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Mallala Motor Sport Park

Coordinates: 34°24′54″S 138°30′17″E / 34.41500°S 138.50472°E / -34.41500; 138.50472
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Mallala Motor Sport Park
Full Circuit (1964–present)
LocationMallala, South Australia
Time zoneUTC+09:30 (UTC+10:30 DST)
Coordinates34°24′54″S 138°30′17″E / 34.41500°S 138.50472°E / -34.41500; 138.50472
OwnerPeregrine Corporation
(February 2017–present)
Clem Smith (1977–2017)
Keith Williams (1971–1976)
OperatorPeregrine Corporation (May 2017–present)
Opened19 August 1961; 63 years ago (1961-08-19)[1]
Re-opened: 1980
Former namesMallala Race Circuit
(1961–1971)
Major eventsFormer:
Australian Grand Prix (1961)
Australian Drivers' Championship (1961–1971, 1988–1991, 1994–1997, 2000–2008, 2010, 2017)
Australian Tourist Trophy
(1962, 1968)
Australian Touring Car Championship
(1963, 1969–1971, 1989–1998)
V8 Supercar Development Series (2000–2006)
Australian GT (2006)
Full Circuit (1964–1971, 1980–present)
Length2.601 km (1.616 miles)
Turns9
Race lap record1:02.570 (Australia Paul Stokell, Reynard 90D, 1994, Formula Brabham)
Original Circuit (1961–1963)
Length3.379 km (2.100 miles)
Turns11
Race lap record1:44.0 (Australia Bill Patterson/Lex Davison[a], Cooper T51, 1961, Formula Libre)

Mallala Motor Sport Park is a 2.601 km (1.616 mi) bitumen motor racing circuit near the town of Mallala in South Australia, 55 km north of the state capital, Adelaide.

Mallala Race Circuit (1961–1971)

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The Mallala Race Circuit, as it was originally known,[2] was established on the site of the former RAAF Base Mallala. The land was purchased from the Royal Australian Air Force at public auction in 1961 by a group of enthusiasts seeking to create a replacement for the Port Wakefield Circuit.[3] South Australia had been allocated the 1961 Australian Grand Prix on the state by state rotational system that applied at that time, but the organisers had subsequently been informed by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) that the 2.092 km (1.300 mi) Port Wakefield Circuit, which had hosted the 1955 Australian Grand Prix, was no longer suitable to host the event.[4]

The opening meeting for the new venue was held on 19 August 1961 with Bib Stillwell winning the main event in a Cooper Climax.[1] The 1961 Australian Grand Prix headlined the circuits second meeting with Lex Davison winning his fourth and last AGP driving a Cooper T51 Coventry Climax FPF.[5] The original lap distance of 3.379 km (2.100 mi) was reduced to 2.601 km (1.616 mi) in late 1964[5] when Bosch Curve was moved closer to the Dunlop Curve Grandstand,[6] thus removing the north eastern leg of the circuit.[7]

Mallala served as South Australia's home of motor sport throughout the sixties[5] and it hosted a round of the Australian Drivers' Championship each year from 1961 to 1971.[8] The Australian Tourist Trophy was held there in 1962 and 1968[9] and the single race Australian Touring Car Championship was staged in 1963, as were annual rounds of the same championship after it changed to a series format in 1969. In 1971 the property was bought by Keith Williams who at the time owned the Surfers Paradise International Raceway, and was constructing the new Adelaide International Raceway.[3] Mallala was closed in that year as Williams had a court ordered covenant placed on the property preventing any motor sport activities. This ensured that Adelaide International would become the new home of motor racing in SA.[3]

Test Track

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After the circuit's closure as a motor racing venue, Chrysler Australia, who had their manufacturing base in Adelaide, continued using the Mallala as their test track. Leading race drivers Leo and Pete Geoghegan, who were factory backed Chrysler drivers in Series Production racing, often tested vehicles such as the Chrysler Valiant Charger at the circuit. Mallala was also the test track for the Adelaide-based Elfin Sports Cars run by company founder Garrie Cooper. Elfin produced a variety of sports and Open-wheel race cars.

Mallala Motor Sport Park (1980–present)

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Competitors in the 2010 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Series on the grid at Mallala Motor Sport Park on 30 May 2010
The Southern Hairpin at Mallala Motor Sport Park in 2013
The Northern Hairpin at Mallala Motor Sport Park in 2013
The Esses at Mallala Motor Sport Park in 2010
Race Control & PA Centre at Mallala Motor Sport Park in 2015

Following the purchase of the Mallala site by South Australia businessman and Sports Sedan racer Clem Smith in 1977, a Supreme Court decision declared the covenant unenforceable.[3] The facility was then redeveloped and was reopened for motorcycle racing in 1980 and for car racing in 1982.[5] It was now known as Mallala Motor Sport Park.[10]

The circuit was initially issued with a "B" track license, thus excluding the staging of championship level racing, and the track's biggest annual event became Historic Mallala which was held each Easter.[11] This was upgraded to an "A" track license in 1984, allowing Mallala to stage Round 5 of the 1984 Australian Formula 2 Championship on 3 June won by Keith McClelland driving a Cheetah Mk 8-VW. This was the first national championship round to be staged at the circuit since the final round of the 1971 Australian Sports Car Championship on 14 November 1971 won by John Harvey driving a McLaren M6B-Repco.

