# Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit

The Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit is a motor racing circuit located near Ventnor, on Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia. The current circuit was first used in 1952.
Along with The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia, the 4.448 km (2.764 mi) long island circuit is one of two race tracks in Australia to carry a FIM Category A track licence which allows for the highest level of motorcycle racing, MotoGP. Phillip Island also carries an FIA Grade 3 track licence.

## History
### Road circuit

Motor racing on Phillip Island began in 1928 with the running of the 100 Miles Road Race, an event which has since become known as the first Australian Grand Prix. It utilised a high speed rectangle of local closed-off public roads with four similar right hand corners. The course length varied, with the car course approximately 6 mi (9.7 km) per lap, compared to the motorcycle circuit which was approximately 10 mi (16 km) in length. The circuit was the venue for the Australian Grand Prix through to 1935 and it was used for the last time on 6 May 1935 for the Jubilee Day Races.
A new 3.312 mi (5.330 km) triangular circuit utilising the pit straight from the original rectangular course was subsequently mapped out and first used for the Australian Race Drivers' Cup on 5 November 1935. The final car event on the circuit was held on Cup Day (1 November) 1938 and the final motorcycle race meeting was conducted on 30 January 1940.
Significant events staged at the Phillip Island road circuit included:
* 1928 100 Miles Road Race
* 1929 Australian Grand Prix
* 1930 Australian Grand Prix
* 1931 Australian Grand Prix
* 1932 Australian Grand Prix
* 1933 Australian Grand Prix
* 1934 Phillip Island 100
* 1934 Australian Grand Prix
* 1934 Winter 100
* 1934 Victorian Centenary Grand Prix
* 1935 Centenary 300
* 1935 Australian Grand Prix
* 1935 Jubilee Handicap
* 1935 Winter 100
* 1935 Australian Race Drivers' Cup
* 1936 Victorian Sporting Car Club Trophy
* 1936 Australian Tourist Trophy
* 1937 Phillip Island Trophy
* 1938 Phillip Island Grand Prix

### Grand Prix circuit
#### 1952–1962

In 1951, a group of six local businessmen decided to build a new track. About 2 km (1.2 mi) away from the original circuit, it still bears the corner name signs of the original circuit. As the piece of available land was on the edge of the coast, the track is known for its steep grades – the highest 57 metres – which caused cost overruns and delays in track opening. The new track was opened in 1952 and in 1960 the first Armstrong 500 production car race was held at the circuit. Extensive damage resulted from the running of the 1962 Armstrong 500, and, with the circuit owners unable to finance repairs, the circuit was closed and the race was moved to the Mount Panorama Circuit at Bathurst in New South Wales, to eventually become known as the Bathurst 1000.

#### 1967–1978

The circuit reopened in October 1967 and hosted the Phillip Island 500 endurance race, a round of the Australian Manufacturers' Championship, from 1971 to 1977. The race was also a round of the Australian Touring Car Championship in 1976 and 1977. But again, due to its testing terrain, the circuit required significant maintenance and slowly declined through the 1970s. It was farmed by its owners while closed and was then sold in 1985 in preparation for reopening, but did not do so until 1988 after agreement on a long-term lease and rebuild agreement. During the time the circuit deteriorated and finally closed, part of the main problem for its owners was that the Phillip Island Bridge from the island to the Australian mainland reportedly could not carry the heavy vehicles needed to resurface the circuit. This meant that the bitumen surface was a cold mix which easily broke up under the rigours of racing, instead of the standard hot mix which would have allowed a more durable surface. It would not be until the mid-1980s that the bridge would be rebuilt allowing the necessary equipment needed for resurfacing.

