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The Bend Motorsport Park

Coordinates: 35°18′30″S 139°31′0″E / 35.30833°S 139.51667°E / -35.30833; 139.51667
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Shell V-Power Motorsport Park
GT Circuit (2018–present)
LocationTailem Bend, South Australia, Australia
Time zoneUTC+09:30 (UTC+10.5 DST)
Coordinates35°18′30″S 139°31′0″E / 35.30833°S 139.51667°E / -35.30833; 139.51667
FIA Grade2 (3 layouts)
OwnerPeregrine Corporation
Broke groundMarch 2016; 8 years ago (2016-03)
Opened13 January 2018; 6 years ago (2018-01-13)
Former namesThe Bend Motorsport Park (January 2018–August 2023)
Major eventsCurrent:
Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia (2023–2024)
GT World Challenge Australia (2018–2019, 2021–present)
TCR Australia (2019, 2024)
Australian SBK
(2018–2019, 2021–present)
Future:
TCR World Tour (2025)
Supercars Championship
The Bend 500 (2025)
The Bend SuperSprint
(2018–2023)
Former:
S5000 (2019, 2023)
Asian Le Mans Series (2020)
Asia Road Racing Championship (2018–2019)
Websitewww.thebend.com.au
GT Circuit (2018–present)
Length7.770 km (4.828 miles)
Turns35
Race lap record2:38.673 (Australia Aidan Read, Ligier JS P217, 2020, LMP2)
International Circuit (2018–present)
Length4.950 km (3.076 miles)
Turns18
Race lap record1:40.7295 (Australia John Magro, Dallara F308, 2019, F3)
West Circuit (2018–present)
Length3.410 km (2.119 miles)
Turns12
Race lap record1:10.085 (Australia Josh Kean, Footwork FA15, 2020, F1)
East Circuit (2018–present)
Length3.930 km (2.442 miles)
Turns22
West PLUS Circuit (2018-present)
Length3.66 km (2.274 miles)
Turns17
Sprint Circuit (2018-present)
Length2.784 km (1.73 miles)
Turns11
Southwest Circuit (2018-present)
Length1.81 km (1.125 miles)
Turns7
North Circuit (2018-present)
Length1.34 km (0.833 miles)
Turns13
Karting Circuit (2018-present)
Length1.1 km (0.684 miles)
Turns16
Drag Strip (2023)
Length0.402 km (0.25 miles)
Race lap record3.73

The Bend Motorsport Park, currently known as Shell V-Power Motorsport Park for naming rights reasons, is a 7.770 km (4.828 mi) bitumen motor racing circuit at Tailem Bend, South Australia, Australia, about 100 km (62 mi) south-east of the state capital, Adelaide.

The complex has a bitumen circuit, drag racing strip, and drift racing circuit.[1]

The race circuits are of a high international standard and licensed by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) for car racing and the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) for motorcycle racing. Along with Sydney Motorsport Park, Surfers Paradise Street Circuit and the only Grade 1 track, the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit, The Bend is one of only four race circuits in Australia with an FIA Grade 2 track licence or better, while it is also one of only two Australian race tracks along with the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, to carry an FIM Category A track licence.

The circuit name was changed to Shell V-Power Motorsport Park in August 2023.[2]

History

[edit]
Circuit Construction progress in July 2017

In February 2015, Peregrine Corporation lodged plans with the Government of South Australia to redevelop the former Mitsubishi Motors Australia test track at Tailem Bend, South Australia.[3] Approval was granted in May 2015[4] with construction commencing in March 2016.[5] Initially titled the South Australian Motorsport Park, by the time construction commenced, The Bend Motorsport Park name had been adopted.[6]

The address of the site was originally in Elwomple. In September 2017, before the facility opened, the boundary between Tailem Bend and Elwomple was adjusted so that The Bend Motorsport Park is officially in Tailem Bend, not Elwomple.[7][8]

The first major event was the Revolve24 Endurance Cycling Challenge on 13–14 January 2018, an ultra-distance cycling festival featuring 24-hour, 12-hour and 6-hour races.[9][10] It hosted The Bend SuperSprint, a round of the 2018 Supercars Championship, in August 2018.[11] It has a desire to hold a MotoGP Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix round.[12][13]

