Surfers Paradise Street Circuit
Encyclopedia
The Surfers Paradise Street Circuit is a temporary street circuit
at Surfers Paradise
, in south east Queensland
, Australia
. The challenging 4.47 kilometres (2.8 mi) track has several fast sections and four chicane
s. It is the third of three motor racing circuits that have existed in the Surfers Paradise area, after the Southport Street Circuit
(1954) and Surfers Paradise International Raceway
(1966–1987). Ron Dickson, the president of D3 Motorsport Development held the rights for Champ Car internationally in the 1980s. After a brief meeting with Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen
the event was confirmed for Queensland, and Surfers Paradise was chosen over Brisbane.
In a two-month period leading up to the event, seven bridges are erected, 2515 concrete barriers installed, 11,500 grandstand seats fastened, more than 140 corporate suites furnished, 10 km (6.2 mi) of debris fencing and 16 km (9.9 mi) of security fencing placed, many more temporary structures fitted, and large-scale power and telecommunications systems activated.
The circuit is also an international leader in motor racing safety standards applauded by CAMS (Confederation of Australian Motorsport) and the FIA
(the international governing body of motorsport). One of the major advancements over the past few years has been an increase in double height debris fencing including an additional 610 panels in high impact areas in 2005.
, the future of race had originally been secured until 2013 as an IRL IndyCar Series
event, however the race was dropped from the calendar after the first demonstration race, and was subsequently picked up by A1GP, severing its eighteen year history with American open wheel racing.
to stage a race at Surfers Paradise. The first A1GP race
was supposed to take place on the weekend of the 22–25 October 2009. To accommodate the new link with the A1GP series and subsequent removal of the Indy name (which is a registered trademark of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway), the entire 4 day event called Nikon SuperGP. However, on October 17, 2009, A1GP Chairman Tony Teixeira announced that the UK operating arm of the series went into liquidation in June. Access to the A1GP cars and the ability to pay its suppliers has been impeded. That caused the cars could not leave the UK to be on track in Surfers Paradise on the 22 October. A1GP had been forced to withdraw from participation in the Nikon SuperGP. A1 Grand Prix subsequently failed to arrive and were removed from the program, replaced with additional V8 Supercar races.
From 2003 to 2007 the V8s officially shared headliner status with the Champcar World Seies, and then the Indy Racing League in 2008.
The 2009 race was amended after the demise of A1GP by going to a 600 km (372.8 mi) format of four 150 km (93.2 mi) races, two on Saturday and two on Sunday. For 2010 the format was changed to consist of a single 300 km (186.4 mi) race on each day.
Street circuit
A street circuit is a racing circuit composed by temporarily closed-off public roads of a city, town or village, used in motor races. Facilities such as the paddock, pit boxes, fences and grandstands are usually placed temporarily and removed soon after the race is over but in modern times the...
at Surfers Paradise
Surfers Paradise, Queensland
Surfers Paradise is a suburb on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 Census, Surfers Paradise had a population of 18,501....
, in south east Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The challenging 4.47 kilometres (2.8 mi) track has several fast sections and four chicane
Chicane
A chicane is an artificial feature creating extra turns in a road, used in motor racing and on city streets to slow cars to lower speeds.- Motor Racing :...
s. It is the third of three motor racing circuits that have existed in the Surfers Paradise area, after the Southport Street Circuit
1954 Australian Grand Prix
The 1954 Australian Grand Prix was a motor race held on the streets of Southport in Queensland on November 7, 1954. The race had 28 starters. The race was held over 27 laps of the large nine kilometre circuit....
(1954) and Surfers Paradise International Raceway
Surfers Paradise International Raceway
Surfers Paradise International Raceway was a motor racing complex at Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. The circuit was designed and built by Keith Williams, a motor racing enthusiast. It was located opposite the Surfers Paradise Ski Gardens at Carrara...
(1966–1987). Ron Dickson, the president of D3 Motorsport Development held the rights for Champ Car internationally in the 1980s. After a brief meeting with Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen
Joh Bjelke-Petersen
Sir Johannes "Joh" Bjelke-Petersen, KCMG , was an Australian politician. He was the longest-serving and longest-lived Premier of Queensland, holding office from 1968 to 1987, a period that saw considerable economic development in the state...
the event was confirmed for Queensland, and Surfers Paradise was chosen over Brisbane.
