Winton Motor Raceway
Winton Motor Raceway is a motor racing track in Winton, near Benalla, Victoria, Australia.
![]() National Circuit (1997–present) | |
Location | Winton, Victoria |
---|---|
Coordinates | 36°31′6″S 146°5′15″E |
FIA Grade | 3[lower-alpha 1] |
Owner | Benalla Auto Club |
Broke ground | November 1960 |
Opened | 26 November 1961 |
Major events | Former: Supercars Championship Winton SuperSprint (1985–1986, 1988–1995, 1997–2004, 2006–2019, 2022) S5000 (2023) TCR Australia (2019, 2023) Australian GT (1982–1985, 2011–2012, 2016–2017) Australian F4 (2018) |
National Circuit (1997–present) | |
Length | 3.000 km (1.864 miles) |
Turns | 12 |
Race lap record | 1:14.3058 (![]() |
Original Club Circuit (1961–present) | |
Length | 2.028 km (1.260 miles) |
Turns | 10 |
Race lap record | 0:52.9900 (![]() |
History
The Benalla Auto Club began planning for a permanent racing track around 1958, as a replacement for their existing track at Barjarg.[1] In 1960 it was decided to build the track at Winton Recreation Reserve and the track was completed in twelve months. The circuit hosted its first race meeting on 26 November 1961.[2] The circuit was immediately popular - a March 1965 meeting featuring the Neptune touring car and the Victorian Formula Two championship drew a crowd of approximately 10,000 spectators.[1] The circuit length was extended prior to the 1997 round of the V8 Supercar championship and the upgrade included a new pit complex.
The circuit
Winton Motor Raceway has a combination of long fast straights and twisty and tight bends. It is also known as "Australia's Action Track".[3] Dick Johnson once described the circuit being "like running a marathon around your clothes-line".
The original circuit (now called the Winton Club Circuit) is 2.028 km (1.260 mi) in length and comprises 10 turns. The circuit was lengthened to 3.000 km (1.864 mi) with the cars turning left prior to the esses and a series of right hand turns added before the extension rejoins the original track at the esses. The long circuit is called the Winton National Circuit.
Layouts
- National Circuit (1997–present)
- Original Club Circuit (1961–present)
V8 Supercars
The track was used as a round in the V8 Supercar series, hosting the Winton SuperSprint. The track was one of the more popular tracks in the series with spectators, especially those who live in the area. Easy access to the track and viewing areas made it very popular. It attracts some of the biggest crowds of any of the permanent race tracks in the series.
Although the circuit held various rounds of national championships such as the Australian Drivers' Championship and the Australian Sports Car Championship, Winton was not awarded a round of the Australian Touring Car Championship until the start of the Group A era in Australia in 1985. The first ATCC race was won by then triple-Bathurst 1000 winner Jim Richards in his JPS Team BMW 635 CSi. That race holds its place in ATCC/V8 Supercar history as not only the first all-Group A race in Australia, but the first ATCC win by BMW and the only race in history in which there were no Holdens on the grid.
Richards holds the record for most ATCC round wins at Winton with four, having won in 1985 and 1986 for BMW, while winning in 1990 and 1991 for Nissan.
Australian Drivers' Championship
Winton has played host to 19 rounds of the Australian Drivers' Championship since 1980.