On 4–14 January 2019, the circuit hosted the 25th Australian Scout Jamboree.[14] From January 10–12, 2020 it hosted a round of the 2019–20 Asian Le Mans Series season as the 4 Hours of The Bend[15] and the Supercars sprint round will be replaced by a new endurance event, The Bend 500.[16] The Supercars race was later dropped from the calendar altogether, in a shortened calendar due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with circuit managing director Sam Shahin openly critical of the cancellation.[17] After multiple changes in the Supercars calendar, it was announced that the track will held a doubleheader in late September.[18]

Sam Shahin also offered up the facility for Hotel Quarantine during the Covid pandemic, but this was not taken up by the South Australian Government.[19]

Facilities

[edit]
Jamie Whincup won the Sunday race at the first Supercars Championship event at the circuit in 2018.

International Circuit

[edit]

Length: 4.950 km (3.076 mi)

  • Used for majority of events including Supercars, Superbikes and national series events, through to state racing, club racing and track hire

GT Circuit

[edit]

Length: 7.770 km (4.828 mi)

  • Used for endurance racing, specialist racing events, private hire and test days. Hosted a four-hour Asian Le Mans Series event in January 2020.

At 7.77km long, the GT Circuit is the second longest permanent race track in the world behind only the famed Nürburgring Nordschleife which is 20.832 km (12.944 mi) long.

West Circuit

[edit]

Length: 3.410 km (2.119 mi)

  • Used for the majority of short track events. Includes club racing, testing, sprint events, “cruising” events, driver/rider training
  • Used for 2020 OTR SuperSprint The Bend event in 2020 Supercars Championship
  • Can be used independently from the East Circuit

East Circuit

[edit]

Length: 3.930 km (2.442 mi)

  • Used for driver/rider training, drifting, testing, club days, private days
  • Can be used independently from the West Circuit[20]

West PLUS Circuit

[edit]

Length: 3.66 km (2.274 mi)

Sprint Circuit

[edit]

Length: 2.784 km (1.730 mi)

Southwest Circuit

[edit]

Length: 1.81 km (1.125 mi)

North Circuit

[edit]

Length: 1.34 km (0.833 mi)

Karting Circuit

[edit]

Length: 1.1 km (0.684 mi)

Drag Strip

[edit]

Length: 0.402 km (0.250 mi)

The drag racing strip at The Bend opened to fanfare and a capacity 20,000 crowd in October 2023. The drag strip itself is approximately 1.250 km (0.777 mi) in total length by 18.5m wide, built to international standards. The Bend's drag racing strip has taken over from the older (and shorter) Adelaide International Raceway as South Australia's main drag racing venue.

Pit building and hotel

[edit]

Construction commenced in February 2017 for the 300 metres (980 ft) long pit building which includes hotel accommodation in the upper levels of the four-storey building. There are 34 pit garages.[21] The 100 room Rydges Pit Lane Hotel opened in 2019.[22]

Events

[edit]
Current
Future
Former

Lap records

[edit]

As of June 2024, the fastest official race lap records at The Bend Motorsport Park are listed as:[23][24]