#### 1988–present

The circuit was refurbished with a reduced length of 4.448 km (2.764 mi) and was reopened on 4 December 1988 for the final round of the 1988 Swann Insurance International Series for motorcycles.
In 1989, the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix joined the FIM Road Racing World Championship calendar for the first time, and was held at Phillip Island. The 1989 race saw a race long dice in the 500 cc division between local favourites Wayne Gardner and Kevin Magee, along with Wayne Rainey and Christian Sarron. The race was won by 1987 World Champion Gardner to the delight of the huge crowd. Gardner would make it two in a row at the Island in 1990 before the race moved to Eastern Creek in Sydney for 1991. The Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix would remain at Eastern Creek until it returned permanently to Phillip Island from 1997 onwards.
Phillip Island hosted its first Superbike World Championship round in 1990, taking over from Sydney's Oran Park Raceway as the Australian round of the series. Local riders Peter Goddard (Yamaha FZR750) and Rob Phillis (Kawasaki ZXR750) won the two races for what was Round 12 of the season, with Goddard having secured pole position. The World Superbike round continues to be held annually at Phillip Island to this day.
In 1990, the Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC) returned to the circuit for the first time since 1977, this time as a sprint round. Dick Johnson won the round in his Ford Sierra RS500, in what was to be his final ever round victory. The event was not held in 1991 or 1992, but was reinstated to the calendar in 1993, with the sprint format then continuing every year until 2004. By then, the ATCC was known as V8 Supercars. After not appearing on the calendar in 2004, from 2005 to 2007, Phillip Island hosted the Grand Finale; the final round of the V8 Supercars season. In each year, the event decided that year's champion, including in controversial circumstances in 2006. From 2008 to 2011, Phillip Island returned to hosting a 500 km race, this time known for sponsorship reasons as the L&H 500. The Phillip Island 500 replaced Sandown's Sandown 500 as the annual V8 Supercar 500 km race, an event which was later reinstated for 2012. Since then, Phillip Island has returned to hosting a sprint round of the championship, which has become known as the Phillip Island Super Sprint.
The Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix has always been more of a promoter event than a profit-raiser in itself. The contract was prolonged until 2026, although tobacco advertising has been banned since 2007.

### Important dates

* 1951: A historically significant meeting of six local businessmen decided to re-establish motor racing at Phillip Island.
* 1952: A steering committee formed and the Phillip Island Auto Racing Club (PIARC) developed with a dream "to build Australia's first international grand prix circuit".The current site was purchased in that year. PIARC calls for 7000 subscriptions at 10 pounds each to assist in the development of the circuit and building work begins. An Alfa was used to measure the three-mile distance required for international certification as an International Circuit.
* 1957: Phillip Island stages numerous trophy races including the Australian Motorsport Magazine Trophy Race 1957, the Formula Libre race of 1958 and the Phillip Island Trophy race of 1958.
* 1960: The inaugural Armstrong 500 endurance race is won by Frank Coad and John Roxburgh driving a Vauxhall Cresta. They completed the race in 8 hours 15 minutes.
* 1962: The circuit is damaged during the running of the 1962 Armstrong 500 and is subsequently closed to racing.
* 1964: Businessman and former Australian Drivers' Champion Len Lukey purchases the circuit with a view to redevelopment. Today, a corner on the circuit is named after Lukey.
* 1967: The circuit reopens with a newly laid surface at the "Grand Re-Opening Meeting" on 22 October 1967.
* 1971: The first Phillip Island 500K endurance race is held
* 1978: The circuit is closed, having become virtually unusable for modern racing and, between 1979 and 1982, it is used only for historic rallies and cub sprints.
* 1985: Phillip Island Circuit purchased by Placetac Pty Ltd, with the view to re-introducing racing to the famous facility.
* 1988: The circuit is refurbished with a reduced length of 4.449 kilometres and is reopened on 4 December 1988 for the final round of the 1988 Swann Insurance International Series for motorcycles.
* 1989: The 1989 Australian motorcycle Grand Prix, the first World Championship round in Australia, is held at the circuit on 9 April.
* 1990: Phillip Island hosts its first round of the Superbike World Championship. The circuit also hosts its first sprint round of the Australian Touring Car Championship.
* 1996: Australian superbike rider, Troy Corser, wins the Superbike World Championship on board a Ducati at the October race at Phillip Island.
* 1997: The Australian motorcycle Grand Prix returns to Phillip Island, where it becomes a permanent fixture.
* 1998: Australian Michael Doohan wins the motorcycle Grand Prix. The first corner is named after him.
* 2000: Simon Wills sets a longstanding outright lap record of the circuit in the Formula Holden category.
* 2004: The circuit and surrounding land is purchased by the Linfox corporation with a view to complement the circuit with facilities such as an 18-hole Greg Norman-designed golf course and a 5-star hotel.
* 2006: A multimillion-dollar re-development was undertaken in late 2006 by the Linfox Group, including the construction of a new karting circuit.
* 2008: The Phillip Island 500 is run for the first time since 1977, this time for V8 Supercars. The race is held four times before once again becoming defunct.
* 2012: Australian Casey Stoner wins his sixth consecutive Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, as well as his last career Grand Prix victory. Before the race, the third corner of the circuit is named after Stoner.
* 2014: Jamie Whincup becomes the first ever driver to win a sixth ATCC/V8 Supercars title by winning the second Saturday race at the Plus Fitness Phillip Island 400.

