Eastern Creek Raceway proposal revealed
7 Aug, 2008
17 Comments 
The first preliminary details surrounding the expansion of the Eastern Creek race circuit in Sydney have emerged.
The plan aims to transform the track into a world class facility with the potential to host a Formula One Grand Prix.
A $350,000 feasibility study commissioned by the Australian Racing Drivers Club has examined the use of the 90-hectare Eastern Creek Raceway complex for not only motorsport but also exhibitions and other entertainment.
ARDC president John Cotter said the feasibility study was an essential first step in plans to ensure Australia remained relevant in world motorsport.
“There is a real need to ensure that Sydney is well serviced with a motoring and motorsports complex to meet local needs, including driver education, track days and motor industry development requirements.”
Plans so far reveal the potential for up to six different circuit layouts, meeting the requirements of all forms of motor racing up to Formula One, MotoGP and Australia’s leading domestic series.
The current plan lengthens the overall circuit by 800 metres to 4.7km, with allowances made for a 3km national track, a 1.7km club circuit, a corporate track and a drift bowl to be built in a special stadium section of the complex.
The new layout caters for the needs of both car and motorcycles, optimising its future potential in attracting major international events.
This proposal is the work of British-based Apex Circuit Design Ltd, a company responsible for the planned redevelopment of the Silverstone circuit, the Dubai Autodrome and is involved in the development of the Singapore F1 Grand Prix circuit.
“The impending closure of Oran Park Raceway in Sydney’s south-west will leave the Sydney basin with only Eastern Creek Raceway, and its use is already at near full capacity.”
Apex has reported the new facility could be built in just two years, using much of the existing race track and surrounding areas as its base.
Current estimates place the cost of the project to be around $93 million, with graded implementation to suit budget requirements.
Unfortunately none of these developments are confirmed as yet, so far merely forming a feasibility plan which will be presented to the State Government for funding consideration.
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August 7th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
at 350,000 for a feasibility study,
i sure hope they had a feasibility study to decide whether a feasibility study was feasible
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August 7th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Whats a corporate track?
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August 7th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Looks like they have sharpened turn one, and then reversed the direction. I like it. It would encourage a bit more passing and make it safer too.
Are most F1 tracks run clockwise?
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August 7th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
Dunno SuperCuo - think they might be. Sounds like NSW is after Vic’s F! crown.
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August 7th, 2008 at 11:48 pm
Hope so Sydney really needs a major motorsport event whereas places like melbourne, adelaide, surfers & darwin have them. But the biggest thing is you’ll have to advertise to hell out of it.
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August 8th, 2008 at 8:28 am
What i like is the possibility to run 2 tracks there at once, help club sprints by spliting the costs between 2 clubs.
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August 8th, 2008 at 10:45 am
So there will be no A1GP this year and next few years in Sydney. Very disappointed. :(
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August 8th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
The Corporate track would be used by manufacturers for car launches. I went there once for the launch of the Corolla.
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August 8th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
The NSW govt. have commited to V8SC street race @ Homebush (I think?) so funding could be a real issue, unless there is a genuine chance of scoring international events.
NSW govt. is committing to making Sydney the “major event” capital of Australia.
They deffinitely want to steal the mantle of Adelaide’s Clispal V8SC race.
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August 9th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
The layout looks good and much safer and it’s interesting they’ve changed direction.
The loss of the current turn 1 is sad, but hey! it was most likely gonna be changed in the coming years as it’s just getting too dangerous. The better cars and drivers are almost taking the corner flat and to a degree, sight unseen.
While this plan looks to provide a great facility for the future for many people of all walks of life and be available 365 days a year (admittedly at a cost), the NSW Government is still pushing ahead with its plans for the V8s ‘crash and bash’ at Homebush. And what will the people of NSW have at at the end of their 5 year (?) contract with the V8 mob, nothing except a lot of taxpayers’ money spent to amuse a relatively small amount of people for just a few days.
The statement by the QLD Government that they wouldn’t support a V8 only meeting on the Gold Coast must be making the beancounters in the NSW Government think again.
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August 9th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
The Development of the Creek and the proposed Street Race at Homebush is going to be a wast e of money because Sydney-siders aren’t as interested in V8s as their Victorian or South Australian Counterparts..
They’d rather be seen on Oxford St sipping Cafe Latte Double Moccha Espress-o-cinos
I was a Flaggie for 10 years at various events around Oz Including Bathurst Adelaide and the Creek.
When I was on stand-by one of my duties was “crowd control” which was really easy at the Creek because apart from the 1000 odd spectators in the grand stand there wasn’t one
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August 9th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
As a race driver, it is about time. The current track is boring and hopeless for spectators. this is the reason that they don’t get attendances at the races.
For a race track, just altering the direction would improve the racing at the track.
We have lost Amaroo Park, now Oran Park. But the narrow minded idiots that run the dinosaur category, want NSW tax payers to fork out $30M to run a race at Homebush, when that money could be spent on a proposal like this that will benefit all race drivers.
I say scrap the V8 race in NSW and invest in the future of our sport.
Paul
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August 10th, 2008 at 12:42 am
Firstly not all F1 tracks are run in clockwise direction. There are 2 major issues with Eastern Creek though, (a) it now looks like every other F1 circuit (see layout for Sepang, Bahrain, Hungary etc) and (b) it’s too far away from the city. Albert Park is unique and suitable in both these categories. Face it… The home of MotoGp is Phillip Island, The home of F1 is Albert Park and Bathurst is the home of v8’s and le mans endurance racing (put the $93 million into that place).
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August 10th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
i heard them saying they can actually run 3 races at once.
i dont know how they would do that because the third track left over seems to be just a loop…….
not much fun in that.
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August 10th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Not to mention the fact that it would potentially be a Flaggies nighmare as to whose leading in which race; whose on what lap; which cars are supposed to be on track one and which are using track 2 etc - then there’s the mayhem in the pits
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August 14th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Andrew M, the 3rd track is for drifting
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August 14th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
you didnt spot the multiple pit lanes did you wheelnut???
opelaus,
well perhaps it is ;)
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