Albert Park Circuit

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 traditional Formula One season opening Australian Grand Prix, the supporting Supercars Championship Melbourne 400 and other associated support races. The circuit has an FIA Grade 1 licence.[3] 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.[4]

Albert Park Circuit
LocationAlbert Park, Melbourne, Victoria (Australia)
Time zoneUTC+10:00 (UTC+11:00 DST)
Coordinates37°50′59″S 144°58′6″E
Capacity80,000[1][2]
FIA Grade1
Opened20 November 1953
Re-opened: 7 March 1996
Major events Formula One
Australian Grand Prix
Supercars Championship
Melbourne 400
Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Championship
Australian GT Championship
Ferrari Challenge Asia-Pacific
Australian Formula 4 Championship
Length5.303 km (3.296 mi)
Turns16
Race lap record1:24.125 ( Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, 2004)
Original circuit
Length5.027 km (3.124 mi)
Turns9
Race lap record1:50.0 ( Stirling Moss, CooperClimax, 1958, Formula Libre)

Design

A satellite view of the circuit just prior to 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 prior to 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.[4]

Each year, most of the trackside fencing, pedestrian overpasses, grandstands and other motorsport infrastructure are erected approximately two months prior to the Grand Prix weekend and removed within 6 weeks after the event. 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 local residents and users of those others 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.[5]

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, however, 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.[6]

A lap in a Formula One car

Starting on the Walker Straight, Turn 1 is a tight right-hander, followed by a quick flick to the left in Turn 2. A short straight follows, in which the cars accelerate up to 300 km/h, before Turn 3 is taken at a third of that speed. Two successive short straights lead to the left and right-handers of Turns 4 and 5, and the end of Sector 1. The next straight lasts for half a kilometre, before a 90 degree right in Turn 6. Turn 7, a small leftwards kink, leads onto a sweeping right hander. Turns 9 and 10, a car park when not in use, form the Clark Chicane, before the long lakeside sweep right up to Turn 11, on which the cars reach 300 km/h. The next two corners are the fastest on the circuit, with drivers taking this chicane at up to 225 km/h, sustaining g-forces up to 3.5g. The straight that follows, with a small right kink in the middle, is a DRS zone (the detection point was shortly before Turn 11), before another 90 degree right in the form of Turn 13, called Ascari. After another short straight, the right hander of Turn 14 leads to the slowest corner on the track, a tight left. The pit lane entry is located halfway between this corner and the next, a faster right hander, which together form an extended chicane, and lead back onto the Walker Straight.[4] The track is known for being bumpy, and in even slightly wet weather, is notoriously slippery.[7]

Everyday access

The Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit 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 kilometres per hour (25 mph), while some short sections have a speed limit of 50 kilometres per hour (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 metres 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 to 1958)

Albert Park has the distinction of being 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[8] as opposed to the current circuit which runs clockwise.

Known as the Albert Park Circuit,[9] the original 3.125 mile (5.03 kilometre) course hosted a total of six race meetings:[10]

Race lap records

As of 16 March 2019.[24]

Class Driver Vehicle Time Date
Original Circuit
Outright Stirling Moss Cooper Climax 1:50.0 30 November 1958
Grand Prix Circuit
Race Lap Record Michael Schumacher Ferrari F2004 1:24.125 7 March 2004
All Time Lap Record Lewis Hamilton Mercedes AMG F1 W10 EQ Power+ 1:20.486 16 March 2019
Racing Cars
Formula One Michael Schumacher Ferrari F2004 1:24.125 7 March 2004
Formula 3 Bruno Senna Dallara F304 Spiess Opel 1:50.8640 3 March 2006
Formula 4
Formula Ford Chaz Mostert Spectrum 012 Ford 2:04.4805 27 March 2010
Historic Racing Cars
Formula 5000 Ken Smith Lola T430 Chevrolet 1:54.6975 28 March 2010
Sports Cars
Australian GT Craig Baird Mercedes-AMG GT3 1:55.1134 17 March 2016
Porsche Carrera Cup Ben Barker Porsche 997 GT3 Cup 1:58.3646 26 March 2011
Ferrari Challenge Asia-Pacific James Weiland Ferrari 488 Challenge 1:59.1147 23 March 2018
Nations Cup Paul Stokell Lamborghini Diablo GTR 2:00.685 8 March 2003[25]
Aussie Racing Cars James Small Commodore-Yamaha 2:16.0196 15 March 2008
Touring Cars
Supercars Championship Scott McLaughlin Ford FG X Falcon 1:54.6016 22 March 2018
SuperUtes Kerry Wade Ford Falcon Ute 2:24.1712 30 March 2006
Historic Touring Cars
Group A Terry Lawlor Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R 2:10.8171 13 March 2015
Group C Milton Seferis Holden VH Commodore SS 2:18.9539 14 March 2015

See also

References

  1. "Albert Park". ESPN UK. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  2. "Where is the Australian Grand Prix Circuit?". f1chronicle.com. 19 January 2021. Archived from the original on 10 April 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  3. "List of FIA Licensed Circuits" (PDF). FIA. 6 February 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  4. "The Albert Park Circuit". The F1 Fansite. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  5. "Middle Park Stadium". www.austadiums.com. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  6. "Australian Grand Prix contract extension: Formula 1 to race in Melbourne until at least the end of 2025 | Formula 1®". www.formula1.com.
  7. "Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit". www.formula1.com/. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  8. Stuart Sykes, It was - and still is - a great place for a race, Racing into History, A look back at the 1953 Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park, 2013, page3 & 4
  9. Official Souvenir Programme, XVIIIth Australian Grand Prix, Albert Park Circuit, 21 November 1953, front cover
  10. 1953, The official 50-race history of the Australian Grand Prix, 1986, pages 182 to 191
  11. Official Programme, Argus Moomba Motor Car Races, Albert Park Circuit, 26 & 27 March 1955, front cover
  12. Argus Moomba Motor Races, Australian Motor Sports, April 1955, pages 137 - 142
  13. Thrills for 250,000, The Argus, Monday, 28 March 1955, page 1
  14. JR Horman, Albert Park, Australian Motor Sports, April 1956, pages 136 to 143
  15. Albert Park, www.progcovers.com Retrieved on 10 July 2014
  16. 1956, The official 50-race history of the Australian Grand Prix, 1986, pages 218 to 226
  17. Programme, Victorian Tourist Trophy, First Day: 17th March 1957
  18. AC Russell, Albert Park - Victorian Tourist Trophy Meeting, Australian Motors Sports, page 131
  19. Victorian Trophy, Australian Motor Sport, May 1957, pages 174 to 176
  20. John B Blanden, Historic Racing Cars in Australia, 1979, pages 146 & 147
  21. Graham Howard, Lex Davison – larger than life, page 117
  22. Official Programme, 1958 Melbourne Grand Prix / Victorian Tourist Trophy, Albert Park Circuit, page 3
  23. David McKay, Quick money for Moss, Modern Motor, February 1959, pages 35, 36, 37 & 76
  24. "Natsoft Race Timing". natsoft.com.au. Archived from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  25. "Procar Stats" (PDF). www.procar.com.au. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 June 2004. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
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