Year | Driver | Car | Entrant | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Australian Formula 1 | ||||
1980 | ![]() |
Lola T430 | Porsche Distributors | |
1982 | ![]() |
Tiga FA81 | Porsche Cars Australia | |
1983 | ![]() |
Tiga FA81 | Porsche Cars Australia | |
Formula Mondial | ||||
1984 | ![]() |
Ralt RT4 | Chris Leach Racing | |
1986 | ![]() |
Ralt RT4 | Watson Motor Racing Pty Ltd | |
Formula Holden | ||||
1989* | ![]() |
Ralt RT20 | R.J.Macarthur Onslow | |
1989* | ![]() |
Ralt RT21 | John Briggs | |
1990 | ![]() |
Ralt RT21 | John Briggs | |
Formula Brabham | ||||
1992 | ![]() |
Reynard 90D | Larkham Motor Sport | |
1994 | ![]() |
Reynard 90D | Birrana Racing | |
Formula Holden | ||||
1997 | ![]() |
Reynard 92D | SH Racing | |
1999 | ![]() |
Reynard 94D | SH Racing | |
2000 | ![]() |
Reynard 92D | Greg Murphy Racing | |
2001 | ![]() |
Reynard 94D | Birrana Racing | |
2002 | ![]() |
Reynard 94D | Ralt Australia | |
2003 | ![]() |
Reynard 95D | CPA Australia | |
2004 | ![]() |
Reynard 97D | Hocking Motorsport | |
Australian Formula 3 | ||||
2009** | ![]() ![]() |
Dallara F307 | Scud Racing Team BRM | |
2011 | ![]() |
Dallara F304 | R-Tek Motorsport | |
* The 1989 Australian Drivers' Championship was contested over ten rounds at five race meetings at five different tracks. Although the races were held on the same day both Rohan Onslow and John Briggs are credited with separate round wins.
**The 2009 round saw two heats. Tim Macrow and Joey Foster each won a heat while also finished second on the other heat giving the pair equal points (35) on the day.
Australian Sports Car Championship
Winton played host to a round of the Australian Sports Car Championship on 7 occasions between 1978 and 1985.
Year | Driver | Car | Entrant |
---|---|---|---|
1978 | ![]() |
Porsche Carrera | Ross Mathiesen |
1979 | ![]() |
Porsche Carrera | Ross Mathiesen |
1980 | ![]() |
Porsche 930 Turbo | Porsche Distributors |
1981 | ![]() |
Porsche 930 Turbo | John Latham |
1983 | ![]() |
Kaditcha K583 Cosworth | Kaditcha Factory Racing Team |
1984 | ![]() |
Romano WE84 Cosworth | Bap Romano Racing |
1985 | ![]() |
Lola T610 | Terry Hook |
Australian Sports Sedan / GT Championship
1980, 1981, 1997, 1998 and 2003 were run for Sports Sedans. 1982–1985 were run for GT style cars.
Year | Driver | Car | Entrant |
---|---|---|---|
1980 | ![]() |
Ford XC Falcon Hardtop | Jim Richards |
1981 | ![]() |
Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV Chevrolet | Donald Elliott |
1982 | ![]() |
Porsche 935/80 | Porsche Cars Australia |
1983 | ![]() |
Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV Chevrolet | Donald Elliott |
1984 | ![]() |
Chevrolet Monza | Re-Car Racing |
1985 | ![]() |
De Tomaso Pantera | Paul Halstead / The Toy Shop |
1997 | ![]() |
Mazda RX-7 | Wayne Park |
1998 | ![]() |
Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV Chevrolet | Basil Ricciardello |
2003 | ![]() |
Saab 9-3 Aero Chevrolet | Darren Hossack |
Australian Nations Cup Championship
Year | Driver | Car | Entrant |
---|---|---|---|
2002 | ![]() |
Lamborghini Diablo GTR | Team Lamborghini Australia |
2003 | ![]() |
Holden Monaro 427C | Garry Rogers Motorsport |
2004 | ![]() |
Holden Monaro 427C | Garry Rogers Motorsport |
Australian Superbike Championship
Winton Raceway is one of the most prominent Superbike races on the Australian Superbike Championship racing calendar. Winton Raceway has seen riders such as Mick Doohan, Kevin Magee and Mat Mladin ride regularly at the venue.
Year | Rider | Bike |
---|---|---|
2007 | ![]() |
Yamaha YZF-R1 |
2006 | ![]() |
Yamaha YZF-R1 |
Formula X-treme Motorcycle Championship
Year | Rider | Bike |
---|---|---|
2009 | ![]() |
Honda CBR1000RR |
2010 | ![]() |
Yamaha YZF-R1 |
Drift Attack
Winton Raceway is one of Australia's most popular Drift circuits. It hosts Australia largest drift event Drift Attack. Drift Attack is promoted by the Victorian Drift Club and offers the largest Prize Pool in Australian Drifting and is contested by Australia's 32 best Drifters in the Pro class and 32 Drivers in the street class.