National championship motor racing continued sporadically over the next few years, but the circuit was brought back into national focus when it was chosen over Adelaide International to host a round of the Australian Touring Car Championship each year from 1989 to 1998. When that championship evolved into the Shell Championship Series in 1999, the Mallala round was replaced by the Clipsal 500, held on a shortened version of the Adelaide Street Circuit in an exclusive deal between V8 Supercars and the John Olsen led Government of South Australia. A round of the second tier V8 Supercar Development Series was held at Mallala Motor Sport Park each year from 2000 to 2006 before also moving to the Adelaide Street Circuit in 2007.

On 7 May 1989, Mallala had the honour of hosting the first ever Formula Holden race as part of the opening round of the 1989 Australian Drivers' Championship. Mark McLaughlin driving a South Australian designed and built Elfin FA891 won the opening heat of the meeting from former dual Australian Formula 2 champion Peter Glover, with television commentator turned race driver Neil Crompton finishing third.

Currently the main meetings held annually are the Mallala Historics each Easter and a round of the Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships staged shortly afterwards. Drifting now takes place on a regular basis in the form of the G1 Drift Competition and Drift Supercup which runs from turn 8 to turn 2. Supertruck Racing is no longer staged at Mallala due to the deteriorating surface of the track, the final event being in late 2009. Major meetings at Mallala are run by the Sporting Car Club of South Australia and other clubs that regularly use the circuit include the Adelaide Superkart Club, Marque Sports Car Association of SA, and the MG Car Club of SA. Since its re-opening, the Mallala circuit has also been used for private driver training courses and the South Australia Police use the circuit for driver training and assessment.

The Mallanats is an annual car show held at the circuit since 2009. The weekend includes burnout competitions and various performance car events similar to the Summernats format. The event returned once a year in 2010 and 2011, with two Mallanats events being scheduled in 2012.

The Elfin Mallala sports racing car was named after the circuit, having competed in its first race there.

Ownership by Peregrine Corporation

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Following the passing of owner Clem Smith in February 2017 the Peregrine Corporation, owners of the upcoming The Bend Motorsport Park, purchased the complex and took over the operations in May the same year.[12] Peregrine Corporation is owned by the Shahin family who also own On the Run (convenience store) in Australia.

Major events

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Australian Grand Prix

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In just its second race meeting, the Mallala Race Circuit hosted the 1961 Australian Grand Prix. The race was won by Lex Davison driving a Cooper T51 Coventry Climax FPF from Bib Stillwell, with David McKay finishing third. McKay finished first on the road, but was controversially penalised 60 seconds for an alleged jump start.

Year Driver Car Entrant
Formula Libre
1961 Lex Davison Cooper T51 BS Stillwell

Australian Touring Car Championship

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Each year from 1960 to 1968 the Australian Touring Car Championship was contested as single race, with Mallala hosting the title in 1963 on its original 3.38 km (2.1 mi) layout. From 1969 onwards the championship was contested over a number of rounds with Mallala hosting a round each year from 1969 to 1971 and from 1989 to 1998. From 1972 to 1988 all ATCC rounds in South Australia were held at the Adelaide International Raceway. In 1999 the Australian Touring Car Championship was renamed to the Shell Championship Series with all South Australian rounds from that time held at a modified (shortened) version of the Adelaide Street Circuit.

In 1989 when the ATCC returned to Mallala after an absence of 18 years, the tight and bumpy circuit received mixed reviews from the top touring car drivers. Some, such as Nissan driver Jim Richards praised the circuit stating that the racing would be closer as it did not allow the all-powerful Ford Sierra RS500's to fully utilise their speed advantage. Others such as reigning (and that years) ATCC champion Dick Johnson were openly critical of the circuit and its lack of facilities, though some cynically noted that other than Bathurst, Johnson wouldn't admit to liking any circuit located outside of his home state of Queensland. Ironically, Dick Johnson would actually win the 1989 ATCC race at Mallala rather easily, claiming pole position and sprinting away from the field to win by 29 seconds after 60 minutes of racing. To his credit circuit owner Clem Smith would use the profits made from hosting Australia's highest profile race series which would regularly draw a capacity crowd despite not always having good weather, to continually upgrade the facilities at Mallala until the championship moved to Adelaide in 1999.[13]

The following table lists the winner of the single race 1963 championship and the winners of each Australian Touring Car Championship round held at the Mallala circuit.

