Oran Park Raceway

Oran Park Raceway was a motor racing circuit at Narellan south west of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia which was operational from February 1962 until its closure in January 2010.

Oran Park Raceway
Grand Prix Circuit
LocationNarellan, New South Wales
Time zoneUTC +10
Coordinates34°00′22″S 150°44′2″E
OpenedFebruary 1962
ClosedJanuary 2010
Major eventsV8 Supercars
Australian Grand Prix
Superbike World Championship
Castrol 6 Hour
Grand Prix Circuit
Length2.620 km (1.62 mi)
Turns12
Race lap record1:01.6718 (Tim Leahey, Reynard 92D Holden, 2000, Formula Holden)
Motorcycle Grand Prix Circuit
Length2.625 km (1.62 mi)
Turns13
Race lap record1:10.2005 (Mat Mladin, Kawasaki Ninja ZX-7R, 1995, Superbikes)
South Circuit
Length1.960 km (1.218 mi)
Turns7
Race lap record0:37.73 (Paul Stokell, Reynard 91D Holden, 1994, Formula Holden)
North Circuit
Length0.660 km (0.410 mi)
Turns6
Websitewww.oranpark.com.au/index.php
North Circuit
South Circuit

History

The circuit was established by the Singer Car Club, with its opening meeting held on the weekend of 17–18 February 1962.[1] The land for the circuit was provided by wealthy Camden grazier Dan Cleary, who also ran an earthmoving business, which provided the equipment used to help build the circuit.[2] A motorcycle race meeting was held on 17 February 1963, with reigning Grand Prix Champion Jim Redman being the star attraction.[3] Redman won nearly every class and set the lap record of 50.4 seconds, only 0.8 seconds slower than Frank Matich's outright time set in a 2.6 litre Lotus Sports Car.

The original lap distance of 1.0 miles (1.6 km) was later extended to 1.21 miles (1.9 km)[2] with a further extension in 1974[4] creating an alternative "Grand Prix" circuit of 1.63 miles (2.62 km) in length.[2] The Grand Prix circuit featured a figure-eight shape with a bridge where the track crossed over itself. Despite the loop the racing direction was still regarded as being anticlockwise.

The complex also had a motocross track, a skidpan, a dirt track and four wheel drive course and a 1000-foot drag strip. Due to the nature of the land on which the circuit was built, most of the circuit was visible from the main grandstand or the grassed banks surrounding the track.

Oran Park was used regularly for rounds of the Australian Touring Car Championship, V8 Supercar Championship Series, Australian Drivers' Championship and Australian Sports Sedan Championship. The Australian Grand Prix was held at Oran Park in 1974 and 1977. In the 1970s the circuit attracted large crowds for the popular Toby Lee Series, initially run for Series Production Touring Cars and later for Sports Sedans. The inaugural Rothmans 500 for Touring Cars was staged in 1977 but the 1978 event was to be the second and last running of this endurance race. Shorter touring car endurance races would continue to be held at Oran Park during the 1980s and apart from the Sandown and Bathurst classics would last the longest before fading interest caused the compression of the endurance season to just those two events. The final such Oran Park enduro would be the 1989 Pepsi 300 won by Andrew Miedecke and Andrew Bagnall driving a Ford Sierra RS500. The final V8 Supercar round was held in December 2008, won by Garth Tander driving a Holden VE Commodore.

The land on which the racetrack was located was sold to the Government of New South Wales for a new housing development. This led to the eventual closure of the track and ended 48 years of motorsport heritage at the facility. The last motorcycle race meeting, the BelRay 6 Hour, was held on 21–22 November 2009. The final race meeting was scheduled for 23–24 January 2010 but was cancelled due to a lack of entries.[5] This meant that the Independent Race Series event on 16 January 2010[6] was in fact the last race meeting to be held at the circuit. The circuit continued to run open track days, where the public could drive road cars and motorbikes around the full circuit. The last ever day before the track closed for good was Monday 25 January 2010.

Australian Grand Prix

Oran Park twice hosted the Australian Grand Prix during its 42 years of operation, with both events held for Formula 5000 cars. The first Grand Prix held at Oran Park in 1974 was won by Max Stewart driving a Lola T330 Chevrolet. The last time the circuit hosted the event was in 1977 when Warwick Brown drove his Lola T430 Chevrolet to victory. Alan Jones had actually 'won' the 1977 race on the road and was some 40 seconds ahead of Walker when he crossed the line for what should have been the finish. However he was penalised 60 seconds for jumping the start and would eventually be classified in 4th place.

