Park hosted two rounds of the 2003, 2004 and 2020 V8 Supercar Championship Series.
  • ^2 – Sydney Motorsport Park hosted four rounds of the 2021 V8 Supercars Championship Series.

Winfield Triple Challenge[]

Between 1992 and 1995, the circuit hosted a non-championship Triple Challenge event in late January consisting of touring cars, Superbikes and drag racing. The event was backed by the Winfield cigarette brand, to promote their sponsorship of all three categories of racing. Glenn Seton Racing, sponsored by rival cigarette brand Peter Jackson, won the touring car element of the event in all four years, with eponymous team owner/driver Glenn Seton winning three.[17] In practice for the 1995 event, the Winfield-backed entry of Mark Skaife had a major accident at Turn 1, hitting concrete drag racing barriers which resulted in injuries that forced him to miss the first round of the 1995 Australian Touring Car Championship.[18] The event concluded with the ban of cigarette advertising in Australia at the end of 1995.

Touring car winners[]

Year Driver Car Entrant
1992 Australia Glenn Seton Ford Sierra RS500 Glenn Seton Racing
1993 Australia Glenn Seton Ford EB Falcon Glenn Seton Racing
1994 Australia Glenn Seton Ford EB Falcon Glenn Seton Racing
1995 Australia Alan Jones Ford EB Falcon Glenn Seton Racing

Muscle Car Masters[]

An event organised and promoted by Australian Muscle Car magazine, the Muscle Car Masters is held on Father's Day every year. The event includes races and demonstration laps featuring Australian muscle cars and ex-race cars from the 1950s to the 1990s. Regular racing classes include Group N, Group C, Group A and Touring Car Masters while different car clubs have their cars on display each year and take part in demonstration laps. Historically significant cars in Australian motorsport are also present and complete laps of the circuit. While the main focus is on the history of Australian touring car racing, other classes, such as Formula 5000, have also appeared.

Music venue[]

In the 1990s, the venue held a number of rock concerts and music festivals including Guns N' Roses, Bon Jovi, Pearl Jam, the Alternative Nation festival and the Colossus 2 dance festival.[2] Music festivals returned to the circuit in 2009 and 2010 when it hosted the Soundwave Festival for both years.[19]

Lap records[]

Former Formula One driver Mark Webber drove a Red Bull Racing RB7 Formula One car during the Top Gear Festival at the circuit in March 2014 and set a time of 1:11.2330. However, as this time was not recorded during a race, it does not count as a lap record.[20]

As of 15 September 2016.

Unless otherwise stated, all records shown are for the original Gardner (Grand Prix) Circuit.

Class Driver Vehicle Time Date
Outright Germany Nico Hülkenberg Lola Lola B05/52-Zytek 1:19.1420 4 February 2007
Racing Cars
A1 Grand Prix Germany Nico Hülkenberg Lola B05/52-Zytek 1:19.1420 4 February 2007
Formula Holden Australia Tim Leahey Reynard 92D Holden 1:22.5131 26 March 2000
Formula Three Australia Nick Foster Mygale M08 Mercedes-Benz 1:22.6290 13 July 2013
S5000 Spain Roberto Merhi Ligier JS F3–S5000 1:26.0222 20 November 2021
Formula 5000 Australia Alex Davison Lola T332 1:26.8987 7 June 2015
Formula Libre/Historic Australia Ty Hanger Ralt RT4 Ford 1:27.6786 5 November 2005
Superkarts Australia Warren McIlveen Stockman 115 Honda 1:28.1133 5 July 2015
Formula Two Australia Arthur Abrahams Cheetah Mk.8 Volkswagen 1:29.3500 25 August 1991
Formula 4 Australia Nick Rowe Mygale F4 Ford 1:31.5520 19 August 2017
Formula Ford Australia Cameron Hill Mygale SJ10a Ford 1:34.5519 5 July 2015
Formula Ford Kent Australia Rob Storey Spirit WL07 Ford 1:38.9196 22 September 2007
Formula Vee 1600 Australia Mitchel Martin Sabre 02 1:46.7250 26 August 2012
Formula Vee 1200 Australia Jay Hall Jacer Volkswagen 1:50.9297 25 September 2005
Sports Cars
Radical Australia Cup United Kingdom James Winslow Radical SR8 1:25.7027 14 July 2013
Supersports/Sports Racer Australia Adam Proctor Stohr WF1 1:26.7160 13 July 2014
GT Sports Cars Australia George Miedecke Aston Martin Vantage GT3 1:27.7611 27 August 2016
Production Sports Denmark Allan Simonsen Lamborghini Gallardo LP560 GT3 1:28.0570 28 May 2011
Carrera Cup New Zealand Steven Richards Porsche 991 GT3 Cup 1:30.9042 24 August 2014
Porsche GT3 Cup Australia Ryan Simpson Porsche 997 GT3 Cup 1:32.2420 4 July 2015
Nations Cup Australia Paul Stokell Lamborghini Diablo GTR 1:33.5918 18 July 2004
Clubman Sports Australia Chris Barry PRB Clubman 1:38.7875 23 June 2002
Aussie Racing Cars Australia Joshua Anderson Camaro-Yamaha 1:42.0702 30 April 2021
Porsche 944 Australia Chris Lewis-Williams Porsche 944 1:45.9016 20 May 2012
Historic Sports Cars
Group Sc Australia Geoff Morgan Porsche 911 Carrera 1:45.8382 7 June 2015
Group Sb Australia Kevin Luke Shelby Mustang GT350 1:49.6999 7 June 2015
Group Sa Australia Peter Jackson Austin-Healey 3000 MkI 1:51.8841 28 May 2011
Touring Cars
Australia Barton Mawer Porsche 968 1.19.277 18 October 2019
Supercars Championship Australia Jamie Whincup Holden ZB Commodore 1:29.8424 4 August 2018
Sports Sedan Australia Tony Ricciardello Alfa Romeo GTV-Chevrolet 1:28.9391 15 July 2012
Super2 Series New Zealand Richie Stanaway Ford FG X Falcon 1:32.9579 20 August 2017
Trans Am Australia Australia Owen Kelly Ford Mustang Trans Am 1:33.7815 1 May 2021
Super Touring Australia Cameron McLean BMW 320i 1:33.8642 7 June 1998
Group A* Australia John Bowe Ford Sierra RS500 1:36.21 5 June 1992
Improved Production Australia Ray Hislop Ford BF Falcon 1:40.7119 26 August 2012
Italian Challenge Australia Andrew Leithhead Alfa Romeo GTV6 1:44.2082 24 June 2001
Commodore Cup Australia Tony Bates Holden VS Commodore 1:44.8247 17 July 2011
Saloon Cars Australia Ben Grice Holden VT Commodore 1:46.0023 5 July 2015
Group 3E Australia Bob Pearson Mazda RX-7 1:46.4351 7 November 2004
Toyota 86 Racing Series Australia Zak Bates Toyota 86 1:47.9579 30 October 2021
V8 Ute Racing Series Australia Grant Johnson Holden VZ SS Ute 1:50.4062 26 November 2006
HQ Holden Australia Greg King HQ Holden 1:58.4667 7 December 1997
Historic Touring Cars
Group A* Australia Carey McMahon Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R 1:37.8622 6 September 2015
Touring Car Masters Australia John Bowe Ford Mustang Trans-Am 1:41.2736 24 August 2014
Central Muscle Cars New Zealand Jason Richards Chevrolet Camaro 1:41.5119 6 September 2009
Group C New Zealand Jason Richards Holden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback 1:43.0145 4 September 2011
Group Nc Australia Ross Donnelley Ford Mustang 1:46.0209 28 November 2003
Group Nb Australia Bill Trengrove Ford Mustang 1.50.5692 4 September 2011
Group Na Australia Craig Stephenson Holden FJ 2:11.2755 22 June 2003
Motorcycles
500cc Grand Prix Spain Àlex Crivillé Honda NSR500 1:30.359 20 October 1996
Superbike Australia Wayne Maxwell 1:29.772 10 September 2017
250cc Grand Prix Italy Max Biaggi Aprilia RSV 250 1:32.084 20 October 1996
Formula Xtreme Australia Kevin Curtain Yamaha R1 1:32.657 4 October 2003
Supersport Australia Rick Olson Yamaha YZF-R6 1:32.727 5 October 2013
125cc Grand Prix Japan Haruchika Aoki Honda RS125R 1:36.272 20 October 1996
Sidecar United Kingdom Steve Abbott/United Kingdom Jamie Biggs LCR-Suzuki GSX-R1000 1:37.420 1 May 2005

