The Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit is a motor racing racing circuit on Phillip Island, Victoria

Victoria (Australia)

Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....

, 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 circuit was opened in 1956.

Road circuit

Motor racing on Phillip Island began in 1928 with the running of the 100 Miles Road Race, an event which has since become known as the first Australian Grand Prix

Australian Grand Prix

The Australian Grand Prix is a motor race held annually and is held to be the pinnacle of motor racing in Australia. The Grand Prix is the oldest surviving motor racing competition held in Australia having been held 76 times since it was first run at Phillip Island in 1928. Since 1985 the race has...

. It utilised a high speed rectangle of local closed-off public roads with four similar right hand corners. The course length varied, with the car course approximately 6 miles per lap, compared to the motorcycle cicuit which was approximatley 10 miles (16.1 km) in length. The circuit was the venue for the Australian Grand Prix through to 1935 and it was used for the last time on 6 May 1935 for the Jubilee Day Races.

A triangular circuit utilising one leg of the original rectangular course was subsequently mapped out and used for racing from 1936 to 1940.

Grand Prix Circuit

In 1951, a group of six local businessmen decided to build a new track. About 2 km away from the original circuit, it still bears the corner name signs of the original circuit. As the piece of available land was on the edge of the coast, the track is known for its steep grades - the highest 57 metres - which caused cost overruns and delays in track opening. The new track was opened in 1956 and in 1960 the first Armstrong 500 production car race was held at the circuit. Extensive damage resulted from the running of the 1962 Armstrong 500

1962 Armstrong 500

The 1962 Armstrong 500 was an endurance race for Australian built production cars. The race was held at the Phillip Island circuit in Victoria, Australia on 21 October 1962 over 167 laps of the 3.0 mile circuit, a total of 501 miles. Cars competed in four classes based on the retail price of each...

, and, with the circuit owners unable to finace repairs, the race was moved to the Mount Panorama Circuit

Mount Panorama Circuit

Mount Panorama Circuit is a motor racing track located in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia. It is the home of the Bathurst 12 Hour motor race, held each February, and the Bathurst 1000 motor race, held each October...

 at Bathurst

Bathurst, New South Wales

-CBD and suburbs:Bathurst's CBD is located on William, George, Howick, Russell, and Durham Streets. The CBD is approximately 25 hectares and surrounds two city blocks. Within this block layout is banking, government services, shopping centres, retail shops, a park* and monuments...

 in New South Wales

New South Wales

New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...

.

The circuit reopened in October 1967 and hosted the Phillip Island 500K

Phillip Island 500K

The Phillip Island 500K is an endurance motor race held at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in Victoria, Australia. It has been contested each year from 1971 to 1977 and from 2008 to date....

 endurance race, a round of the Australian Manufacturers' Championship

Australian Manufacturers' Championship

The Australian Manufacturers' Championship is a motor racing title awarded by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport to the winning car manufacturer in a series of races held throughout Australia...

, from 1971 to 1977. But again, due to its testing terrain, the circuit required much maintenance and slowly declined through the 1970s. It was farmed by its owners while closed and was then sold in 1985 in preparation for reopening, but did not do so until 1989 after agreement on a long term lease and rebuild agreement. The World Motorcycle Championship gave the circuit a grand re-opening in 1989 with a race long dice in the 500 cc division between Wayne Gardner

Wayne Gardner

Wayne Michael Gardner OAM is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and touring car racer. His most notable achievement was winning the 1987 500 cc Motorcycle World Championship, becoming the first Australian to win motorcycling's premier class...

, Wayne Rainey

Wayne Rainey

Wayne Wesley Rainey, born in Downey, California, United States, is a former American Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, he won the 500cc World Championship three times and the Daytona 200 once. He was characterized by his smooth, calculating riding...

, Christian Sarron

Christian Sarron

Christian Sarron is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer.He began his career on a Kawasaki when he met French Grand Prix racer Patrick Pons. Pons helped him get his start in the international racing circuit. His first victory came in the rain in the 1977 German Grand Prix...

 and Kevin Magee. The race was won by Gardner to the delight of the huge crowd. It hosted its first World Superbike race in 1990. Mathew Close won the first race in 1990 by 11.31 sec. The Australian Touring Car Championship

Australian Touring Car Championship

The Australian Touring Car Championship is a touring car racing award held in Australia since 1960. The series itself is no longer contested, but the title lives on, with the winner of the V8 Supercar Championship Series awarded the trophy and title of Australian Touring Car Champion.-History:The...

 also returned in 1990 with Dick Johnson winning.

