Albert Park Circuit

Albert Park Circuit

Albert Park Circuit (2022–present)
Location	Albert Park, Melbourne, Victoria (Australia)
Time zone	UTC+10:00 (UTC+11:00 DST)
Coordinates	37°50′59″S 144°58′6″E
Capacity	~125,000 (39,000 seating)
FIA Grade	1
Opened	20 November 1953 (1953-11-20) Re-opened: 7 March 1996 (1996-03-07)
Closed	30 November 1958
Major events	Current: Formula One Australian Grand Prix (1996–2019, 2022–present) Supercars Championship Melbourne 400 (2018–2019, 2022) S5000 (2022) Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Championship (2008, 2011–2020, 2022) Future: FIA F2 (2023) FIA F3 (2023) Former: Australian GT Championship (2008–2010, 2016–2019) Ferrari Challenge Asia-Pacific (2018–2019) Australian F4 (2019) Porsche Supercup (1999) Australian Drivers' Championship (1957–1958, 1996)
Grand Prix Circuit (2021–present)
Length	5.278 km (3.280 miles)
Turns	14
Race lap record	1:20.260 ( Charles Leclerc, Ferrari F1-75, 2022)
Grand Prix Circuit (1996–2020)
Length	5.303 km (3.296 miles)
Turns	16
Race lap record	1:24.125 ( Michael Schumacher, Ferrari F2004, 2004)
Original Circuit (1953–1958)
Length	5.027 km (3.124 miles)
Turns	9
Race lap record	1:50.0 ( Stirling Moss, Cooper T45, 1958, Formula Libre)

The Albert Park Circuit is a motorsport street circuit around Albert Park Lake, three kilometres south of central Melbourne. It is used annually as a circuit for the Formula One Australian Grand Prix, the supporting Supercars Championship Melbourne 400 and other associated support races. The circuit has an FIA Grade 1 license.

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.

Design

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.

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.

On 4 July 2008, F1 announced that more than 300,000 people attended the four-day Melbourne Grand Prix, though actual ticket sales were later disputed by the local media. 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 2025.

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. Also, some corners were widened such as turn 1, turn 3, turn 6, turn 7, and turn 15; and it is expected that these modifications will reduce qualifying lap times by as much as five seconds.

Everyday access

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.

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 as opposed to the current circuit which runs clockwise.

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

• 21 November 1953 – featuring the 1953 Australian Grand Prix, won by Doug Whiteford (Talbot-Lago T26C)
• 26 and 27 March 1955 – the first Moomba meeting, which involved an alliance with the Moomba festival and The Argus newspaper, featuring the Moomba TT, won by Doug Whiteford (Triumph TR2) and the Argus Trophy, also won by Doug Whiteford (Talbot-Lago)
• 11 March and 18 March 1956 – the second Moomba meeting, featuring the 1956 Moomba TT won by Tony Gaze (HWM Jaguar), and on the second weekend the 1956 Argus Trophy, won by Reg Hunt (Maserati 250F)
• 25 November & 2 December 1956 – featuring the 1956 Australian Tourist Trophy, won by Stirling Moss (Maserati 300S), and on the second weekend the 1956 Australian Grand Prix, also won by Stirling Moss (Maserati 250F)
• 17 and 24 March 1957 – the third Moomba meeting – featuring the Victorian Tourist Trophy won by Doug Whiteford (Maserati 300S), and the Victorian Trophy, won by Lex Davison (Ferrari 500). The Victorian Trophy was retrospectively designated as the second round of the 1957 Australian Drivers' Championship
• 23 and 30 November 1958 – featuring the 1958 Victorian Tourist Trophy, won by Doug Whiteford (Maserati 300S), and, on the second weekend, the 1958 Melbourne Grand Prix, (a round of the 1958 Australian Drivers' Championship), won by Stirling Moss (Cooper Coventry Climax)

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

Events

Current

• April: Formula One Australian Grand Prix, Supercars Championship Melbourne 400, S5000 Australian Drivers' Championship, Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Championship

Future

• FIA Formula 2 Championship (2023)
• FIA Formula 3 Championship (2023)

Former

• Australian Drivers' Championship (1957–1958, 1996)
• Australian Formula 4 Championship (2019)
• Australian Formula Ford Championship (2009–2010, 2012)
• Australian GT Championship (2008–2010, 2016–2019)
• Ferrari Challenge Asia-Pacific (2018–2019)
• Porsche Supercup (1999)
• Supercars Championship Supercars Challenge (1996–2006, 2008–2017)

Race lap records

As of 10 April 2022, the official race lap records at the Albert Park Circuit are listed as:

Class	Driver	Vehicle	Time	Date
Grand Prix Circuit (2021–present): 5.278 km
Formula One	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari F1-75	1:20.260	10 April 2022
S5000	Aaron Cameron	Ligier JS F3-S5000	1:40.3696	8 April 2022
Supercars Championship	Scott Pye	Holden Commodore (ZB)	1:46.006	9 April 2022
Porsche Carrera Cup	Max Vidau	Porsche 992 GT3 Cup	1:48.6349	8 April 2022
Grand Prix Circuit (1996–2020): 5.303 km
Formula One	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari F2004	1:24.125	7 March 2004
Formula 3	Bruno Senna	Dallara F304	1:50.8640	3 March 2006
Supercars Championship	Scott McLaughlin	Ford FG X Falcon	1:54.6016	22 March 2018
Formula 5000	Ken Smith	Lola T430	1:54.6975	28 March 2010
GT3	Craig Baird	Mercedes-AMG GT3	1:54.731	23 March 2018
Porsche Carrera Cup	Cooper Murray	Porsche 911 (991) GT3 Cup	1:58.3294	16 March 2019
Ferrari Challenge	James Weiland	Ferrari 488 Challenge	1:59.1147	23 March 2018
Formula 4	Jayden Ojeda	Mygale M14-F4	2:02.1683	17 March 2019
TCR Touring Car	Garth Tander	Audi RS 3 LMS TCR	2:04.3614	14 March 2020
Nations Cup	Paul Stokell	Lamborghini Diablo GTR	2:00.685	8 March 2003
Formula Ford	Chaz Mostert	Spectrum 012	2:04.4805	27 March 2010
Group A	Terry Lawlor	Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R	2:10.8171	13 March 2015
Aussie Racing Cars	James Small	Commodore-Yamaha	2:16.0196	15 March 2008
Group C	Milton Seferis	Holden VH Commodore SS	2:18.9539	14 March 2015
SuperUtes	Grant Johnson	Holden Commodore Ute	2:22.3877	1 April 2006
Original Circuit (1953–1958): 5.027 km
Formula Libre	Stirling Moss	Cooper T45	1:50.0	30 November 1958
Sports car racing	Stirling Moss	Maserati 300S	1:55.8	25 November 1956

See also

• Adelaide Street Circuit

External links

• Albert Park at Official Formula 1 website
• Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit Guide
• Albert Park Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit on Google Maps (Current Formula 1 Tracks)