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Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit

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Spectacular Scenery And Spectacular Racing

Located a 90 minute drive from the city of Melbourne, on the edge of Bass Strait not far from the most southerly tip of mainland Australia sits Phillip Island and one of the most scenic race tracks in the world.

With its fast flowing nature and a perfect blend of ups and downs, long straights and tight turns, it has long been a favourite of racing car drivers and motorbike riders from all over the world.

The circuit has an interesting history

Motor racing began on Phillip Island in 1928 with the very first Australian Grand Prix held on 10.6 kilometres of rough, dusty and treacherous public roads. The site of the current circuit was purchased in 1952 and the track completed in 1956. In 1957 and 1958 the Phillip Island circuit held a number of races before staging Australia's first endurance race in 1960 with the Armstrong 500 mile race.

In 1962 the track received severe damage during the Armstrong 500 race and the track was forced to close. The race moved to Bathurst in New South Wales west of Sydney where it has become a world famous event. The track reopened in 1966 and went on to host many touring car races throughout the remainder of the decade and into the seventies until disaster struck the track once more. Due to a lack of finances on the part of the owner, it was allowed to get run down and closed once more, turning into grazing land for animals around the track.

Then, in 1985, the track was sold and the new owners promised to develop the site under an agreement to host World championship motorcycle races there from 1989 onwards. Local racing resumed on the track for both cars and motorbikes in 1989 as well. In 1990 the World Superbike Championship began its long association with the circuit but in 1991 the Grand Prix motorcycles were lost to the circuit due to tobacco sponsorship issues with the state government.

Grand Prix motorbikes returned to the island track in 1997 and has remained ever since. The track was bought by the Linfox group in 2004 which has seen more development at the track with hotels and a Greg Norman designed golf course planned for the future. recent additions under the Linfox ownership have included a Go Kart track which is a replica of the main track. The circuit also has a racing museum which is open at al times of the year.

The Phillip Island Circuit was the birth place of endurance touring car racing in Australia. The most famous and prestigious race of this kind, the Bathurst 1000 started it's life as a 500 mile race on Phillip Island before relocating to the Mount Panorama circuit in Bathurst in 1963.

Find Your Way To The Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit

MotoGP (Motorcycle Grand Prix Racing)

Phillip Island is the home of world championship motorcycle events in Australia. In 1989 Philip Island hosted its first ever motorcycle world championship event. Back then the premier class of racing was called the 500cc class as they rode 500cc 2-stroke machines. A major part in Australia getting this race was when in 1987 Australian Wayne Gardner won the world title. The local crowd was ecstatic when Gardner won the first event in 1989 and even more so when he backed it up again with another win in 1990.

But state laws regarding tobacco advertising lost the Island the event in 1991 when it moved to the Eastern Creek Raceway just west of Sydney in New South Wales. After a six year absence in 1997, the premier motorcycle racing event in the world was back at it's spiritual home where it belonged and has been held there every year since. In it's second year back at the track, local hero Mick Doohan sealed his fifth successive world title with a win. I was there that weekend to witness that amazing feat.

In recent years another Aussie, Casey Stoner has dominated the event with successive wins in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and in 2011. Four of these victories came from pole position. It certainly does seem that young Casey is unbeatable on the Phillip Island circuit. I was there at the track for his 2007 win which came a week after he sealed his first world title in Japan. In the 2011 race, Casey sealed his second world title at the track which was a very special feat, made even more special by the fact that it was his birthday.
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2007 Australian MotoGP Event

I camped at the race track this year

On the main straight opposite to the pits and the podium area. That is me on the left in the black and orange jacket.

On the main straight opposite to the pits and the podium area. That is me on the left in the black and orange jacket.

On the main straight opposite to the pits and the podium area. That is me on the left in the black and orange jacket.
This was our camp site in the camping ground adjacent to the track.
The view from our camp looking back towards the track.
Casey Stoner going into turn eleven just after the MG hairpin. Getting a good run through this corner is vital to give you maximum speed going into the main Gardner straight.
The riders did a lap in the back of Mustang convertibles before the race. This is Casey stoner.
The corner known as Siberia as it is closest to the ocean where the cold breeze comes in straight from Antarctica.
Looking back towards Gardner Straight as the bikes come out of the MG hairpin.
Me on the Gardner Straight after the race as the jubilant crowd was rushing in to greet Casey Stoner on the podium.
Casey Stoner in first, Loris Capirossi in second and Valentino Rossi in third place.
Posing for a photo on the track at Doohan Corner which is the first corner on the track.