Circuit Construction
The circuit that was run on until 2009 was designed by Ron Dickson of D3 Motorsport Development and was the fourth concept put forward for the Surfers Paradise area. This work was carried out in 1988 and was first raced on in 1991. The construction of the circuit has been acclaimed internationally and is used as a benchmark for new temporary street circuits world-wide. Over a full 12-month period plans are laid and then implemented to transform a bustling residential, commercial and holiday destination into a temporary street circuit capable of facilitating high-speed motor races and hundreds of thousands of people.In a two-month period leading up to the event, seven bridges are erected, 2515 concrete barriers installed, 11,500 grandstand seats fastened, more than 140 corporate suites furnished, 10 km (6.2 mi) of debris fencing and 16 km (9.9 mi) of security fencing placed, many more temporary structures fitted, and large-scale power and telecommunications systems activated.
The circuit is also an international leader in motor racing safety standards applauded by CAMS (Confederation of Australian Motorsport) and the FIA
Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile is a non-profit association established as the Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus on 20 June 1904 to represent the interests of motoring organisations and motor car users...
(the international governing body of motorsport). One of the major advancements over the past few years has been an increase in double height debris fencing including an additional 610 panels in high impact areas in 2005.
American Open Wheel History
An annual event had been held here since the 1991 IndyCar season. Following the merger of the Indy Racing League and Champ Car World Series in February 20082008 IndyCar Series season
The 2008 IndyCar Series season was the 13th season of the IndyCar Series. Its premier event was the 92nd Indianapolis 500 on May 25. The first race was held March 29 at Homestead. It was the 97th recognized season of top-level American open wheel racing....
, the future of race had originally been secured until 2013 as an IRL IndyCar Series
IndyCar Series
The IZOD IndyCar Series is the premier level of American open wheel racing. The current championship, founded by Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George, began in 1996 as a competitor to CART known as the Indy Racing League . Citing CART's increasing reliance on expensive machinery and...
event, however the race was dropped from the calendar after the first demonstration race, and was subsequently picked up by A1GP, severing its eighteen year history with American open wheel racing.
A1 Grand Prix history
On Tuesday, November 11, 2008 after extensive negotiations with the IRL broke down, the Queensland Government reached a new five year deal with A1 Grand PrixA1 Grand Prix
A1 Grand Prix was a 'single make' open-wheel auto racing series. It was unique in its field in that competitors solely represented their nation as opposed to themselves or a team, the usual format in most formula racing series. As such, it was often promoted as the "World Cup of Motorsport"...
to stage a race at Surfers Paradise. The first A1GP race
2009–10 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Australia
The 2009–10 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Australia, was to have been part of the Nikon SuperGP, and a round of A1 Grand Prix at the Surfers Paradise Street Circuit on the Gold Coast of Queensland in Australia...
was supposed to take place on the weekend of the 22–25 October 2009. To accommodate the new link with the A1GP series and subsequent removal of the Indy name (which is a registered trademark of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway), the entire 4 day event called Nikon SuperGP. However, on October 17, 2009, A1GP Chairman Tony Teixeira announced that the UK operating arm of the series went into liquidation in June. Access to the A1GP cars and the ability to pay its suppliers has been impeded. That caused the cars could not leave the UK to be on track in Surfers Paradise on the 22 October. A1GP had been forced to withdraw from participation in the Nikon SuperGP. A1 Grand Prix subsequently failed to arrive and were removed from the program, replaced with additional V8 Supercar races.
2010
The V8 Supercars run a notably shorter layout in the 2010 series. At the Turn 2 chicane the circuit enters a hairpin to the left and rejoins the original track at the Bartercard Esses. Tony Cochrane suggested this layout after the A1 GP cars dropped from the 2009 event.V8 Supercar history
Since 2002, the Surfers Paradise race has counted for points in the V8 Supercar championship. The Australian touring car category had been held as a non-championship race meeting for several years prior.From 2003 to 2007 the V8s officially shared headliner status with the Champcar World Seies, and then the Indy Racing League in 2008.