## Events
### Current

* February: Superbike World Championship, Supersport World Championship, Australian Superbike Championship
* March: Phillip Island Classic
* April: GT World Challenge Australia, GT4 Australia Series, Ferrari Challenge Australasia, Porsche Sprint Challenge Australia
* May: AU3 Championship, Australian Formula Ford Series
* August: Formula 4 Australian Championship
* September: Australian Superbike Championship
* October: MotoGP Australian motorcycle Grand Prix, Australian Prototype Series
* November: Australian Improved Production Nationals Island Magic, National Sports Sedan Series

### Former

* Armstrong 500 (1960–1962)
* Aussie Racing Cars (2010–2012, 2014–2016, 2018, 2024)
* Australian GT Production Car Championship (1994–1999, 2001–2002)
* Australian Mini Challenge (2008–2010)
* Australian National Trans-Am Series (2021–2024)
* Australian Nations Cup Championship (2002–2003)
* Australian Performance Car Championship (2002–2003, 2005–2006)
* Australian Production Car Series (2003, 2005–2008, 2010–2019, 2023–2024)
* Australian Sports Car Championship (1970–1977)
* Australian Super Touring Championship (1993–1998)
* Australian Tourist Trophy (1936, 1976–1977, 2009–2012, 2014–2015)
* FIM Endurance World Championship (1991–1992)
* Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Championship (2003, 2005–2006, 2008, 2011–2012, 2014–2015, 2017–2019)
* S5000 Australian Drivers' Championship (2021–2023)
* Sidecar World Championship (1999–2000)
* Supercars Championship
** Grand Finale (2005–2007)
** Phillip Island 500 (2008–2011, 2017–2018)
** Phillip Island SuperSprint (1976–1977, 1990, 1993–2003, 2005–2007, 2009, 2012–2016, 2019)
* TCR Australia Touring Car Series (2019, 2021–2024)
* Touring Car Masters (2007–2008, 2012–2016, 2019)
* V8 Ute Racing Series (2003, 2006–2007, 2010, 2016–2017)

