Albert Park Circuit

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Albert Park Circuit
File:Albert Park Circuit 2021.svg
Albert Park Circuit (2021–present)
Location Albert Park, Melbourne, Victoria (Australia)
Time zone AEST (UTC+10:00)
AEDT (UTC+11:00 DST)
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Capacity ~125,000 (44,000 seating)[1][2]
FIA Grade 1
Opened 20 November 1953; 71 years ago (1953-11-20)
Re-opened: 7 March 1996; 28 years ago (1996-03-07)
Closed 30 November 1958; 66 years ago (1958-11-30)
Major events Current:
Formula One
Australian Grand Prix (1996–2019, 2022–present)
Former:
Australian Drivers' Championship (1957–1958)
Grand Prix Circuit (2021–present)
Surface Asphalt
Length 5.278 km (3.280 mi)
Turns 14
Lap record 1:19.813 (Monaco Charles Leclerc, {{{record_team}}}, 2024, F1)
Grand Prix Circuit (1996–2020)
Surface Asphalt
Length 5.303 km (3.296 mi)
Turns 16
Lap record 1:24.125 (Germany Michael Schumacher, {{{record_team2}}}, 2004, F1)
Original Circuit (1953–1958)
Length 5.027 km (3.124 mi)
Turns 9
Lap record 1:50.0 (United Kingdom Stirling Moss, {{{record_team3}}}, 1958, Formula Libre)

The Albert Park Circuit is a motorsport street circuit around Albert Park Lake in the suburb of Albert Park in Melbourne. It is used annually as a circuit for the Formula One Australian Grand Prix, the supporting Supercars Championship Melbourne SuperSprint and other associated support races. The circuit has an FIA Grade 1 licence.[3]

Although the entire track consists of normally public roads, each sector includes medium to high-speed characteristics more commonly associated with dedicated racetracks facilitated by grass and gravel run-off safety zones that are reconstructed annually. However, the circuit also has characteristics of a street circuit's enclosed nature due to concrete barriers annually built along the Lakeside Drive curve, in particular, where run-off is not available due to the proximity of the lake shore.[4]

Design

File:Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, March 22, 2018 SkySat (cropped).jpg
A satellite view of the circuit just before race weekend 2018

The circuit uses everyday sections of road that circle Albert Park Lake, a small man-altered lake (originally a large lagoon formed as part of the ancient Yarra River course) just south of the Central Business District of Melbourne. The road sections that are used were rebuilt before the inaugural event in 1996 to ensure consistency and smoothness. As a result, compared to other circuits that are held on public roads, the Albert Park track has quite a smooth surface. Before 2007 there existed only a few other places on the Formula 1 calendar with a body of water close to the track. Many of the new tracks, such as Valencia, Singapore and Abu Dhabi are close to a body of water.

The course is considered to be quite fast and relatively easy to drive, drivers having commented that the consistent placement of corners allows them to easily learn the circuit and achieve competitive times. However, the flat terrain around the lake, coupled with a track design that features few true straights, means that the track is not conducive to overtaking or easy spectating unless in possession of a grandstand seat.[4][5][6]

Grand Prix Circuit layout between 1996 and 2020

Each year, most of the trackside fencing, pedestrian overpasses, grandstands, and other motorsport infrastructure are erected approximately two months before the Grand Prix weekend and removed within 6 weeks after the event. The land around the circuit (including a large aquatic centre, a golf course, a Lakeside Stadium, some restaurants, and rowing boathouses) has restricted access during that entire period. Dissent is still prevalent among nearby residents and users of those other facilities, and some still maintain a silent protest against the event. Nevertheless, the event is reasonably popular in Melbourne and Australia (with a large European population and a general interest in motorsport). Middle Park, the home of South Melbourne FC was demolished in 1994 due to expansion at Albert Park.[7]

The Grand Prix regularly draws crowds of over 270,000 spectators, with the 2024 drawing a record crowd of 452,055, including 132,106 on the main raceday.[8] There has never been a night race at Albert Park, although the 2009 and 2010 events both started at 5:00 p.m. local time. The current contract for the Grand Prix at the circuit concludes in 2035.[9]