Year | Driver | Car |
---|---|---|
2009 | Luke Fink | S14 Silvia |
2010 | Josh Coote | Nissan 180SX |
Lap records
As of June 2023, the official race lap records at Winton Motor Raceway are listed as:[4][5]
Class | Driver | Vehicle | Time | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
National Circuit: 3.000 km (1997–present) | ||||
Formula 3 | ![]() |
Dallara F311 | 1:14.3058[6] | 10 March 2019 |
Formula Holden | ![]() |
Reynard 95D | 1:14.5697[4] | 16 July 2000 |
S5000 | ![]() |
Ligier JS F3-S5000 | 1:18.1659[7] | 11 June 2023 |
Sports Sedan | ![]() |
Audi A4 | 1:18.8794 | 21 May 2022 |
Superbike | ![]() |
Honda CBR1000RR | 1:19.274[8] | 14 March 2021 |
Supercars Championship | ![]() |
Ford FG X Falcon | 1:19.7092[4] | 21 May 2016 |
GT3 | ![]() |
Audi R8 LMS GT3 | 1:20.4298[9][4] | 10 June 2017 |
Formula 4 | ![]() |
Mygale M14-F4 | 1:20.6106[10] | 2 September 2018 |
Porsche Carrera Cup | ![]() |
Porsche 911 (992) GT3 Cup | 1:20.7969[11] | 21 May 2022 |
Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge | ![]() |
Porsche 911 (991) GT3 Cup | 1:21.6518 | 2 September 2018 |
Supersport | ![]() |
Yamaha YZF-R6 | 1:21.872[8] | 14 March 2021 |
V8 Touring Car National Series | ![]() |
Holden VE Commodore | 1:23.3446[4] | 22 May 2016 |
Super2 Series | ![]() |
Ford FG Falcon | 1:23.7669 | 5 April 2014 |
Nations Cup | ![]() |
Lamborghini Diablo GTR | 1:23.8403 | 21 September 2003 |
TCR Touring Car | ![]() |
Hyundai i30 N TCR | 1:24.372[12] | 1 September 2019 |
Trans-Am Australia | ![]() |
Chevrolet Camaro | 1:24.5162[13] | 10 June 2023 |
Formula Ford (Duratec) | ![]() |
Mygale SJ13 | 1:24.7731 | 22 May 2022 |
Super Touring | ![]() |
Volvo S40 | 1:25.3181[14][4] | 9 August 1998 |
Formula Ford (Kent) | ![]() |
Van Diemen RF01 | 1:26.2188[15][4] | 18 August 2002 |
Touring Car Masters | ![]() |
Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 | 1:28.0049[4] | 22 May 2016 |
Sidecar | ![]() ![]() |
Suzuki LCR | 1:29.112[8] | 13 March 2021 |
Supersport 300 | ![]() |
Yamaha YZF-R3 | 1:30.604[8] | 13 March 2021 |
Aussie Racing Cars | ![]() |
Mustang-Yamaha | 1:31.2640 | 21 May 2022 |
Moto3 | ![]() |
Honda NSF250R | 1:32.543[8] | 2 October 2016 |
Formula Vee | ![]() |
Sabre 02 | 1:32.6485[4] | 4 September 2016 |
GT Performance | ![]() |
Mazda RX-7 Series 8 | 1:32.6533[4] | 21 September 2003 |
F2 Sidecar | ![]() ![]() |
LCR - Honda CBR600RR | 1:33.757 | 30 April 2017 |
Porsche 944 | ![]() |
Porsche 944 | 1:33.9462 | 2 September 2018 |
SuperUtes (V8) | ![]() |
Mitsubishi Triton | 1:34.4853 | 22 May 2022 |
V8 Ute Racing Series | ![]() |
Holden VE SS Ute | 1:35.2253 | 21 May 2016 |
Motor Events | ![]() |
BMW E36 328 | 1:38.9840 | 15 May 2021 |
24 Hours of Lemons | ![]() |
BMW E36 328 | 1:40.4680 | 27 April 2019 |
SuperUtes (Diesel) | ![]() |
Holden Colorado | 1:42.9017 | 20 May 2018 |