The 2009 race was amended after the demise of A1GP by going to a 600 km (372.8 mi) format of four 150 km (93.2 mi) races, two on Saturday and two on Sunday. For 2010 the format was changed to consist of a single 300 km (186.4 mi) race on each day.
| Season | Winning Driver | Car | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 |  John BoweJohn Bowe (racing driver) John Bowe is an Australian racing driver, presently racing a 1969 Ford Mustang in the historic series, Touring Car Masters.... |
Ford EB Falcon Ford EB Falcon The Ford EB Falcon is a car which was produced by the Ford Motor Company in Australia between 1991 and 1993.Visually the 1991 EB remained nearly identical to its predecessor. The most noticeable change was the transfer of the Ford emblem from the tip of the bonnet to the grille... |
Dick Johnson Racing Dick Johnson Racing Dick Johnson Racing is Australia's oldest operating motor racing team. Founded by Dick Johnson, the team has won seven Australian Touring Car Championship titles and has taken three victories in Australia's hallmark race, the Bathurst 1000... |
| 1996 | John Bowe |
Ford EF Falcon Ford EF Falcon The Ford EF Falcon is a full-size car that was manufactured by the Ford Motor Company of Australia between 1994 and 1996. A total of 192,100 EF models were produced prior to replacement of the EF by the Ford EL Falcon in 1996.-Introduction and changes:... |
Dick Johnson Racing Dick Johnson Racing Dick Johnson Racing is Australia's oldest operating motor racing team. Founded by Dick Johnson, the team has won seven Australian Touring Car Championship titles and has taken three victories in Australia's hallmark race, the Bathurst 1000... |
| 1997 | Russell Ingall Russell Ingall Russell Ingall is an Australian V8 Supercar driver. Ingall won the V8 Supercar Championship for the first time in 2005, he was also the Championship runner up in 1998, 1999 and 2001. Ingall has also won the Bathurst 1000 motor race twice, in 1995 and 1997... |
Holden VS Commodore Holden VS Commodore The Holden VS Commodore, released in 1995, was the ninth model of the Holden Commodore, a large car built by Holden, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors. The VS Commodore served as a mechanical update of the second generation architecture, destined to assist sales before the all-new VT model... |
Castrol Perkins Racing |
| 1998 | Mark Larkham Mark Larkham Mark Larkham is a retired Australian racing driver, former racing team owner and television commentator.-Open wheelers:... |
Ford EL Falcon Ford EL Falcon The Ford EL Falcon is a full-size car that was manufactured by the Ford Motor Company of Australia between 1996 and 1998. The EL Falcon served as the final chapter of the fifth generation "E-series" architecture, which began with the EA of 1988. Ford discontinued the car in 1998, and replaced it... |
Larkham Motor Sport Larkham Motor Sport Larkham Motor Sport was a motorsport team contesting the V8 Supercar Championship. The team ceased operations at the end of 2005, with the owner Mark Larkham selling the team to WPS Racing.- History :... |
| 1999 1999 V8 Supercar season The 1999 Shell Championship Series was a motor racing series for V8 Supercars which began on 28 March 1999 at Eastern Creek Raceway and ended on 14 November at the Mount Panorama Circuit after 13 rounds... |
 Paul RadisichPaul Radisich Paul Radisich is a New Zealand racing driver of Croat origin. He has competed in saloon cars for many years - both European-style tourers and the V8 Supercars of Australia and New Zealand.-Early years:... |
Ford EL Falcon Ford EL Falcon The Ford EL Falcon is a full-size car that was manufactured by the Ford Motor Company of Australia between 1996 and 1998. The EL Falcon served as the final chapter of the fifth generation "E-series" architecture, which began with the EA of 1988. Ford discontinued the car in 1998, and replaced it... |
Dick Johnson Racing Dick Johnson Racing Dick Johnson Racing is Australia's oldest operating motor racing team. Founded by Dick Johnson, the team has won seven Australian Touring Car Championship titles and has taken three victories in Australia's hallmark race, the Bathurst 1000... |
| 2000 2000 V8 Supercar season The 2000 Shell Championship Series was an Australian motor racing series open to V8 Supercars. The championship, which was the second Shell Championship Series, began on 11 February at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit and ended on 19 November at the Mount Panorama Circuit after 13 rounds... |
Paul Radisich |
Ford AU Falcon Ford AU Falcon The Ford AU Falcon and Fairmont are the first of the sixth generation series of the Ford Falcon, a full-size car produced by Ford Australia... |