Australian Touring Car Championship
Main article: Oran Park V8 Supercar round

Oran Park Raceway has hosted a round of the Australian Touring Car Championship every year since 1971. 2008 was the final year of Oran Park in the V8 Supercar Championship Series. Allan Moffat and Mark Skaife are the most successful drivers at Oran Park in the ATCC, with six round wins each.

The first ever race in 1971 saw Moffat in his Ford Boss 302 Mustang and Bob Jane driving his 427 cui powered Chevrolet Camaro ZL-1 go into the round on 31 and 34 points respectively with Moffat needing to either win or score more 3 or more points than Jane to claim the title. With both drivers starting from the front row a capacity crowd saw a titanic struggle with Jane claiming the win from Moffat and securing his 3rd ATCC championship. In a bizarre happening during the race, a spectator driving a road registered Valiant drove through an open gate and onto the circuit. As there were Group E cars in the race, the officials seemed to miss the extra car and the race continued with the driver managing to complete a few laps before exiting the circuit.

Touring Car round winners
Year Driver Car Entrant
Improved Production
1971 Bob Jane Chevrolet Camaro ZL-1 Bob Jane Racing Team
1972 Allan Moffat Ford Boss 302 Mustang Coca-Cola Team A.M.R.
Group C
1973 Allan Moffat Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase 3 Ford Works Team
1974 Allan Moffat Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop Allan Moffat Racing
1975 Allan Grice Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 Craven Mild Racing
1976 Allan Moffat Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop Allan Moffat Racing
1977 Allan Moffat Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop Moffat Ford Dealers
1978 Peter Brock Holden LX Torana A9X SS Hatchback Holden Dealer Team
1979 Bob Morris Holden Torana LX A9X SS Hatchback Ron Hodgson Channel 7 Racing
1980 Bob Morris Holden VB Commodore Craven Mild Racing
1981 Dick Johnson Ford XD Falcon Palmer Tube Mills
1982 Kevin Bartlett Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Nine Network Racing Team
1983 Allan Moffat Mazda RX-7 Peter Stuyvesant International Racing
1984 Bob Morris Mazda RX-7 Barry Jones
Group A
1985 Robbie Francevic Volvo 240T Mark Petch Motorsport
1986 George Fury Nissan Skyline DR30 RS Peter Jackson Nissan Racing
1987 Jim Richards BMW M3 JPS Team BMW
1988 Dick Johnson Ford Sierra RS500 Shell Ultra-Hi Racing
1989 Peter Brock Ford Sierra RS500 Mobil 1 Racing
1990 Jim Richards Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R Nissan Motorsport Australia
1991 Mark Skaife Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R Nissan Motor Sport
1992 Mark Skaife Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R Winfield Team Nissan
Group 3A Touring Cars
1993 Jim Richards Holden VP Commodore Winfield Racing
1994 Glenn Seton Ford EB Falcon Peter Jackson Racing
1995 John Bowe Ford EF Falcon Shell FAI Racing
1996 Peter Brock Holden VR Commodore Holden Racing Team
1997 Greg Murphy Holden VS Commodore Holden Racing Team
1998 Craig Lowndes Holden VS Commodore Holden Racing Team
V8 Supercars
1999 Mark Skaife Holden VT Commodore Holden Racing Team
2000 Mark Skaife Holden VT Commodore Holden Racing Team
2001 Mark Skaife Holden VX Commodore Holden Racing Team
2002 Mark Skaife Holden VX Commodore Holden Racing Team
2003 Marcos Ambrose Ford BA Falcon Stone Brothers Racing
2004 Marcos Ambrose Ford BA Falcon Stone Brothers Racing
2005 Russell Ingall Ford BA Falcon Stone Brothers Racing
2006 Craig Lowndes Ford BA Falcon Team Betta Electrical
2007 Lee Holdsworth Holden VE Commodore Garry Rogers Motorsport
2008 Garth Tander Holden VE Commodore Holden Racing Team

Touring Car endurance races

A number of endurance races for Touring Cars were staged at Oran Park Raceway between 1977 and 1989.