1997 World Superbike Phillip Island Race

The World Superbike Championship may not be quite as prestigious as the MotoGP Championship but it has a reputation for close and exciting racing. Phillip Island has been the scene of many close battles in this championship over the years as it too makes for some exciting racing. The Superbike World Championship first went to Phillip Island in 1990 only two years after the series began and one year after the first Grand Prix motorbike race. The series has had an Australian round at the island every year since.

The first video below is from the 1997 event and shows a classic Phillip Island slipstreaming manoeuvre to win at the very last second. The second video is from 1992 when a bike takes of without the rider on flames along the main straight. I remember seeing this on TV at the time. I first went to a World Superbike race there in 1999, went again in 2000, 2002 and then again in 2004.
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Test Your Phillip Island Knowledge Here

In Front Of The Podium In 2007

At the MotoGP Race

Phillip Island

Other Peoples Photos From Around The Island

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V8 Supercar Racing

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Lukey Heights

One of the scariest corners in road racing

This corner is one of the best features of this track. You come uphill and into this blind corner where you cannot see the exit. It then drops steeply downhill into the MG hairpin. This downhill section is much steeper in real life than it looks on TV and in photos.

Track Days

There are a number of motorcycle riding groups and car clubs who organise track days at various race tracks around the world. The Phillip Island Circuit is no different. I was fortunate enough to be invited along to one of these days in 1998 and it was an absolute blast. It is a lot safer than racing fast on the public roads due to the fact that the traffic is only going one way, the track is a lot wider than a road and there is a lot more run off area if you do come of or run wide on a corner. So, if you are a bit of a fan of speed, please do it on a track and not on the road.
Phillip Island Track Day - Melbourne Australia
by kiwicarrot | video info

1 rating | 1,233 views
curated content from YouTube

Motor Racing

Do you like to watch motor racing?

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Yes, I love the excitement of the sport.

No, watching cars or bikes going around in circles is very boring.

 

Phillip Island Has Loads Of Things To Do

It is not just about the track!

Other than motor sports, Phillip Island has long been a major tourist attraction due to it's natural wonders and the fact that the island is easily accessed by bridge from San Remo or by ferry from Stony Point n the Mornington Peninsula. The Island has a long surfing history with the island having many surf shops and beaches which attract surfers year round. The island has many natural rock formations along it's shores such as Pyramid Rock, The Nobbies and Seal Rocks which are home to the largest colony of fur seals in Australia. The island also has a large number of koalas and has a fauna park dedicated to native Australian animals.

There is of course also the world famous Penguin Parade which attracts thousands of visitors each year to watch the Little Penguins (formerly known as Fairy Penguins) come back to their nest after their time out in the ocean. Each night the board walks above the penguins nests are packed with visitors from all over the world as they learn about these fascinating birds and watch their antics as they waddle out of the ocean and up the beach in large numbers.

The island forms the southern part of Western Port Bay so as well as the surf beaches on the southern side of the island, there are a number of sheltered calm water beaches on the northern side of the island. These make ideal places for the family to spend the day at the beach and this is also where the main town of Cowes is located. Cowes has a number of accommodation and meal choices as well as boutique shops and other tourist attractions.

Other attractions on the island are the Pyramid Rock Festival which is held each New Years Eve and Churchill Island which is the site of the first European settlement in the state of Victoria. The 125 acre island is accessible via a bridge from Phillip Island and contains a working farm and a homestead which was built in 1872 and is open to the public.
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Round 1 of the 2012 Superbike world Championship

Round 1 of the 2012 Superbike world Championship is held at the Phillip island Grand Prix Circuit.

Countdown to The Australian World Superbike Round

The Australian World Superbike Round: February 24, 2012

Go Karting at the Phillip Island Circuit

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Link List

Phillip Island Circuit
Phillip Island Circuit located in Victoria, Australia. Site of the Australian GP, World Superbikes, Hot Laps,Go kart,V8 Supercars,Latest News, Track Map, Lap Times,Other Events.
Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
WORLDSBK.COM | HOME
The World Superbike Series has travelled to Phillip Island each year since 1990.
motogp.com
MotoGP is the world´s premier motorcycling championship, with a season of 18 Grands Prix in 13 countries bringing together the world´s top motorcycle manufacturers. The circuit has been a favourite of riders since it first hosted the series in 1989.
Phillip Island Victoria Australia. Official Tourism Website
Phillip Island official tourism website authorised by the Phillip Island Visitor Information Centre. Phone, Email and Booking facilities for attractions, accommodation, apartments, bed and breakfast (B&B), hotels, caravan parks, holiday houses, beach houses on and around the island.
AMCN international Island Classic...January 27 - 29 Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit
The AMCN International Island Classic is in it's 19th consecutive year and is Australia's largest historic motorcycle race and the third largest motorcycling event staged annually at the track.

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