Following the postponement of the Australian Grand Prix in 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the track underwent layout changes, the most notable part was the modification of the turn 9–10 complex from a heavy right-left corner to a fast-sweeping right-left corner into turns 11 and 12. Further modifications included the widening of the pit lane by 2 m (2.2 yd) and the reprofiling of turn 13.[10] Also, some corners were widened such as turn 1, turn 3, turn 6, turn 7, and turn 15. The 2022 pole position lap time was 2.6 seconds quicker than in 2019.[citation needed]

Everyday access

File:Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, December 24, 2017 SkySat (cropped).jpg
The Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit old layout in December 2017, while open to the public

During the nine months of the year when the track is not required for Grand Prix preparation or the race weekend, most of the track can be driven by ordinary street-registered vehicles either clockwise or anti-clockwise.

Only the sections between turns 3, 4, and 5, then 5 and 6, differ significantly from the race track configuration. Turn 4 is replaced by a car park access road running directly from turns 3 to 5. Between turns 5 and 6, the road is blocked. It is possible to drive from turn 5 on to Albert Road and back on to the track at turn 7 though three sets of lights control the flow of this option. The only set of lights on the actual track is halfway between turns 12 and 13, where drivers using Queens Road are catered for. The chicanes at turns 11 and 12 are considerably more open than that used in the Grand Prix, using the escape roads. Turn 9 is also a car park and traffic is directed down another escape road.

The speed limit is generally 40 km/h (25 mph), while some short sections have a speed limit of 50 km/h (31 mph), which is still slower than an F1 car under pit lane speed restrictions. The back of the track, turns 7 to 13 inclusive, is known as Lakeside Drive. Double lines separate the two-way traffic along most of Lakeside Drive with short road islands approximately every 50 m (55 yd) which means overtaking is illegal here. Black Swans live and breed in Albert Park, and frequently cross the road causing traffic delays, sometimes with up to five cygnets (young swans).

Approximately 80% of the track edge is lined with short parkland-style chain-linked fencing leaving normal drivers less room for error than F1 drivers have during race weekend. There is however substantial shoulder room between the outside of each lane and the fencing, which is used as parking along Aughtie Drive during the other nine months.

History

Albert Park Circuit (1953–1958)

Prior to World War II, attempts were made to use Albert Park for motor racing. The first was in 1934 but failed due to opposition, and a second attempt for a motorcycle race in 1937 similarly failed. Finally in 1953 the Light Car Club of Australia were able to secure use of the circuit for that year's Australian Grand Prix.[11]

File:1953 Australian Grand Prix start.jpg
Start of the 1953 Australian Grand Prix.

Albert Park is the only venue to host the Australian Grand Prix in both World Championship and non-World Championship formats with an earlier configuration of the current circuit used for the race on two occasions during the 1950s. During this time racing was conducted in an anti-clockwise direction[12] as opposed to the current circuit which runs clockwise.

Known as the Albert Park Circuit,[13] the original 3.125 mi (5.029 km) course hosted a total of six race meetings:[14]

File:Albert Park circuit main straight, pictured from above teams' garages in 2022.jpg
Albert Park circuit main straight, pictured from above teams' garages in 2022

The November 1958 meeting was the last on the original incarnation of the circuit, as it closed shortly after.[11]

Events

File:2014 Melbourne Grand Prix (From Eureka Skydeck).jpg
The 2014 Australian Grand Prix, viewed from the Eureka Skydeck
Current
Former

Race lap records

As of March 2024, the fastest official race lap records at the Albert Park Circuit are listed as:[28][29][30]

