Wanneroo Raceway

Wanneroo Raceway is a motorsport circuit located in Neerabup, approximately 50 kilometres (30 mi) north of Perth in Western Australia. It was built by the WA Sporting Car Club.

Wanneroo Raceway
LocationWattle Avenue, Neerabup, Western Australia
Time zoneGMT +8
Coordinates31.6653°S 115.7913°E / -31.6653; 115.7913
OwnerWA Sporting Car Club
Opened2 March 1969
Major eventsAustralian Touring Car Championship
Supercars Championship
Australian Drivers' Championship
Australian Grand Prix (1979)
Australian Festival of Speed
Long circuit
Length2.411 km (1.498 mi)
Turns7
Race lap record0:52.2610[1] (Gary West, Lola T88/50 Buick, 2005)
Short circuit
Length1.760 km (1.094 mi)
Turns8
Race lap record0:45.4365[2] (Peter Morley, OMS CF10, 2014)

The circuit was originally known as Wanneroo Park and the first race meet took place in March 1969. Initially the major race per year was a 6-hour Le Mans style race for sedans and sports cars known as the Six Hour Le Mans. However, as interest dulled in that event, production car racing took over as the major race type. In 1979, the Australian Grand Prix was held for the first and so far only time at Wanneroo Raceway which coincided with the opening of the new pits and paddock area to the west of the circuit. The Grand Prix was won by South Australian Johnnie Walker driving a Lola T332 Formula 5000. Walker was the last driver to win the AGP driving a Formula 5000.

In 1992, it was decided that a short circuit would be constructed by linking Turn 5 on the current circuit to the back straight forming a new 1.7 kilometres (1.1 mi) long circuit. This extension was funded by prominent West Australian motorsport identity Alf Barbagallo and hence the circuit name was changed to Barbagallo Raceway.[3] The short circuit allowed for an increase in the types of racing including the inclusion of truck racing and also allowed events to be run at night.

The circuit was completely resurfaced in 2004 and this saw almost all lap records broken in the first few months of 2004. Due to the sandy nature of the area the circuit slowly became more and more abrasive over time and was considered one of toughest tyres in the country

The circuit was resurfaced again in early 2019.[4] The circuit was renamed Wanneroo Raceway in 2020.

Events
Formula One ace Mark Webber drove a demonstration run at the circuit on 28 November 2010.

The track holds a number of major race meets each year, with the biggest being a round of the Supercars Championship called the Perth SuperSprint. This is one of the biggest sporting events in Western Australia each year with over 50,000 people attending the 3 day event.

The circuit offers patrons drift racing as an occasional spectacle. Some criticism has also come from opponents of drifting, due to damage caused to the track surface, especially heading into Cat Corner at the end of the main straight, where entries of over 100 km/h (62 mph) are not uncommon.

The circuit hosted the inaugural Australian Festival of Speed in 2010. Formula One team Red Bull Racing and driver Mark Webber attended for a demonstration.[5] The festival never returned to the circuit, having bankrupted the owners..

The circuit also hosts a number of motorcycle racing and training events, including the WA State Championships for Superbikes, Supersport and Sidecars — along with a number of support classes.

Upgrades

Due to the removal of the circuit from the V8 Supercar calendar for one year, the state government considered upgrading the track to improve the quality of the track and its facilities.

Many options were considered, which included extending the track to the north which would roughly double the length of the circuit, there were also alternative extension plans which were smaller. The widening of the track was also addressed, which would be needed to extend the track for safety regulations. The plan of the track extension was expensive if all aspects of the plan were considered, this would see this major upgrade of the circuit be postponed until the necessary upgrades are completed.

On 18 July 2011, the track's control tower was torn down, beginning the first stage of upgrades that saw the track widened, and a new pit facility built in the centre of the circuit, with connecting bridge. Improved lighting and safety barriers, as well as upgrades to facilities and buildings within the circuit formed part of the project.

Touring Car round winners
Peter Brock racing at Waneroo Park in 1985

Wanneroo Raceway has held rounds of the Australian Touring Car Championship since 1973. The circuit was left off the calendar from 1974–1977 and again in 2010.

Craig Lowndes has won the most ATCC / V8 Supercars rounds at the circuit with six wins. The most successful touring car team at Wanneroo is the DJR Team Penske with seven wins.

The first ATCC race held at the circuit in 1973 was won by Allan Moffat driving a Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III for the Ford Works Team.