Category Driver Vehicle Time Date
GT Circuit: 7.770 km (2018–present)
LMP2 Aidan Read Ligier JS P217 2:38.673[25] 12 January 2020
LMP3 David Fumanelli Ligier JS P3 2:51.692[25] 12 January 2020
GT3 Alessandro Pier Guidi Ferrari 488 GT3 2:56.990[25] 12 January 2020
CN Yasser Shahin Radical RS 3:02.493[26] 12 January 2020
Production Cars Keith Wong Honda Integra DC5 3:45.671[26] 12 January 2020
International Circuit: 4.950 km (2018–present)
Formula Three John Magro Dallara F308 1:40.7295 23 June 2019
S5000 Thomas Randle Ligier JS F3-S5000 1:41.2560[23][27] 16 November 2019
GT3 Jamie Whincup Mercedes-AMG GT3 1:45.6607[23] 13 July 2019
Superkart Jordan Ford Anderson Maverick 1:46.6960[23] 10 April 2021
Sports Sedans Jordan Caruso Audi A4-Chevrolet 1:47.0564 31 July 2022
Group CN Mark Laucke Wolf GB08 Tornado 1:47.1031 18 September 2021
Lamborghini Super Trofeo Jonathan Cecotto Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2 1:48.3219 11 June 2023
Toyota Racing Series Christopher Slusarski Tatuus FT-50 1:49.2963 10 June 2023
Supercars David Reynolds Holden ZB Commodore 1:49.4042[23][28] 24 August 2019
Formula 4 James Piszcyk Tatuus F4-T421 1:49.8767 5 May 2024
Radical Cup Cooper Cutts Radical SR3 XX 1:50.2406 8 June 2024
Superbike Troy Herfoss Honda CBR1000RR 1:50.529[29] 3 December 2023
Porsche Carrera Cup Jordan Love Porsche 911 (991 II) GT3 Cup 1:50.7966[23][30] 25 August 2019
Supersport Harrison Voight Yamaha YZF-R6 1:54.522[31] 3 December 2023
TCR Touring Car Nathan Morcom Hyundai i30 N TCR 1:57.0504[32] 17 November 2019
Formula Ford Angelo Mouzouris Mygale SJ18A 1:57.5339[33] 23 June 2019
GT4 Sam Brabham Mercedes-AMG GT4 1:57.7228 22 October 2022
Improved Production Adam Poole Holden Monaro 2:00.2456 25 May 2024
Touring Car Masters Joel Heinrich Chevrolet Camaro RS 2:00.4736 20 August 2023
Aussie Racing Cars Joshua Anderson Ford Mustang 2:05.6723 31 July 2022
Sidecar F1 Patrick Clancy/Steve Bonney LCR-Suzuki GSXR-1000 2:06:114[34] 26 November 2022
Asia Production 250 Muklada Sarapuech Honda CBR250RR 2:07.170[35][36] 28 April 2019
Supersport 300 Brandon Demmery Yamaha YZF-R3 2:08.963[35] 5 December 2021
Sidecar F2 Jamie Crass/Lee Menzies Windle-Suzuki GSXR-600 2:09:347[37] 16 March 2024
SuperUtes David Sieders Mazda BT-50 2:10.8731 20 August 2023
Toyota 86 Racing Series Jayden Wanzek Toyota 86 2:15.3067 26 May 2024
Asia Underbone 150 Md Helmi Azman Yamaha MX King 150 2:16.894[35][38] 22 April 2018
Oceania Junior Cup Valentino Knezovic Yamaha YZF-R15 2:29.820[39] 3 December 2023
West Circuit: 3.410 km (2018–present)
Formula One Josh Kean Footwork FA15 1:10.085[40][41] 5 September 2020
GT3 Jaxon Evans Ferrari 296 GT3 1:14.9167 2 June 2024
Sports Sedans Thomas Randle Saab 9-3-Chevrolet 1:15.5004 2 June 2024
Supercars Shane van Gisbergen Holden ZB Commodore 1:16.2224[42] 26 September 2020
Porsche Carrera Cup Clay Osborne Porsche 911 (991 II) GT3 Cup 1:18.2243 2 June 2024
Trans-Am Australia Jordan Boys Ford Mustang Trans-Am 1:20.6785 2 June 2024
GT4 Jason Yu McLaren Artura GT4 1:21.7144 2 June 2024
TCR Touring Car Josh Buchan Hyundai Elantra N TCR 1:22.7478 2 June 2024
Production Cars Grant Sherrin BMW M4 (F82) 1:26.3355 1 June 2024
Improved Production Cars Scott Cook Nissan Silvia S13 1:26.5584 16 May 2021

