Wanneroo Raceway

Events

The track holds a number of major race meets each year, with the biggest being a round of the Supercars Championship called the Perth SuperSprint. This is one of the biggest sporting events in Western Australia each year with over 50,000 people attending the 3-day event.

The circuit offers patrons drift racing as an occasional spectacle. Some criticism has also come from opponents of drifting, due to damage caused to the track surface, especially heading into Cat Corner at the end of the main straight, where entries of over 100 km/h are not uncommon.

The circuit hosted the inaugural Australian Festival of Speed in 2010. Formula One team Red Bull Racing and driver Mark Webber attended for a demonstration. The festival never returned to the circuit, having bankrupted the owners.

The circuit also hosts a number of motorcycle racing and training events, including the WA State Championships for Superbikes, Supersport and Sidecars – along with a number of support classes.

Upgrades

The circuit was completely resurfaced in 2004 and this saw almost all lap records broken in the first few months of 2004. Due to the sandy nature of the area the circuit slowly became more and more abrasive over time and was considered one of the toughest on tyres in the country.

Due to the removal of the circuit from the V8 Supercar calendar for 2010 season, the state government considered upgrading the track to improve the quality of the track and its facilities.

Many options were considered, which included extending the track to the north which would roughly double the length of the circuit, there were also alternative extension plans which were smaller. The widening of the track was also addressed, which would be needed to extend the track for safety regulations. The plan of the track extension was expensive if all aspects of the plan were considered, this would see this major upgrade of the circuit be postponed until the necessary upgrades are completed.

On 18 July 2011, the track's control tower was torn down, beginning the first stage of upgrades that saw the track widened, and a new pit facility built in the centre of the circuit, with connecting bridge. Improved lighting and safety barriers, as well as upgrades to facilities and buildings within the circuit formed part of the project.

Following a number of deaths at the circuit in motorcycle events, motorcycle racing was banned from Wanneroo Raceway in November 2016 until a number of safety upgrades could be implemented. In June 2016 the WA government released the "Wanneroo Safety Enhancement Options Identification Assessment", also known as the Hall Report, recommending changes to the circuit to allow motorbike racing to return. These upgrades included the addition of a motorcycle-only chicane at turn 3, a barrier wall through the infield area between turns 4 and the back straight and some other minor improvements, and were added to the circuit in January 2017.

The circuit was resurfaced again in early 2019, and was relicensed by Motorcycling Australia in March 2019, allowing racing to return.

Touring Car round winners

Main article: Perth SuperSprint

Wanneroo Raceway has held rounds of the Australian Touring Car Championship since 1973. The circuit was left off the calendar from 1974 to 1977 and again in 2010.

Craig Lowndes has won the most ATCC / V8 Supercars rounds at the circuit with six wins. The most successful touring car team at Wanneroo is the Dick Johnson Racing with seven wins.

The first ATCC race held at the circuit in 1973 was won by Allan Moffat driving a Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III for the Ford Works Team.

Events

; Current

• August: Supercars Championship Perth SuperSprint, SuperUtes Series, Australian National Trans-Am Series
• September: Australian HQ Nationals
• October: Australian Improved Production Nationals
• November: Night Masters Cup

; Former

• Aussie Racing Cars (2014, 2017, 2024–2025)
• Australian 2.0 Litre Touring Car Championship (1993)
• Australian Drivers' Championship (1979, 1982, 1984–1986)
• Australian Formula Ford Championship (1992, 1994, 1996–2007)
• Australian Grand Prix (1979)
• Australian GT Production Car Championship (2000)
• Australian Mini Challenge (2008–2009)
• Australian Sports Car Championship (1970–1973, 1982)
• Australian Sports Sedan Championship (1976–1981, 1999)
• Australian Superbike Championship (1990–2001, 2004–2006, 2011–2012, 2015–2016)
• Formula 4 Australian Championship (2017)
• GT World Challenge Australia (1982, 2016–2017, 2019, 2023)
• Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Championship (2004–2005, 2008, 2011–2012)
• Six Hour Le Mans (1969–1972)
• Stadium Super Trucks (2017–2018)
• Touring Car Masters (2005, 2007, 2011, 2013, 2024)
• V8 Ute Racing Series (2008, 2011–2015)

Lap records

As of June 2025, the fastest official race lap records at Wanneroo Raceway are listed as:

Oral history

• John Hurney
• Patsie McCrakan

Notes

References

References

1. [https://web.archive.org/web/20090912213353/http://www.wascc.com.au/wascc_about3.htm ''Building the Short Circuit'', www.wascc.com.au via web.archive.org] Retrieved on 12 July 2014
2. (11 August 2022). "New name for Perth's Wanneroo Raceway". speedcafe.com.
3. (1 December 2025). "Wanneroo Raceway renamed under new deal". v8sleuth.com.au.
4. (1 September 2010). "Mark Webber in Perth For Festival of Speed". watoday.com.au.
5. (11 November 2016). "Motorcycle racing temporarily banned at Barbagallo". speedcafe.com.au.
6. Hall Technical. (1 December 2016). "WANNEROO SAFETY ENHANCEMENT OPTIONS IDENTIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT, Barbagallo Raceway, Western Australia". Department of Sport and Recreation, Government of Western Australia.
7. (13 December 2016). "TRACK UPGRADE WORKS". WA Sporting Car Club.
8. [https://www.supercars.com/news/championship/changes-at-barbagallo-ahead-of-supernight/ Stefan Bartholomaeus, Changes at Barbagallo ahead of SuperNight, www.supercars.com] Retrieved 23 December 2018
9. (1 March 2019). "Motorcycle racing returns to Barbagallo Raceway". perthnow.com.au.
10. (24 August 2010). "Barbagallo Raceway Wanneroo 2.42366 km Long Circuit". West Australian Sporting Car Club.
11. (9 May 2010). "Lap Records". Motorcycle Racing Club Western Australia.
12. "Race Lap Records for CARCO.com.au Raceway".
13. "Natsoft Race Results - Wanneroo".
14. "Wanneroo Raceway - Racing Circuits".
15. (4 May 2019). "Australian GT Championship Barbagallo 2019".
16. (3 May 2019). "2019 Perth Race 1 Statistics".
17. (30 April 2023). "2023 BOSCH Power Tools Perth SuperSprint - CARCO.com.au Raceway - 2023 Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia - Race 2". National Software.
18. "Barbagallo Raceway Motorcycle Lap Records - 2016".
19. (1 May 2011). "2011 Trading Post Perth Challenge - Races 7, 8, and 9 - Barbagallo Raceway - Wanneroo - Carrera Cup Race 2". National Software.
20. (7 June 2025). "2025 Bosch Power Tools Perth Super 440 - CARCO.com.au Raceway - 2025 TA2 Kings of the West (Invitational) - Race 2". National Software.
21. (26 May 1996). "1996 Barbagallo #1".
22. (7 June 1992). "1992 Barbagallo #1".
23. "Australian Formula Ford Lap Records".
24. (6 June 2025). "2025 Bosch Power Tools Perth Super 440 - CARCO.com.au Raceway - 2025 Battery World Aussie Racing Cars Super Series - Race 1". National Software.
25. (8 June 2025). "2025 Bosch Power Tools Perth Super 440 - CARCO.com.au Raceway - 2025 Tyrepower V8 SuperUte Series - Race 3". National Software.
26. "Interview with John Hurney : Wanneroo raceway /". Joondalup Local Studies.
27. "Interview with Patsie McCrakan : Wanneroo raceway". Joondalup Local Studies.