Newcastle Street Circuit

The Newcastle Street Circuit is a temporary street circuit around the east end of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. The circuit hosts the Newcastle 500, the final round of the Supercars Championship.[1] The 12-turn, 2.641 kilometre circuit takes in Newcastle Beach and the foreshore around Nobbys Beach Reserve.[2]

Newcastle Street Circuit
LocationNewcastle and Newcastle East, New South Wales
Time zoneGMT +10
Coordinates32°55′35.25″S 151°47′16.75″E
FIA Grade3
Opened24 November 2017
Major eventsNewcastle 500
Length2.641 km (1.640 mi)
Turns14
Race lap record1:10.3057 (Scott McLaughlin, Ford Falcon FG X, 2018, Supercars Championship)

Circuit

The circuit begins on Wharf Road, heading south-west towards the city. It then turns left at Watt Street, crossing over the Newcastle Light Rail tracks before ascending a 1:22 hill up Watt Street, before again turning left onto Shortland Esplanade 500m after turn one.[3] Once on Shortland Esplanade, the circuit snakes down the beachside road before reaching a 90° left turn at Zaara Street. This is followed by a 90° right turn onto Scott Street and another 90° left turn onto Parnell Place to the fastest stretch of circuit, Nobbys Road down past Fort Scratchley followed by a left-handed hairpin bend in the Camp Shortland carpark. From there a right hand turn onto Wharf Road completes the lap.

The originally proposed layout was altered with the omission of the section through Pacific Park and the alteration of the planned Nobbys' Reserve permanent course.[4][5] However, the circuit has attracted criticism from residents within the circuit precinct.[6]

In 2019, the Camp Shortland hairpin bend was altered in order to improve overtaking. The corner apex moved to where the outside track limit point was initially situated and the corner radius was tightened, giving drivers a longer and deeper braking zone to complete passes.[7]

Lap records

As of 29 October 2019.

Class Driver Vehicle Time Date
Outright Scott McLaughlin Ford Falcon FG X 1:10.3057 25 November 2018
Sports Cars
Aussie Racing Cars Kel Treseder Camaro-Yamaha 1:20.8036 24 November 2019
Touring Cars
Supercars Championship Scott McLaughlin Ford Falcon FG X 1:10.3057 25 November 2018
Super2 Series Chris Pither Holden Commodore VF 1:11.8506 23 November 2018
SuperUtes Tom Alexander Isuzu D-Max 1:29.1969 23 November 2019
V8 Ute Racing Series Jeremy Gray Ford Falcon FG Ute 1:24.5471 26 November 2017
Toyota 86 Racing Series Declan Fraser Toyota 86 1:26.1035 24 November 2018
Historic Touring Cars
Touring Car Masters Steven Johnson Ford Mustang Mk.1 Fastback 1:18.3637 24 November 2018

References
  1. "Five-year, $57 million Newcastle Supercars deal confirmed". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  2. "Date and layout locked in for Newcastle Supercars race". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  3. Supercars to cross tram tracks in Newcastle Speedcafe 27 April 2018
  4. "Changes to Newcastle street circuit as date set". Speedcafe. 13 December 2016.
  5. "Supercars: Newcastle street circuit revealed with changes to initial layout". Fox Sports Australia. 13 December 2016.
  6. Zhou, Naaman (2 September 2017). "'We essentially live inside a racetrack': Supercars race leaves Newcastle residents fuming". The Guardian Australia. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  7. "Track tweak to improve overtaking at Newcastle 500". Speedcafe. 15 November 2019.
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