Original Club Circuit: 2.028 km (1961–present) | ||||
Formula Brabham | ![]() |
Reynard 90D | 0.52.99 | 4 April 1992 |
Formula Mondial | ![]() |
Ralt RT4 | 0.53.80 | 12 August 1984 |
Formula X1 Hyper Racer | ![]() |
Hyper Racer X1 | 0.54.91 | 10 July 2022 |
Formula 5000 | ![]() |
Lola T430 | 0.55.80 | October 1979 |
Formula 2 | ![]() |
Cheetah Mk 8 | 0.56.96 | December 1988 |
Group A Sports Cars (Under 3-Litre) | ![]() |
Kaditcha K583 Cosworth | 0.57.10 | 14 August 1983 |
Group A Sports Cars (Over 3-Litre) | ![]() |
Kaditcha Chevrolet | 0.57.40 | 14 August 1983 |
Sports Sedan | ![]() |
Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV | 0.58.80 | 12 August 1984 |
Group 5 | ![]() |
Porsche 935/80 | 0.59.00 | 16 May 1982 |
Clubman | ![]() |
Galloway | 0.59.60 | December 1987 |
Group 3A Touring Car | ![]() |
Ford EB Falcon | 0.59.65 | 16 May 1993 |
Superbikes | ![]() |
Honda RVF750 RC45 | 1:00.7655 | May 1995 |
Super Touring | ![]() |
BMW 318is | 1:00.972[16] | 25 August 1996 |
Formula Ford | ![]() |
Swift SC92F | 1:01.18 | 5 April 1992 |
Group A | ![]() |
Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R | 1:01.56 | 5 April 1992 |
GT Production | ![]() |
Porsche 911 RSCS | 1:02.3751 | 25 August 1996 |
Porsche 944 | ![]() |
Porsche 944 | 1:05.0137 | 4 December 2016 |
Formula Vee | ![]() |
Elfin 76 | 1:07.01 | March 1996 |
Group 3E Series Production Cars | ![]() |
Holden VP Commodore | 1:09.42 | 16 May 1993 |
Notes
- Winton Motor Raceway's Grade 3 licence expired 1 June 2022.
References
- Walker, Terry. Fast Tracks - Australia's Motor Racing Circuits: 1904–1995. Wahroonga, NSW: Turton & Armstrong. p. 184. ISBN 0908031556.
- Winton celebrates 50th birthday today Retrieved from www.speedcafe.com on 27 November 2011
- "Winton Motor Raceway, Victoria". v8supercars.com.au. n.d. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
- "Winton Lap Records". Retrieved 7 December 2022.
- "Natsoft Race Results - Winton". Retrieved 7 December 2022.
- "AMRS WRAP: Magro breaks lap record in F3 round win". Retrieved 11 March 2019.
- "2023 SpeedSeries Winton Race 3 Statistics". Retrieved 11 June 2023.
- "Winton Motor Raceway Motorcycle Lap Records" (PDF). Retrieved 14 December 2022.
- "Australian Trophy Winton 2017". Retrieved 18 June 2022.
- "Suhle the consistent in six race Australian F4 round at Winton". Retrieved 7 December 2022.
- "Round 2, 2022: Winton". Retrieved 18 June 2022.
- "TCR AU 2019 » Winton Motor Raceway Round 15 Results". Retrieved 7 May 2022.
- "2023 Trans-Am Australia Winton Race 1 Results". 10 June 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- "ASTC 1998 » Winton Motor Raceway Round 14 Results". Retrieved 18 June 2022.
- "Australian Formula Ford Lap Records". Retrieved 29 November 2022.
- "WASTC 1996 » Winton Motor Raceway Round 9 Results". Retrieved 18 June 2022.