## Lap records

In the early 1990s, Phillip Island was used during the Australian summer for pre-season testing by various World Sportscar Championship teams and some Japanese Formula 3000 teams (who generally found travelling to Australia was actually cheaper than paying some $5,000 per hour to hire the Honda owned Suzuka Circuit in Japan). While no official lap times were published, television commentator and race driver Neil Crompton reported in 1990 that the Nissan Motorsports International team with drivers Julian Bailey and Mark Blundell driving the Nissan R90C were able to lap the circuit in around 1:18, while a 3.0 Litre Mugen V8-powered Dome F3000 (which Crompton drove) was able to record similar lap times. At the time the fastest Australian cars that raced at Phillip Island were the 3.8 Litre V6-powered Formula Holdens, which were approximately 10 seconds per lap slower.
In late October 2018 Mathew Radisich drove his 2011 ex-Conquest Racing IndyCar during testing at Phillip Island as a part of unofficial practice day, with images distributed online of his recorded Cosworth data showing a lap time of 1:17.005. However, as this time was not set during a race meeting, it does not count as an official lap record.
As of October 2024, the fastest official race lap records at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit are listed as:
| Class | Driver | Vehicle | Time | Date |
| Modern Grand Prix Circuit: 4.448 km (1988–present) |||||
| Sports car racing | Tim Slade | Brabham BT62 | 1:24.0607 | 15 May 2022 |
| Formula Holden | Simon Wills | Reynard 94D | 1:24.2215 | 13 February 2000 |
| Formula 3 | Tim Macrow | Dallara F307 | 1:24.5146 | 21 September 2013 |
| GT3 | Brendon Leitch | Audi R8 LMS Evo II | 1:25.5964 | 24 August 2024 |
| S5000 | Joey Mawson | Ligier JS F3-S5000 | 1:25.6797 | 13 March 2021 |
| Group 2A Sports Cars | James Winslow | Radical SR8 | 1:25.9294 | 25 May 2013 |
| Sports Sedans | Jack Perkins | Audi A4-Chevrolet | 1:27.2757 | 11 September 2016 |
| Formula 5000 | Tom Tweedie | Chevron B24/28 | 1:27.4435 | 11 March 2018 |
| MotoGP | Marc Márquez | Ducati Desmosedici GP23 | 1:27.765 | 20 October 2024 |
| Superkart | Russell Jamieson | Anderson Maverick-DEA | 1:28.1232 | 21 September 2013 |
| Sports Racer Series | Roger I'Anson | West WR1000 Kawasaki | 1:28.4211 | 21 September 2014 |
| Formula One | John Bowe | March 741 | 1:28.5217 | 19 March 2017 |
| World SBK | Nicolò Bulega | Ducati Panigale V4 R | 1:28.564 | 24 February 2024 |
| Australian Superbikes | Harrison Voight | Ducati Panigale V4 R | 1:30.790 | 24 February 2024 |
| Moto2 | Arón Canet | Kalex Moto2 | 1:30.816 | 20 October 2024 |
| Supercars | Scott McLaughlin | Ford Mustang GT | 1:30.9508 | 14 April 2019 |
| Porsche Carrera Cup | Oscar Targett | Porsche 911 (991 II) GT3 Cup | 1:31.1036 | 14 April 2024 |
| World SSP | Yari Montella | Ducati Panigale V2 | 1:31.271 | 24 February 2024 |
| Super2 Series | Garry Jacobson | Ford FG X Falcon | 1:32.3013 | 16 April 2016 |
| 250cc Grand Prix | Álvaro Bautista | Aprilia RSV 250 | 1:32.710 | 5 October 2008 |
| 500cc Grand Prix | Kenny Roberts, Jr. | Suzuki RGV500 | 1:32.743 | 3 October 1999 |
| Formula 4 | Ryan McMillan | Mygale M14-F4 | 1:33.0344 | 26 November 2023 |
| Trans-Am Australia | Jordan Boys | Ford Mustang Trans-Am | 1:33.2185 | 14 April 2024 |
| V8 Touring Car National Series | Garry Jacobson | Ford FG Falcon | 1:33.2611 | 10 September 2016 |
| Nations Cup | Paul Stokell | Lamborghini Diablo GTR | 1:34.1058 | 10 August 2003 |
| Marque Sports | Steve Owen | Lamborghini Gallardo | 1:34.4309 | 21 November 2009 |
| GT4 | Marcos Flack | McLaren Artura GT4 | 1:34.4397 | 14 April 2024 |
| Australian Supersport | Jonathan Nahlous | Yamaha YZF-R6 | 1:34.682 | 24 February 2024 |
| Toyota Racing Series | Christopher Slusarski | Toyota FT-50 | 1:34.7065 | 25 November 2023 |
| Moto3 | Stefano Nepa | KTM RC250GP | 1:35.370 | 20 October 2024 |
| Formula Ford | Anton de Pasquale | Mygale SJ13a | 1:35.8901 | 24 November 2013 |
| TCR Touring Car | Brad Harris | Honda Civic Type R TCR (FL5) | 1:36.5159 | 14 April 2024 |
| 125cc Grand Prix | Álvaro Bautista | Aprilia RS125R | 1:36.927 | 17 September 2006 |
| Super Touring | Geoff Brabham | BMW 320i | 1:37.1706 | 1 June 1997 |
| Sidecar F1 | Steve Webster/ David James | LCR-Suzuki GSX-R1000 | 1:38.726 | 18 April 1999 |
| Group A | Jonathon Webb | Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth | 1:38.8618 | 12 March 2022 |
| Group 3J Improved Production Cars | Adam Poole | Holden Monaro | 1:39.3958 | 26 November 2023 |
| Group 3E Series Production Cars | Ryan Simpson | Lotus Exige 350 Sport | 1:42.3361 | 4 November 2018 |
| Australian Mini Challenge | Paul Stokell | Mini John Cooper Works Challenge | 1:44.1491 | 12 September 2008 |
| Aussie Racing Cars | Joel Heinrich | Ford Mustang (S197) | 1:44.884 | 7 September 2024 |
| Sidecar F2 | Terry Goldie/ Jamie Crass | LCR-Honda CBR 600 | 1:45.986 | 27 May 2018 |
| Supersport 300 | Petr Svoboda | Kawasaki Ninja 400 | 1:46.529 | 25 February 2024 |
| Porsche 944 | Adam Mills | Porsche 944 | 1:47.1928 | 20 September 2015 |
| V8 Ute Racing Series | Kim Jane | Holden VE SS Ute | 1:48.6431 | 16 April 2016 |
| Toyota 86 Racing Series | Toby Dvorak | Toyota 86 | 1:50.9527 | 23 June 2024 |
| Formula Vee | Mitch Quiddington | Sabre 02 | 1:51.3859 | 27 October 2013 |
| Circuit Excel Racing | Ethan Grigg-Gault | Hyundai Excel | 1:57.6708 | 3 March 2024 |
| Oceania Junior Cup | Haydn Fordyce | Yamaha YZF-R15 | 2:09.416 | 29 October 2023 |
| Grand Prix Circuit: 4.800 km (1952–1978) |||||
| Group A (Australia) | John Harvey | McLaren M6B | 1:47.900 | 30 January 1972 |
| Group 4 | Alan Hamilton | Porsche 906P | 1:51.900 | 30 January 1972 |
| Formula Two | Maurie Quincey | Elfin 600B | 1:56.000 | 24 January 1970 |