* John Bowe's time was set during the 1992 Australian Touring Car Championship, when the ATCC was in its final year of Group A regulations. Carey McMahon's time was set during the 2015 Muscle Car Masters.

References[]

  1. ^ "Visitor Information – How to Get Here". Sydney Motorsport Park. Archived from the original on 10 April 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d "About the Park". Sydney Motorsport Park. Archived from the original on 9 April 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  3. ^ "History". Western Sydney Parklands. Archived from the original on 8 October 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  4. ^ a b Sharpe, Alan (2 February 2002). Pictorial History: Blacktown and District. Blacktown, NSW: Kingsclear Books Pty Ltd. p. 34. ISBN 0-908272-64-2.
  5. ^ "Race for street circuit may become endurance event". drive.com.au. 11 August 2006. Retrieved 3 May 2009. But A1GP track designer Ron Dickson, who created the Surfers Paradise Indy track, says money needs to be spent on Eastern Creek to bring it in line with today's standards.
  6. ^ "Eastern Creek International Raceway". Apex Circuit Design. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  7. ^ Barnett, Josh (29 January 2011). "New South Wales government to provide $7 million upgrade to Eastern Creek International Raceway". Fox Sports News. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  8. ^ "Work begins on Eastern Creek upgrade". SpeedCafe. 28 June 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  9. ^ "Video: New Eastern Creek North circuit". SpeedCafe. 27 October 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  10. ^ "Eastern Creek renamed Sydney Motorsport Park". SpeedCafe. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  11. ^ Hall, Sam (24 January 2013). "Webber shoots for Sydney lap record". The Standard. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
  12. ^ "Ambrose dominates for title triumph". theage.com.au. 5 December 2004. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
  13. ^ Brenden Hills (30 September 2008). "Homebush to host V8 Supercar race". Cumberland Courier. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  14. ^ a b "Eastern Creek added to 2012 V8 Supercars calendar". SpeedCafe. 22 April 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
  15. ^ "V8 Supercars announces 2013 championship calendar". SpeedCafe. 15 October 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
  16. ^ Ottley, Stephen (1 August 2015). "V8 Supercars takes over Bathurst 12 Hour". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  17. ^ Bartholomaeus, Stefan (17 June 2021). "HIDDEN VALLEY'S TRIPLE CHALLENGE THROWBACK | V8 Sleuth". V8 Sleuth. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  18. ^ Lynden, Peter. "ATCC: Mark Skaife crashes duting testing". Motorsport.com (19 January 1995). Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  19. ^ "Soundwave 2010". last.fm. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  20. ^ "Ricciardo destroys Sydney lap record". SpeedCafe. 9 March 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2014.

External links[]

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