Dick Johnson Racing Dick Johnson Racing Dick Johnson Racing is Australia's oldest operating motor racing team. Founded by Dick Johnson, the team has won seven Australian Touring Car Championship titles and has taken three victories in Australia's hallmark race, the Bathurst 1000... |
| 2001 2001 V8 Supercar season The 2001 Shell Championship Series was a motor racing competition for V8 Supercars. The championship, which was the third Shell Championship Series, began on 25 March 2001 at Phillip Island and ended on 2 December at Sandown after 13 rounds... |
Garth Tander Garth Tander Garth Tander is a multiple-championship winning Australian motor racing driver. Since 1998 Tander has been a competitor in touring car racing series V8 Supercar Championship Series. Tander was the 2007 series champion for the HSV Dealer Team and is a three-time winner in Australia's most... |
Holden VX Commodore Holden VX Commodore The Holden VX Commodore, Berlina and Calais range of full-size cars were the eleventh instalment of Holden Commodore, a model manufactured by Holden, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors... |
Garry Rogers Motorsport Garry Rogers Motorsport Garry Rogers Motorsport is an Australian motor racing team presently competing in V8 Supercar.-The early years:Garry Rogers Motorsport has its origins in Garry Rogers' own exploits in Sports Sedans during the late 1960s and the 1970s. In the mid-1970s Rogers got more serious, running a BDA Escort... |
| 2002 2002 V8 Supercar season The 2002 V8 Supercar Championship Series was an Australian based motor racing series for V8 Supercars. It began on 15 March 2002 at the Adelaide Street Circuit and ended on 1 December at Sandown International Raceway after 13 rounds... |
Jason Bargwanna Jason Bargwanna Jason Bargwanna is an Australian racing driver who competes in the V8 Supercar Championship Series.-Career history:Bargwanna commenced his racing career in the late 1980s, initially competing in the Formula Vee category... |
Holden VX Commodore | Garry Rogers Motorsport Garry Rogers Motorsport Garry Rogers Motorsport is an Australian motor racing team presently competing in V8 Supercar.-The early years:Garry Rogers Motorsport has its origins in Garry Rogers' own exploits in Sports Sedans during the late 1960s and the 1970s. In the mid-1970s Rogers got more serious, running a BDA Escort... |
| 2003 2003 V8 Supercar season The 2003 V8 Supercar season was the 44th year of touring car racing in Australia since the first runnings of the Australian Touring Car Championship and the fore-runner of the present day Bathurst 1000, the Armstrong 500.... |
Russell Ingall |
Ford BA Falcon Ford BA Falcon The Ford BA Falcon is a full-size car, produced by the Ford Motor Company of Australia between September 2002 and October 2005. The exterior styling of the BA was a substantial revision of that used for the preceding AU model. A new independent rear suspension setup was fitted to all sedan... |
Stone Brothers Racing Stone Brothers Racing Stone Brothers Racing is an Australian motor racing team competing in the International V8 Supercars Championship, formed in 1998 by experienced New Zealand-born motorsport veterans, Ross Stone and Jim Stone after buying out their partner in their previous racing team... |
| 2004 2004 V8 Supercar season The 2004 V8 Supercar season was the 45th year of touring car racing in Australia since the first runnings of the Australian Touring Car Championship and the fore-runner of the present day Bathurst 1000, the Armstrong 500.... |
Greg Murphy Greg Murphy Greg Murphy is a racing driver, best known as a four-time winner of the Bathurst 1000. Greg Murphy joined Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond presenting Top Gear, when it had its first international Live show at ASB Showgrounds in Auckland from February 12 - 15th 2009, and again when the show... |
Holden VY Commodore | K-mart Racing Team |
| 2005 2005 V8 Supercar Championship Series The 2005 V8 Supercar season was the seventh running of the V8 Supercar Championship Series. It began on 18 March 2005 in Adelaide and ended on 27 November at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit after 13 rounds.-Teams and drivers:... |
Craig Lowndes Craig Lowndes Craig Lowndes is a multi-championship winning Australian racing driver. He is a three-time V8 Supercar champion and five-time winner of Australia's most famous motor race, the Bathurst 1000... |
Ford BA Falcon Ford BA Falcon The Ford BA Falcon is a full-size car, produced by the Ford Motor Company of Australia between September 2002 and October 2005. The exterior styling of the BA was a substantial revision of that used for the preceding AU model. A new independent rear suspension setup was fitted to all sedan... |
Triple Eight Race Engineering |