Year Race Winning driver(s) Car Entrant Status
Group C
1977 Rothmans 500 Warren Cullen Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 Pioneer Electronics Non–championship race
1978 Rothmans 500 John Harvey Holden LX Torana SS A9X Marlboro Holden Dealer Team Non–championship race
1978 ABE Copiers 250 Peter Brock Holden LX Torana SS A9X Marlboro Holden Dealer Team Round 1 of 1978 Australian Championship of Makes
1981 Valvoline 250 Dick Johnson Ford XD Falcon Palmer Tube Mills Round 2 of 1981 Australian Endurance Championship
1982 Perrier Gold Cup Bob Morris
Alan Jones		 Ford XE Falcon Alan Jones Round 1 of 1982 Australian Endurance Championship
1983 Oran Park 250 George Fury Nissan Bluebird Turbo Nissan Motor Co. Round 2 of 1983 Australian Endurance Championship
1984 Valvoline 250 Allan Moffat
Gregg Hansford		 Mazda RX-7 Peter Stuyvesant International Racing Round 2 of 1984 Australian Endurance Championship
Group A
1985 Pepsi 250 Jim Richards BMW 635 CSi JPS Team BMW Round 2 of 1985 Australian Endurance Championship
1986 Pepsi 250 George Fury Nissan Skyline DR30 RS Peter Jackson Nissan Racing Round 6 of 1986 Australian Endurance Championship
1987 Pepsi 250 Jim Richards BMW M3 JPS Team BMW Non–championship race
1988 Pepsi 250 Peter Brock
Jim Richards		 BMW M3 Mobil 1 Racing Non–championship race
1989 Pepsi 300 Andrew Miedecke
Andrew Bagnall		 Ford Sierra RS500 Miedecke Motorsport Non–championship race

Superbike World Championship

Oran Park twice played host to the Superbike World Championship. It hosted the second last round of the inaugural season of the championship in 1988, and also hosted the second last round in 1989 (since 1990 the Australian round has been held at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in Victoria).

Australia's future five time 500cc Motorcycle World Champion Mick Doohan easily won both races in 1988 on his Yamaha FZR750, while fellow Australians Peter Goddard and Michael Dowson won the 1989 rounds heat races also riding the Yahama FZR750.

A number of the international WSBK riders were critical of the Oran Park circuit, particularly of the fact that many of the concrete walls that lined the outside of the circuit (especially on the outside of turns 3, 4, 9 and 12) left little to no runoff room should a rider come off their bike.

NASCAR / AUSCAR

During the mid-1990s, the Australian NASCAR and AUSCAR series raced at Oran Park, utilising the 1.96 km South Circuit, with the track's lights upgraded to allow for night racing. The night races at Oran Park were a popular addition to the series, which other than one-off support races at the Bathurst 1000 the Gold Coast Indy 300, had previously run exclusively on the only paved oval tracks in Australia, the Bob Jane owned Calder Park Thunderdome in Melbourne and the Speedway Super Bowl at the Adelaide International Raceway.

Lap records

Lap records shown are for the Grand Prix circuit. Italics indicate use of shorter South Circuit.[7][8][9]

As a comparison, in November 1974, Warwick Brown set the outright lap record on the then new "Grand Prix Circuit" with a 1:05.2 lap in a Lola T332-Chevrolet Formula 5000. Ten years later in August 1984, John Bowe set the outright lap record of 1:03.9 in a Ralt RT4-Ford (1.6L) Formula Mondial. When the circuit closed in 2010, the outright lap record stood at 1:01.6718 by Tim Leahey in a Reynard 92D-Holden (3.8L) Formula Holden set in July 2000. Note that in mid-1984 the circuit was changed slightly with the addition of a straight run after turn 3 heading to what was turn 5 and eliminating what was turn 4. This made turn 3, and subsequently the new turn 4, slightly faster and gave the Grand Prix Circuit 12 corners instead of 13. The result was an overall improvement in lap times of approximately 0.5 to 1 second per lap. Motorbikes continued to use the pre-1984 sequence of turns until one year before the circuits closure.

