Sydney Motorsport Park - Small and nice racing venue
Sydney Motorsport Park is a racing circuit located on Brabham Drive, around 40 kilometres west of the Sydney, in New South Wales. This venue, previously called Eastern Creek, is the only Australian circuit with FIA Grade 2 International license and only permanent racing track in Sydney, that hosts both car and motorcycle races.
Circuit development was made soon after opening
Expansion of motorsport in Australia during the 1980s sparked the desire of local authorities to think about making facility suitable for international racing events near Sydney. A consortium was formed to review the situation, with Sir Jack Brabham also being involved in the project. After the development plans were approved in 1989, and construction began soon after and Sydney Motorsport Park was opened in November 1990. The stands capacity is 4.000, with a view to a majority of the track, while the teams and drivers have available 50 garages with direct access to the paddock area.
Sydney Motorsport Park
After suggestions that Sydney Motorsport Park needs redevelopment to meet modern standards, local government made a decision about upgrading, with an idea to make the track suitable for bigger racing events. Three years later, the circuit received nine million dollars funding and works of redeveloping the circuit, building of new pit facilities and new race control tower began. On 21 May 2012, the circuit was officially renamed from Eastern Creek International Raceway to Sydney Motorsport Park, with Australian Racing Drivers Club as an operator.
Track with four layouts
The track has four different configurations. Brabham Circuit, or Extended Circuit, is 4.5 km long, with 18 turns, and the lap time record holder is Bryan Sala who set the time 1:50.2739 driving Match A50 during Formula 5000 race in 2012. Gardner Circuit, or Grand Prix Circuit, is 3.93 km long with 11 turns. Driving A1GP Lola Zytek in 2007 A1 Grand Prix, Nico Hulkenberg set fastest lap time – 1:19.1420.
Sydney Motorsport park layout
Druitt Circuit, or North Circuit, is 2.8 km long and has only eight turns. Record time 0:59.6077 was set by Chris Farrell in Swift 014, during 2012 Formula Atlantic race. The last configuration is Amaroo Circuit or South Circuit. It is only 1.8 km long, with 13 turns, and the record of 0:53.3600 for was set by Nick Kelly driving Radical SRS at 2013 Le Mans Sports.
Unofficially, the fastest lap of all time at Brabham circuit was set by Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo in 2014. Driving a Red Bull RB7 formula during the Top Gear festival, he set the time at the incredible 1:11.2330.
V8 Supercars events are regular at Sydney Motorsport Park
In 1998, this amazing racing venue was included in the V8 Supercars championship, previously called Australian Touring Cars Championship. By the end of 2015, Mark Skaife is most successful Australian Touring Cars’ series driver at this circuit with five wins.
V8 Supercars event at Sydney Motorsport Park
Sydney Motorsport Park was the host of the Australian round of A1 Grand Prix three times while the Australian motorcycle Grand Prix was held at this circuit from 1991 to 1996. Sydney Motorsport Park is also a popular venue for many music festivals and rock concerts.
Getting there and accommodation
Located 45-minutes drive from Sydney International airport, Motorsport Park is well connected with road network but if you are without a car, it is good to know that public transport is not perfect. There is only limited number of buses and trains that operates in that direction so checking the timetable is necessary, especially on the weekends.
The accommodation won’t be a problem. In the range of 15 km from the track there is many various types of hotels, lodges, and guest houses and, of course, city of Sydney has a plenty to offer.
Address: Ferrers Road, Eastern Creek NSW 2766, Australia
Phone: +61 2 9672 1000
Website: www.sydneymotorsportpark.com.au