Current status

In 2006 and 2007, Phillip Island hosted the grand finale of the V8 Supercars Championship Series, as well as a regular MotoGP and Superbike round. In 2008, Phillip Island hosted the L&H 500

Phillip Island 500K

The Phillip Island 500K is an endurance motor race held at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in Victoria, Australia. It has been contested each year from 1971 to 1977 and from 2008 to date....

, replacing Sandown as the host track of V8 Supercar's 500 km race.

A multi-million dollar re-development was undertaken in late 2006 by the Linfox

Linfox

Linfox is a logistics and supply chain company established in Australia by Lindsay Fox in 1956. The company started with one truck operated by Fox. With the acquisition of Armaguard from Mayne Logistics in 2003 and FCL in 2006, it is now the largest privately owned supply chain solutions company in...

 Group, who now own the track. The new facilities will also feature a karting circuit.

Lap Records

As of 14 November, 2011:

Class	Driver	Vehicle	Time	Date
Outright	Simon Wills	Reynard Reynard Motorsport Reynard Motorsport was at one time the world's largest racing car manufacturer. Initially based at Bicester and latterly at Reynard Park, Brackley, England the company built successful cars in Formula Ford 1600, Formula Ford 2000, Formula Vauxhall Lotus, Formula Three, Formula 3000 and Indy...  94D Holden	1:24.2215	13/02/00
Racing Cars
Formula 4000 Formula Holden Formula Holden was an Australian open wheel racing category.-History:Known during its development as Formula Australia, it was initially for chassis constructed from aluminium only, running a 3.8 litre Buick V6 engine as it was then utilised in the new versions of the Holden Commodore...	Simon Wills	Reynard Reynard Motorsport Reynard Motorsport was at one time the world's largest racing car manufacturer. Initially based at Bicester and latterly at Reynard Park, Brackley, England the company built successful cars in Formula Ford 1600, Formula Ford 2000, Formula Vauxhall Lotus, Formula Three, Formula 3000 and Indy...  94D Holden	1:24.2215	13/02/00
Formula 3 Australian Formula 3 The Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship is a motor racing championship for FIA Formula Three racing cars and is now the official Australian Drivers' Championship. Growing out of Australian Formula 2 racing into a series for the first time in 1999, it has grown into the premier Australian...	Leanne Tander Leanne Tander -Leanne Tander is an Australian racecar driver having raced cars such as Formula Ford, Formula 3 and V8 Supercars.- Career :...	Dallara Dallara Dallara Automobili is an Italian chassis manufacturer for various motor racing series, being most notable for its near-monopoly in Formula 3 since 1993...  F307 Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz M271 engine The Mercedes-Benz M271 engine is a straight-4 automobile piston engine family used in the 2000s.All M271 engines are built in Untertürkheim, Germany. The family has a cast aluminum engine block and aluminum DOHC cylinder heads with 4 valves per cylinder and variable valve timing-E18ML:The E18ML is...	1:26.9031	15/06/08
Formula 5000 Formula 5000 Formula 5000 was an open wheel, single seater auto-racing formula that ran in different series in various regions around the world from 1968 to 1982. It was originally intended as a low-cost series aimed at open-wheel racing cars that no longer fit into any particular formula...	Chris Hyde	McRae Graham McRae Graham McRae is a former racing driver from New Zealand.McRae's single outing in the Formula One World Championship was at the 1973 British Grand Prix on 14 July 1973, where he retired in the first lap...  GM1 Chevrolet Chevrolet Small-Block engine The Chevrolet small-block engine is a series of automobile V8 engines built by the Chevrolet Division of General Motors using the same basic small engine block...	1:30.1205	09/03/08
Superkart Australian Superkart Championship The Australian Superkart Championship is a motor racing series run in Australia under the auspicies of CAMS under their Superkart regulations. The karts race on full size Australian circuits and in 2010 the series is scheduled to race at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Morgan Park Raceway and...	Russell Jamieson	Anderson Anderson Racing Karts Anderson Racing Karts is a manufacturer of open-wheel racing cars, specifically Superkarts. Andersons have won championships in all parts of the racing world and are current holders of European Superkart Championship, as well as titles in Great Britain, Germany, Sweden, Australia and New Zealand....  Maverick-DEA	1:32.0676	7/11/11
