Newcastle Street Circuit

Newcastle Street Circuit
Street Circuit (2017–2019, 2023)
LocationNewcastle
Time zoneGMT+10:00
Coordinates32°55′35.25″S 151°47′16.75″E / 32.9264583°S 151.7879861°E / -32.9264583; 151.7879861
FIA Grade3
Opened24 November 2017 (2017-11-24)
Closed12 March 2023 (2023-03-12)
Major eventsSupercars Championship Newcastle 500 (2017–2019, 2023)
Street Circuit (2017–2019, 2023)
Length2.641 km (1.640 miles)
Turns14
Race lap record1:10.6403 (Australia David Reynolds, Holden Commodore VF, 2017, Supercars)

The Newcastle Street Circuit was a temporary street circuit around the east end of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. The circuit hosted the Newcastle 500 round of the Supercars Championship in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2023 with the 2020, 2021 and 2022 events cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] The 14-turn, 2.641 km (1.641 mi) circuit takes in Newcastle Beach and the foreshore around Nobbys Beach Reserve.[2] The Newcastle 500 was last held, with the council deciding not support the event and voting to remove the permanent sections of racetrack.[3]

Circuit

Layout

The circuit began on Wharf Road, heading southwest towards the city. It then turned left at Watt Street, crossing over the Newcastle Light Rail tracks before ascending a 1:22 hill up Watt Street, before again turning left onto Shortland Esplanade 500 m (550 yd) after turn one.[4] Once on Shortland Esplanade, the circuit snaked down the beachside road before reaching a 90° left turn at Zaara Street. This was followed by a 90° right turn onto Scott Street and another 90° left turn onto Parnell Place to the fastest stretch of circuit, Nobbys Road down past Fort Scratchley followed by a left-handed hairpin bend in the Camp Shortland carpark. From there a right-hand turn onto Wharf Road completed the lap.

The originally proposed layout featured a section through Pacific Park and a differently-profiled permanent course in Camp Shortland.[5][6] In 2019, the Camp Shortland hairpin bend was altered to improve overtaking. The corner apex moved to where the outside track limit point was initially situated and the corner radius was tightened, giving drivers a longer and deeper braking zone to complete passes.[7]

Construction

Works to prepare the precinct for racing began in July 2017, four months before the first event was held.[8] Significant civil works were undertaken in Foreshore Park to create a pit area, as well as in Camp Shortland and on Nobbys' Road to make the streets suitable for racing. Additional works were undertaken to replace local water and electrical infrastructure, with some services close to a century old.[9]

Two permanent roundabouts were removed to create the circuit, and were reinstalled when the track was decommissioned in 2024.[10]

Criticism

The circuit attracted criticism from residents within the precinct, mainly citing concerns about noise and a lack of access.[11] Some residents took an extremist view of the event, claiming it would encourage hoon behaviour and comparing themselves to victims of persecution.[12] In March 2017, ahead of civil works to prepare the streets for racing, residents staged a protest resulting in clashes with motorsport fans.[13]

Lap records

The fastest official race lap records at Newcastle Street Circuit are listed as:[14]

Class Time Driver Vehicle Date
Street Circuit: 2.641 km (2017–2019, 2023)
Supercars – Gen2 1:10.6403 Australia David Reynolds Holden Commodore VF 26 November 2017
Supercars – Gen3 1:12.5355 New Zealand Shane van Gisbergen Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 12 March 2023
Supercars – Project Blueprint 1:12.9790 Australia Brodie Kostecki Ford Falcon FG 26 November 2017
Touring Car Masters 1:17.9460 Australia Steven Johnson Ford Mustang Mk.1 Fastback 11 March 2023
Aussie Racing Cars 1:20.8036 Australia Kel Treseder Chevrolet Camaro-Yamaha 24 November 2019
V8 Utes 1:24.5471 Australia Jeremy Gray Ford Falcon FG Ute 26 November 2017
Toyota 86 Series 1:26.1035 Australia Declan Fraser Toyota 86 GR Mk.1 24 November 2018
SuperUtes 1:29.1969 New Zealand Tom Alexander Isuzu D-Max 23 November 2019

References

  1. ^ van Leeuwen, Andrew (27 September 2016). "Five-year, $57 million Newcastle Supercars deal confirmed". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  2. ^ van Leeuwen, Andrew (13 December 2016). "Date and layout locked in for Newcastle Supercars race". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  3. ^ Miles, Thomas (30 November 2023). "Council shifts focus from Newcastle 500 to Wine Country 500". Auto Action. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  4. ^ Herrero, Dan (27 April 2018). "Supercars to cross tram tracks in Newcastle". Speedcafe. Archived from the original on 12 May 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  5. ^ Lomas, Gordon (13 December 2016). "Changes to Newcastle street circuit as date set". Speedcafe. Archived from the original on 14 December 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  6. ^ Dale, Will (13 December 2016). "Supercars: Newcastle street circuit revealed with changes to initial layout". Fox Sports Australia. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  7. ^ Howard, Tom (15 November 2019). "Track tweak to improve overtaking at Newcastle 500". Speedcafe. Archived from the original on 15 November 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  8. ^ "BUILD NOTICE 010 - Civil Construction Works" (PDF). City of Newcastle. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  9. ^ "Newcastle 500 Civil & Overlay Works". iEDM. 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  10. ^ Swinton, Sage (3 June 2024). "Watt Street roundabout works in Supercars restoration project". Newcastle Herald. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  11. ^ Zhou, Naaman (2 September 2017). "'We essentially live inside a racetrack': Supercars race leaves Newcastle residents fuming". The Guardian Australia. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  12. ^ "Anti-Supercar Group Slammed Over Nazi Facebook Post". Triple M Newcastle. 19 September 2017. Archived from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  13. ^ McGowan, Michael (16 November 2017). "Newcastle V8 Supercar race draws protests in East End". Newcastle Herald. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  14. ^ Natsoft Race Results
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