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Pepper, Robert (21 May 2015). "New Motorsport Park in Tailem Bend, South Australia". Practicalmotoring.com.au. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  2. ^ "The Bend unveiled as Shell V-Power Motorsport Park". speedcafe.com. 16 August 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  3. ^ Tailem Motorsport Park master plan revealed Murray Valley Standard 4 February 2015
  4. ^ Tailem Bend track redevelopment gets green light ABC News 21 Mat 2015
  5. ^ Construction underway at SA Motorsport Park Speedcafe 25 March 2016
  6. ^ The Bend Motorsport Park:Tailem Bend raceway, former SA Motorsport Park and Mitsibushi test track, has new official name Murray Valley Standard 8 March 2016
  7. ^ Grimm, Nick (26 July 2017). "Council to adjust town boundaries to make 'The Bend' an official part of Tailem Bend". The Murray Valley Standard. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
  8. ^ Burdett, Michael (19 September 2017). "Notice to Alter the Boundaries of Places" (PDF). Geographical Names Act, 1991. Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure. DPTI 2017/17699/01. Retrieved 15 February 2018. and Boundary Alteration of Tailem Bend and Elwomple (PDF) (Map). Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure. 11 September 2017. 2017_17699_01_Tailem_Bend. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
  9. ^ "From Britain to the Bend: UK's Biggest 24 Hour Cycling Challenge heads to Adelaide" (Press release). SANTOS Tour Down Under. 4 May 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  10. ^ "Bend Motorsport Park hosts first event". Speedcafe. 14 January 2018.
  11. ^ "Supercars reveals 16 event 2018 calendar". Speedcafe. 4 October 2017.
  12. ^ SA Motorsport Park targets MotoGP race Speedcafe 8 February 2016
  13. ^ "Bend Motorsport Park tipped for August 2018 slot". Speedcafe. 31 May 2017.
  14. ^ AJ2019 - A New (12 Day) Township for South Australia Scouts Australia
  15. ^ The Bend to host Asian Le Mans series round Speedcafe 17 January 2019
  16. ^ Howard, Tom (28 August 2019). "Supercars drops QR, Phillip Island in revised 2020 calendar". speedcafe.com. Speedcafe. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  17. ^ McAlpine, Heath (19 June 2020). "The Bend Responds to Supercars Calendar Omission". Auto Action. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  18. ^ Doubleheader locked in at The Bend Supercars 31 August 2020
  19. ^ "Hotel quarantine in rent-seeking pandemic". Australian Financial Review. 17 February 2021. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  20. ^ The Circuit South Australia Motorsport Park
  21. ^ "ADELAIDE'S FIRST PERMANENT PIT BUILDING STARTS CONSTRUCTION" (Press release). The Bend Motorsport Park. 2 February 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  22. ^ "Rydges Pit Lane Hotel | Accommodation in Tailem Bend | Hotel in the Bend Motorsports Park".
  23. ^ a b c d e f "The Bend Fastest Lap Comparison". Archived from the original on 28 February 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  24. ^ "Natsoft Race Results". Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  25. ^ a b c "2019-2020 4 Hours of The Bend best laptimes per driver" (PDF). 12 January 2020. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  26. ^ a b "4H of The Bend - Asian Le Mans Series 2019-2020 The Australian Prototype & Production GT Challenge Final results Race 2" (PDF). 12 January 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  27. ^ "2019 S5000 The Bend Race 1 results". Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  28. ^ "2019 Supercars Championship The Bend SuperSprint Race 1 Statistics". Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  29. ^ "2023 Round 7: December 1 - 3 - The Bend Motorsports Park - Alpinestars Superbike Championship - Race 1 - Provisional Classification". 3 December 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  30. ^ "Round 6, 2019: The Bend - Race 3". Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  31. ^ "2023 Round 7: December 1 - 3 - The Bend Motorsports Park - Michelin Supersport Championship - Race 2 - Provisional Classification". 3 December 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  32. ^ "2019 TCR Australia The Bend Motorsport Park 2 Race 3 Results". Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  33. ^ "Australia Formula Ford Lap Records". Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  34. ^ "The Bend Motorsports Park - Round 2 - Horsell Australian Sidecars - Race 2 - Provisional Classification". 26 November 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  35. ^ a b c "The Bend Motorsport Park - Motorcycle Lap Records (Updated After 2021 ASBK)" (PDF). Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  36. ^ "Asia Road Racing Championship Round 2 - 2019 - Australia Asia Production 250 Championship - Race 2 - Provisional Classification" (PDF). 28 April 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  37. ^ "2024 Victorian & South Australian Road Racing Championships - The Bend Motorsports Park - Round 1 - March 16 & 17 - Australian Sidecar Championship - Race 1 - Provisional Classification". 16 March 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  38. ^ "2018 Asia Road Racing Championship Round 2: The Bend Motorsport Park - Australia: April 19–22 Asia Underbone 150 Championship Race 2 - Provisional Classification" (PDF). 22 April 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  39. ^ "2023 bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup - The Bend Motorsports Park - Round 7: December 1–3 - Race 3 - Provisional Classification". 3 December 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  40. ^ "The Bend Classic >> Classic Open Wheel & F1 - Sprint 4". 5 September 2020. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  41. ^ "The Bend Motorsport Park's new West Circuit record is stupidly fast". 8 September 2020. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  42. ^ "2020 Supercars Championship OTR The Bend Race 1 Statistics". 26 September 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
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