Formula Ford Australian Formula Ford Championship The Australian Formula Ford Championship is a CAMS sanctioned national motor racing title for drivers of Formula Ford racing cars. It has been held annually since 1970, originally as a national series, and later as the 'Driver-to-Europe' series...	Nick Percat Nick Percat Nick Percat is an Australian racing driver and reigning Bathurst 1000 champion. Percat currently races V8 Supercars in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series driving a Holden Commodore for Walkinshaw Performance supported Jay Motorsport team...	Mygale Mygale Mygale is a French racing car constructor and contractor that specialises in the production of single seater chassis for use in formula racing. The company was established in 1989 by Bertrand Decoster and its factory is based in Magny Cours....  SJO7A Ford Ford Duratec engine The Duratec is a range of four, five, and six-cylinder gasoline engines produced by the Ford Motor Company, used in Ford, Mazda, Volvo, Caterham, Morgan, Tiger, Ginetta cars and by specialist engine tuner Cosworth....	1:37.8542	22/09/09
Touring Cars
V8 Supercar V8 Supercar V8 Supercars is a touring car racing category based in Australia and run as an International Series under Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile regulations...	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...	Holden VT Commodore Holden VT Commodore The Holden VT Commodore, Berlina, and Calais are the tenth iteration of the Holden Commodore, a full-size car built by Holden, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors...	1.33.4389	16/05/99
Super Touring	Geoff Brabham Geoff Brabham Geoff Brabham is an Australian racing driver. He is the son of three-time Formula One World Champion Jack Brabham. Brabham spent the majority of his racing career in the United States. He raced successfully in CART early in his career. In ten appearances in the Indianapolis 500, with a best result...	BMW 320i BMW E36 The BMW E36 is the third generation of the 3 Series compact executive cars produced by BMW. It was introduced in late 1990 for Europe and in late 1991 for US and Canada. It was the successor to the E30 3 Series and was eventually replaced by the E90 3 Series in 2005, though E36 coupes were still...	1.37.1706	01/06/97
Sports Cars
GT Sports Cars Australian GT Championship The Australian GT Championship is a CAMS-sanctioned national title for drivers of GT cars, held annually from 1960 to 1963, from 1982 to 1985 and from 2005. Each championship up to and including the 1963 title was contested over a single race and those after that year over a series of races...	Allan Simonsen Allan Simonsen (racing driver) Allan Simonsen is a Danish racing driver.-Career highlights:*Le Mans Series*FIA GT3 European Championship*FIA GT Championship*British GT*Australian GT Championship-24 Hours of Le Mans results:-External links:*...	Ferrari F430 GT3	1:33.6203	17/05/09
Marque Sports	Steve Owen	Lamborghini Gallardo Lamborghini Gallardo The Lamborghini Gallardo is a sports car built by Lamborghini. The Gallardo is Lamborghini's most-produced model to date, with over 10,000 built in its first seven years of production...	1:34.4309	21/11/09
Carrera Cup Australian Carrera Cup Championship The Australian Carrera Cup Championship is a sports car racing championship open to drivers of Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars. First held in 2003, it is administered by Porsche Cars Australia and sanctioned by CAMS as an Australian Championship...	Daniel Gaunt Daniel Gaunt Daniel Gaunt, born 27 February 1985, in Auckland, is a New Zealand racing driver.-Formula Racing:After rising through the ranks of New Zealand Formula Ford, which included a third place finish in the 2002 New Zealand Grand Prix, Gaunt moved to Australia, competing in the Formula 4000 category and...	Porsche 997 GT3 Cup	1:34.6465	18/09/11
Aussie Racing Cars Aussie Racing Cars Aussie Racing Cars is an Australian motor racing category. Essentially a motorcycle powered Silhouette racing car class, it was created by former Touring car racer Phil Ward, influenced by the American Legends category....	Tyler Owen	Aurion Aussie Racing Cars Aussie Racing Cars is an Australian motor racing category. Essentially a motorcycle powered Silhouette racing car class, it was created by former Touring car racer Phil Ward, influenced by the American Legends category.... -Yamaha	1:47.8670	17/09/11
Motorcycles
MotoGP	Nicky Hayden Nicky Hayden Nicholas "Nicky" Patrick Hayden , nicknamed the The Kentucky Kid, is an American professional motorcycle racer, who won the MotoGP World Championship in 2006.-Beginnings and AMA Championship:...	Honda RC212V Honda RC212V The Honda RC212V is a road racing motorcycle developed to race in the MotoGP series. Officially introduced on 30 October 2006 as the RC211V replacement in the MotoGP series, it was developed by Honda Racing Corporation throughout 2006 and began officially racing in the 2007 season.The model name...	1:30.059	05/10/08
500cc Grand Prix Grand Prix motorcycle racing Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix is the premier championship of motorcycle road racing currently divided into three distinct classes: 125cc, Moto2 and MotoGP. The 125cc class uses a two-stroke engine while Moto2 and MotoGP use four-stroke engines. In 2010 the 250cc two-stroke was replaced...	Kenny Roberts, Jr.	Suzuki RGV500 Suzuki RGV500 The Suzuki RGV500 was Suzuki's entry in 500 cc Grand Prix motorcycle racing. It won its first 500 cc championship in 1993 in the hands of Kevin Schwantz, who beat both Wayne Rainey and Mick Doohan to the prize. This was the most successful period in the motorcycle's history...	1:32.743	01/10/99