Lap records
As of 4 May 2019.[6][7]
Class Driver Vehicle Time Date
Outright Gary West Lola T88/50 Buick 0:52.2610 3 December 2005
Racing Cars
Formula 4 Nick Rowe Mygale F4 Ford 0:58.4291 6 May 2017
Formula Ford Ashley Walsh Spectrum 011b Ford 0:59.5717 24 March 2007
Formula Ford Kent James Small Van Diemen 011b Ford 0:59.7669 13 June 2004
Formula Vee 1600 Ryan Simpson Jacer F2K6 Volkswagen 1:07.9889 14 October 2006
Formula Vee 1200 Jez Hammond Spook Mk 1 Volkswagen 1:09.6141 9 August 2004
Formula 1000 Nick Percat Stohr 0:53.0792 13 July 2019[8]
Sports Cars
Sports Sedan Tony Ricciardello Alfa Romeo GTV-Chevrolet 0:54.9563 7 August 2005
Australian GT Championship Craig Baird Mercedes-AMG GT3 0:55.4236[9] 8 May 2016
Carrera Cup Steven Richards Porsche 997 GT3 Cup 0:56.9816[10] 1 May 2011
Clubman Sports Terry Smith Hooper 1:03.8160, 8 April 2006
Historic Sports Cars
Group Sc Harvey Leys Porsche 911 Carrera 1:07.1633 26 July 2009
Group Sb Ted Jordan Porsche 356C 1:11.8089 18 April 2004
Group Sa John Rowe Austin-Healey 3000 MkI 1:14.9372 6 May 2007
Touring Cars
Supercars Championship Scott McLaughlin Ford Mustang GT 0:52.8141 3 May 2019
Super2 Series Zane Goddard Nissan Altima 0:54.3949 3 May 2019
Group A John Bowe Ford Sierra RS500 0:59.04 7 June 1992
Group C Allan Moffat Mazda RX-7 1:02.37 1 April 1984
Street Car Racing Association of WA Andrew Stevens Nissan 180SX 0:58.9157 24 July 2016
Improved Production Matt Cherry Holden Monaro CV8 1:03.5910 22 August 2010
Aussie Racing Cars Dave Robson Chevrolet Camaro-Yamaha 1:05.1660 7 May 2017
Mini Challenge Leanne Tander Mini Cooper R56 JCW 1:05.6260 11 May 2008
Saloon Cars Rick Gill Ford AU Falcon 1:06.7312 20 June 2010
Group 3E Series Production Graham Stones Mazda RX-7 1:07.1823 15 August 1999
V8 Ute Racing Series Grant Johnson Ford FG Falcon Ute 1:06.4669 1 May 2015
HQ Holden Tony James HQ Holden 1:14.1755 11 July 2004
Historic Touring Cars
Group Nc Paul Stubber Chevrolet Camaro 1:03.8405 8 May 2005
Touring Car Masters Michael Almond Porsche 911 RS 1:02.9005 4 May 2013
Group Nb Bill Meeke Ford Falcon Sprint 1:07.2807 19 September 2009
Group Na Terry Smith Ford Zephyr 1:20.7941 11 July 2004
Motorcycles
Superbike Daniel Falzon Yamaha YZF R1 0:55.446 5 June 2016
Supersport Sam Clarke Kawasaki ZX6 0:57.184 5 June 2016
250cc Grand Prix Rip Crocker Yamaha TZR250 0:58.0500 8 October 1995
Superstock Cameron Keevers Honda CBR600RR 0:58.9650 9 September 2007
Sidecar Steve Abbott/ Jamie Biggs LCR-Suzuki GSX-R1000 0:59.4480 29 May 2005
125cc Grand Prix Josh Brookes Honda RS125R 1:00.7983 8 October 2000

Oral history

References
  1. http://www.natsoft.com.au/cgi-bin/results.cgi?03/12/2005.BARB.R2 Archived 21 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  2. http://racing.natsoft.com.au/636465352/object_314285.80U/Result?2%5B%5D
  3. Building the Short Circuit, www.wascc.com.au via web.archive.org Retrieved on 12 July 2014
  4. Stefan Bartholomaeus, Changes at Barbagallo ahead of SuperNight, www.supercars.com Retrieved 23 December 2018
  5. "Mark Webber In Perth For Festival of Speed". www.watoday.com.au. 1 September 2010. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
  6. "Barbagallo Raceway Wanneroo 2.42366 km Long Circuit" (PDF). West Australian Sporting Car Club. 24 August 2010. Archived from the original (pdf) on 9 April 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  7. "Lap Records". Motorcycle Racing Club Western Australia. 9 May 2010. Archived from the original on 30 April 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  8. http://racing.natsoft.com.au/649764296/object_854777.78m/Times?9%5B%5D
  9. "Perth SuperSprint - V8 Supercars Championship - Races 8 & 9 BARBAGALLO RACEWAY WANNEROO - 2016 Australian GT Championship - Race 2". National Software. 8 May 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  10. "Trading Post Challenge - 2012 V8 Supercars — Races 7,8&9 - Barbagallo Raceway Wanneroo - 2012 Porsche City Index Carrera Cup Race 3". National Software. 6 May 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  11. Hurney, John (2000), Interview with John Hurney : Wanneroo raceway /, Joondalup Local Studies, retrieved 22 January 2020
  12. McCrakan, Patsie (1999), Interview with Patsie McCrakan : Wanneroo raceway, Joondalup Local Studies, retrieved 22 January 2020
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