| 2006 2006 V8 Supercar Championship Series The 2006 V8 Supercar season was the 8th running of the V8 Supercar Championship Series. It began on 25 March 2006 in Adelaide and ended on 10 December at Phillip Island after 13 rounds.-Race Calendar:... |
Todd Kelly Todd Kelly Todd Kelly is a V8 Supercar racing driver, currently living in Melbourne, Victoria. He is the older brother of former V8 Supercar and Bathurst 1000 champion, Rick Kelly. He drove for the Holden Racing Team from 2003 until 2007, and Jack Daniel's Racing in 2008... |
Holden VZ Commodore | Holden Racing Team Holden Racing Team The Holden Racing Team is a Melbourne based motor racing team. HRT is the most successful V8 Supercar racing team in the history of the category, having won the drivers championship six times, and the series signature race the Bathurst 1000 seven times... |
| 2007 2007 V8 Supercar Championship Series The 2007 V8 Supercar season featured the ninth V8 Supercar Championship Series which began on 1 March and finished on 2 December. This championship consisted of 14 rounds covering all states and the Northern Territory of Australia as well as rounds in New Zealand and Bahrain... |
Garth Tander |
Holden VE Commodore | Toll HSV Dealer Team |
| 2008 | Jamie Whincup Jamie Whincup Jamie Whincup is Australian auto racing driver who competes in the V8 Supercar, driving for TeamVodafone. He is a two-time V8 Supercars champion and three-time Bathurst 1000 winner.-Early career:... |
Ford BF Falcon Ford BF Falcon The Ford BF Falcon was a full-size car that was manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in Victoria, Australia. The BF Falcon started production in October 2005 and a MkII update was released in October 2006... |
Triple Eight Race Engineering |
| 2009 2009 V8 Supercar Championship Series The 2009 V8 Supercar Championship Series was the eleventh V8 Supercar Championship Series and the thirteenth series in which V8 Supercars have contested the premier Australian touring car title... |
Mark Winterbottom Mark Winterbottom Mark "Frosty" Winterbottom, is a racing driver who has competed in the V8 Supercar category since 2003. He currently drives for the Ford Performance Racing team... |
Ford FG Falcon Ford FG Falcon The Ford FG Falcon is a full-size car produced by the Ford Motor Company of Australia since 2008. The FG series is the current model of the Ford Falcon and is the seventh generation of the car... |
Ford Performance Racing Ford Performance Racing Ford Performance Racing is a British-owned Australian-based motor racing team that contests the Australian International V8 Supercars Championship... |
| 2010 2010 V8 Supercar Championship Series The 2010 V8 Supercar Championship Series was an FIA sanctioned international motor racing series for V8 Supercars. It was the twelfth V8 Supercar Championship Series and the fourteenth series in which V8 Supercars have contested the premier Australian touring car title... |
Shane Van Gisbergen Shane Van Gisbergen Shane Van Gisbergen is a racing driver from Auckland, New Zealand. He currently drives for Stone Brothers Racing in the Australian V8 Supercar Championship Series.-New Zealand racing history:... John McIntyreJohn McIntyre John McIntyre may refer to:* John McIntyre , Roman Catholic archbishop of Birmingham* John McIntyre , bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Gippsland in Australia... |
Ford FG Falcon Ford FG Falcon The Ford FG Falcon is a full-size car produced by the Ford Motor Company of Australia since 2008. The FG series is the current model of the Ford Falcon and is the seventh generation of the car... |
Stone Brothers Racing Stone Brothers Racing Stone Brothers Racing is an Australian motor racing team competing in the International V8 Supercars Championship, formed in 1998 by experienced New Zealand-born motorsport veterans, Ross Stone and Jim Stone after buying out their partner in their previous racing team... |
| 2011 2011 Armor All Gold Coast 600 The 2011 Armor All Gold Coast 600 was a motor race for the Australian sedan-based V8 Supercars racing cars. It was the eleventh event of the 2011 International V8 Supercars Championship. It was held on the weekend of 21 to 23 October at the Surfers Paradise Street Circuit in Surfers Paradise,... |
Jamie Whincup Jamie Whincup Jamie Whincup is Australian auto racing driver who competes in the V8 Supercar, driving for TeamVodafone. He is a two-time V8 Supercars champion and three-time Bathurst 1000 winner.-Early career:...  Sebastien BourdaisSébastien Bourdais Sébastien Olivier Bourdais is a French race car driver. He is one of the most successful drivers in the history of the Champ Car World Series, having won four successive championships from 2004 to 2007.... |
Holden VE Commodore | Triple Eight Race Engineering |