250cc Grand Prix Grand Prix motorcycle racing Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix is the premier championship of motorcycle road racing currently divided into three distinct classes: 125cc, Moto2 and MotoGP. The 125cc class uses a two-stroke engine while Moto2 and MotoGP use four-stroke engines. In 2010 the 250cc two-stroke was replaced...	Álvaro Bautista Álvaro Bautista Álvaro Bautista is a Spanish Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He currently competes in the MotoGP class of the Grand Prix Motorcycle World Championship...	Aprilia RSV 250 Aprilia RSV 250 The Aprilia RSV 250 is a race motorcycle manufactured by Aprilia to race in the Grand Prix motorcycle World Championship. It was first debuted in ; in its history it underwent several modifications and upgrades, which brought it to its most recent incarnation...	1:32.710	05/10/08
125cc Grand Prix Grand Prix motorcycle racing Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix is the premier championship of motorcycle road racing currently divided into three distinct classes: 125cc, Moto2 and MotoGP. The 125cc class uses a two-stroke engine while Moto2 and MotoGP use four-stroke engines. In 2010 the 250cc two-stroke was replaced...	Alvaro Bautista	Honda RS125R Honda RS125R The Honda RS125R is a 125 cc two-stroke Grand Prix racing motorcycle built for racing purposes only.More info from Honda / HRC can be found here: -2008 Honda RS125R specifications:MODELRS125RTYPEJR01LENGTH × WIDTH × HEIGHT...	1:36.927	17/09/06
Moto2 Grand Prix motorcycle racing Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix is the premier championship of motorcycle road racing currently divided into three distinct classes: 125cc, Moto2 and MotoGP. The 125cc class uses a two-stroke engine while Moto2 and MotoGP use four-stroke engines. In 2010 the 250cc two-stroke was replaced...	Andrea Iannone Andrea Iannone Andrea Iannone is an Italian Grand Prix motorcycle road racer who currently competes in the Moto2 world championship, for the Italian Speed Master Team....	Speed Up	1:34.771	17/10/10
World Superbikes Superbike World Championship Superbike World Championship is the worldwide Superbike racing Championship. The championship was founded in . The Superbike World Championship season consists of a series of rounds held on permanent racing facilities...	Troy Corser Troy Corser Troy Gordon Corser is a professional motorcycle road racer, the and Superbike World champion....	Yamaha YZF R1	1:31.826	04/03/07
World Supersports	Fabien Foret Fabien Foret Fabien Foret born in Angoulême, France, is a professional motorcycle racer currently competing in the Supersport World Championship. As of the end of 2008, he has had 24 podium finishes including 11 wins, and 12 pole positions...	Honda CBR600RR Honda CBR600RR The Honda CBR600RR is a sport motorcycle that was introduced by Honda in 2003 as a race replica version of Honda's CBRFx series motorcycles. It won every Supersport World Championship title from 2002 to 2008.- Racing roots :...	1:34.941	27/02/11
Production Superbike	Jason O'Halloran	Honda CBR1000RR Honda CBR1000RR The CBR1000RR, also known as the Fireblade, is a liquid-cooled inline four-cylinder sport bike that was introduced by Honda in 2004 to replace the CBR954RR.-Racing roots:...	1:32.921	01/03/08
600cc Supersport	Jamie Stauffer Jamie Stauffer Jamie Stauffer born in Kurri Kurri, New South Wales, Australia is a professional motorcycle racer that competes in the Australian Superbike Championship....	Yamaha YZF-R6 Yamaha YZF-R6 Yamaha's YZF-R6 is a 600 class sport bike motorcycle, first introduced in 1998, updated in 2001, 2003, 2006, 2008 and revised in the years in between.-History:...	1:35.822	01/03/08
Sidecar	Steve Webster Steve Webster (sidecar racer) Steve Webster MBE , is an English sidecar racer who has won a record ten FIM Sidecar World Championships, making him the most successful sidecar racer ever... /  David James	LCR Louis Christen Racing Louis Christen Racing, commonly known as LCR, is a Swiss sidecar manufacturer named after founder Louis Christen. LCR sidecars have dominated sidecar road racing winning 25 World Sidecar Championships including every one of Steve Webster's 10 world championships.LCR started in 1971 building open... -Suzuki GSX-R1000 Suzuki GSX-R1000 The GSX-R1000 is a sport bike from Suzuki's GSX-R series of motorcycles. It was introduced in 2001 to replace the GSX-R1100 and is powered by a liquid-cooled inline four-cylinder, four-stroke engine.-2001:...	1:38.726	18/04/99

External links

• Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit official website
• Circuit history
• Circuit info from the official V8 Supercar site