Class Driver Vehicle Time Date
Outright (GP Circuit) Tim Leahey Reynard 92D Holden 1:01.6718 30 July 2000
Outright (South Circuit) Paul Stokell Reynard 91D Holden 0:37.73 28 August 1994
Racing cars
Formula Holden Paul Stokell Reynard 91D Holden 0:37.73 28 August 1994
Formula Mondial Andrew Miedecke Ralt RT4 Ford 0:39.9 21 August 1983
Formula Holden Tim Leahey Reynard 92D Holden 1:01.6718 30 July 2000
Formula Mondial John Bowe Ralt RT4 Ford 1:03.9 19 August 1984
Formula Three Michael Caruso Dallara 301 Fiat 1:03.9747 13 July 2003
Formula 5000 Warwick Brown Lola T332 Chevrolet 1:05.2 17 November 1974
Australian Formula 2 Jon Crooke Cheetah Mk8 VW 1:05.8 8 June 1986
Formula Ford Steven Richards Van Diemen RF94 1:11.5614 24 July 1994
Formula Vee 1600 Ryan Simpson Jacer F2k6 1:18.8632 19 June 2006
Formula Vee 1200 Benjamin Porter Jacer 1:21.9271 19 July 2003
Sports cars
Group A Sports Cars Bap Romano Romano WE84-Cosworth 0:41.1 19 August 1984
Sports Sedan Kerry Baily Nissan 300ZX-Chevrolet 1:06.8983 28 July 2001
Nations Cup Paul Stokell Lamborghini Diablo GTR 1:08.6267 13 July 2003
Carrera Cup Alex Davison Porsche 997 GT3 Cup 1:09.6224 13 August 2003
Production Sports Cars Tim Mackie Lotus Elise HPE 1:10.9768 31 May 2009
GT Championship David Wall Dodge Viper GTS ACR 1:11.2863 7 May 2006
Invitation Sports Cars Stan Adler Porsche 911 Coupe 1:15.6234 30 August 1998
GT Performance Bob Pearson Mazda RX-7 1:16.0830 13 July 2003
Aussie Racing Cars Nick Percat ARC Falcon-Yamaha 1:16.6124 12 August 2006
MG-F Trophy Warren Luff MG-F Trophy 1:23.5348 17 August 2003
Touring cars
V8 Supercar Craig Lowndes Holden VT Commodore 1:08.0630 15 September 1999
Super Touring Brad Jones Audi A4 Quattro 1:10.0464 30 August 1998
Group A Mark Skaife Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R 1:10.26 21 June 1992
Fujitsu V8 Supercars Series Dean Canto Ford EL Falcon 1:10.3812 16 June 2000
Group C Peter Brock Holden VH Commodore SS 1:15.34 27 May 1984
Performance Cars Chris Alajajian Subaru Impreza WRX STi 1:15.6008 13 August 2005
Club Cars Wayne Wakefield Mazda 808 Station Wagon 1:16.8968 30 August 1998
Commodore Cup Ashley Cooper Holden VS Commodore 1:18.2003 22 April 2007
Saloon Cars Kris Walton Ford AU Falcon 1:19.7760 28 October 2006
Production Cars Scott Loadsman Holden VX Commodore 1:20.3087 24 November 2001
Mirage Series Warren Luff Mitsubishi Mirage RS 1:20.7364 15 August 1999
V8 Utes Grant Johnson Holden VZ SS Ute 1:21.4087 7 May 2006
HQ Holden Vince Gatt HQ Holden 1:27.6977 15 August 1999
Historic touring cars
Touring Car Masters Gavin Bullas 1969 Ford Boss Mustang 1:18.0507 27 April 2008
Group Nb Cameron Tilley Chrysler Valiant S Series 1:21.6603 18 June 2000
Trucks
Super Trucks Ian 'Inky' Tulloch Freightliner Trucks 0:52.4607 24 March 2002
Motorcycles
Superbikes Mat Mladin Kawasaki Ninja ZX-7R 1:10.2005 6 August 1995
Formula Xtreme Motorcycles Kevin Curtain Yamaha YZF1000R 1:10.8232 11 October 1998
250cc GP Craig Connell Yamaha TZ250 1:12.9600 24 September 1995
600cc Supersports Adam Fergusson CBR600F 1:13.000 5 March 2000
125cc GP Jay Taylor HBS 125 1:13.8952 26 August 2001
250cc Production Peter Archer Suzuki RGV250 1:16.7300 27 June 1993
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References
  1. Clyde Hogkins, New Track for Racing, The Sun Herald, 18 Feb 1962, page 59.
  2. Walker, Terry (1995). Fast Tracks - Australia's Motor Racing Circuits 1904-1995. Sydney: Turton & Armstrong. p. 118. ISBN 0908031556.
  3. The Sydney Morning Herald, 13 Feb 1963 Retrieved from news.google.com on 8 February 2010
  4. Ray Bell, Lucky Stewart Bags AGP, Racing Car News, December 1974, page 60
  5. NOTICE OF CANCELLATION - LAST EVER RACE MEETING 23 -24 JANUARY 2010 As archived at www.webcitation.org on 7 February 2010
  6. Race Results Archive 2010 Archived 4 September 2012 at Archive.today Retrieved from www.natsoft.biz on 7 February 2010
  7. Oran Park lap records - 2004 V8 Supercar Oran Park round official programme
  8. Oran Park lap records - 2007 V8 Supercar Oran Park round official programme
  9. "Australian Formula Vee tracks". Official Australian Formula Vee website. 10 May 2007. Retrieved 22 November 2008.
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