Category Driver Vehicle Time Date
Grand Prix Circuit (2021–present): 5.278 km
Formula One Monaco Charles Leclerc Ferrari SF-24 1:19.813 24 March 2024
FIA F2 Denmark Frederik Vesti Dallara F2 2018 1:30.712 2 April 2023
FIA F3 Switzerland Grégoire Saucy Dallara F3 2019 1:34.405 2 April 2023
S5000 Australia Aaron Cameron Ligier JS F3-S5000 1:40.3696[31] 8 April 2022
Supercars Championship Australia Scott Pye Holden Commodore (ZB) 1:46.006[32] 9 April 2022
Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Max Vidau Porsche 911 (992) GT3 Cup 1:47.9868[33] 1 April 2023
Grand Prix Circuit (1996–2020): 5.303 km
Formula One Germany Michael Schumacher Ferrari F2004 1:24.125[30] 7 March 2004
Formula Holden Australia Todd Kelly Reynard 92D 1:49.246[29] March 1998
Formula 3 Brazil Bruno Senna Dallara F304 1:50.8640[30][34] 30 March 2006
Formula 5000 New Zealand Ken Smith Lola T430 1:54.6975[30][35] 28 March 2010
GT3 New Zealand Craig Baird Mercedes-AMG GT3 1:54.7311[30][36] 22 March 2018
Group 7 United Kingdom Michael Lyons March 717 1:55.541[30] 17 March 2013
Supercars Championship Australia Chaz Mostert Ford Mustang S550 1:55.7280[30][37] 15 March 2019
Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Cooper Murray Porsche 911 (991 II) GT3 Cup 1:58.3294[30][38] 16 March 2019
Ferrari Challenge Indonesia Renaldi Hutasoit Ferrari 488 Challenge 2:00.0713[30][39] 25 March 2018
Nations Cup Australia Paul Stokell Lamborghini Diablo GTR 2:00.685[40] 8 March 2003
Formula 4 Australia Jayden Ojeda Mygale M14-F4 2:02.1683[30][41] 17 March 2019
Super Touring New Zealand Jim Richards Volvo 850 2:03.547[29] 8 March 1997
Formula Ford Australia Chaz Mostert Spectrum 012 2:04.4805[30][42] 27 March 2010
GT4 Australia Ryan Simpson McLaren 570S GT4 2:05.9644[30][43] 15 March 2019
Group A Australia Terry Lawlor Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R 2:07.9622[30] 15 March 2015
Aussie Racing Cars Australia James Small Holden Commodore-Yamaha 2:16.0196[30][44] 15 March 2008
Australian Mini Challenge Australia Chris Alajajian Mini John Cooper Works Challenge 2:17.7962[30] 29 March 2009
Group C Australia Milton Seferis Holden VH Commodore SS 2:18.9539[45] 14 March 2015
Pickup truck racing Australia Grant Johnson Holden Commodore Ute 2:22.3877[30][46] 1 April 2006
Original Circuit (1953–1958): 5.027 km
Formula Libre United Kingdom Stirling Moss Cooper T45 1:50.0 30 November 1958
Sports car racing United Kingdom Stirling Moss Maserati 300S 1:55.8[47] 25 November 1956

See also

References

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  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Stuart Sykes, It was - and still is - a great place for a race, Racing into History, A look back at the 1953 Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park, 2013, page3 & 4
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Official Souvenir Programme, XVIIIth Australian Grand Prix, Albert Park Circuit, 21 November 1953, front cover
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 1953, The official 50-race history of the Australian Grand Prix, 1986, pages 182 to 191
  15. ↑ Official Programme, Argus Moomba Motor Car Races, Albert Park Circuit, 26 & 27 March 1955, front cover
  16. ↑ Argus Moomba Motor Races, Australian Motor Sports, April 1955, pages 137 - 142
  17. ↑ Thrills for 250,000, The Argus, Monday, 28 March 1955, page 1
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 JR Horman, Albert Park, Australian Motor Sports, April 1956, pages 136 to 143
  19. ↑ Albert Park, www.progcovers.com Retrieved on 10 July 2014
  20. ↑ 1956, The official 50-race history of the Australian Grand Prix, 1986, pages 218 to 226
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Programme, Victorian Tourist Trophy, First Day: 17th March 1957
  22. ↑ AC Russell, Albert Park - Victorian Tourist Trophy Meeting, Australian Motors Sports, page 131
  23. ↑ Victorian Trophy, Australian Motor Sport, May 1957, pages 174 to 176
  24. ↑ John B Blanden, Historic Racing Cars in Australia, 1979, pages 146 & 147
  25. ↑ Graham Howard, Lex Davison – larger than life, page 117
  26. ↑ Official Programme, 1958 Melbourne Grand Prix / Victorian Tourist Trophy, Albert Park Circuit, page 3
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 David McKay, Quick money for Moss, Modern Motor, February 1959, pages 35, 36, 37 & 76
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ 30.00 30.01 30.02 30.03 30.04 30.05 30.06 30.07 30.08 30.09 30.10 30.11 30.12 30.13 30.14 30.15 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  46. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  47. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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