Year Driver Car Entrant
Appendix J Touring Cars
1963 Australia Bob Jane Jaguar Mark 2 Bob Jane
Group C Improved Production
1969 Australia Ian Geoghegan Ford Mustang GTA Mustang Team
1970 Australia Ian Geoghegan Ford Mustang GTA Geoghegan's Sporty Cars
1971 Australia Bob Jane Chevrolet Camaro ZL-1 Bob Jane Racing Team
Group A
1989 Australia Dick Johnson Ford Sierra RS500 Shell Ultra-Hi Racing
1990 Australia Colin Bond Ford Sierra RS500 Caltex CXT Racing
1991 Australia Mark Skaife Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R Nissan Motor Sport
1992 Australia Mark Skaife Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R Winfield Team Nissan
Group 3A Touring Cars
1993 Australia Glenn Seton Ford EB Falcon Peter Jackson Racing
1994 Australia Mark Skaife Holden VP Commodore Winfield Racing
1995 Australia Glenn Seton Ford EF Falcon Peter Jackson Racing
1996 Australia Craig Lowndes Holden VR Commodore Holden Racing Team
1997 New Zealand Greg Murphy Holden VS Commodore Holden Racing Team
1998 Australia Russell Ingall Holden VS Commodore Castrol Perkins Racing

Australian Super Touring Championship

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Mallala hosted the Australian Super Touring Championship (known as the Australian 2.0 Litre Touring Car Championship in 1993 and Australian Manufacturers' Championship in 1994) 8 times between 1993 and 2000–01.

Year Winner Car Team
1993 Australia John Smith Toyota Corolla Seca AE93 Caltex Team Toyota
1994 Australia Tony Longhurst BMW 318i Benson & Hedges Racing
1995 Australia Geoff Brabham BMW 318i Diet Coke BMW Racing
1996 New Zealand Greg Murphy Audi A4 Quattro Orix Audi Sport Australia
1997 Australia Cameron McConville Audi A4 Quattro Orix Audi Sport Australia
1998 Australia Brad Jones Audi A4 Quattro Audi Sport Australia
1999 Australia Paul Morris BMW 320i Paul Morris Motorsport
2000–01 Australia Paul Morris BMW 320i Paul Morris Motorsport

V8 Supercar Development Series

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Mallala Motor Sport Park hosted a round of the V8 Supercar Development Series each year from the inception of the series in 2000 through to 2006. Since 2007 all South Australian rounds have been held at the Adelaide Parklands Circuit.

Year Driver Car Entrant
2000 Australia David Besnard Ford EL Falcon Stone Brothers Racing
2001 New Zealand Simon Wills Holden VT Commodore Team Dynamik
2002 Australia Paul Dumbrell Holden VX Commodore Independent Race Cars Australia
2003 Australia Mark Winterbottom Ford AU Falcon Stone Brothers Racing
2004 Australia Greg Ritter Ford AU Falcon Speed FX Racing
2005 Australia Dean Canto Ford BF Falcon Dick Johnson Racing
2006 Australia Adam Macrow Ford BA Falcon Howard Racing

Australian Drivers' Championship

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Mallala Race Circuit hosted the South Australian round of the annual Australian Drivers' Championship each year from 1961 to 1971. Mallala Motor Sport Park has hosted rounds in numerous years since 1988.

Year Driver Car Entrant
Formula Libre
1961 Australia Lex Davison Cooper T51 BS Stillwell
1962 Australia Bib Stillwell Cooper T53 BS Stillwell
1963 Australia John Youl Cooper T55 John Youl
Australian National Formula & Australian 1½ Litre Formula
1964 Australia Lex Davison Brabham BT4 Ecurie Australie
1965 Australia Bib Stillwell Repco Brabham BT11A BS Stillwell
1966 Australia John Harvey Brabham BT14 RC Phillips
1967 Australia Spencer Martin Repco Brabham BT11A Bob Jane Racing Team
1968 Australia Leo Geoghegan Lotus 39 Geoghegan Racing Team
Australian National Formula & Australian Formula 2
1969 Australia Garrie Cooper Elfin 600C Elfin Sports Cars
Australian Formula 1 & Australian Formula 2
1970 Australia Leo Geoghegan Lotus 59 Geoghegan's Sporty Cars
1971 Australia John McCormack Elfin MR5 Elfin Sports Cars
Australian Formula 2
1988 Australia Rohan Onslow Cheetah Mk8 RJ MacArthur Onslow
Formula Holden
1989 Australia Mark McLaughlin Elfin FA891 Elfin Sports Cars
1990 Australia Mark Skaife SPA FB001 Skaife Racing P/L
Formula Brabham
1991 Australia Mark Skaife SPA 003 Skaife Racing
1994 Australia Paul Stokell Reynard 91D Birrana Racing
1995 Australia Paul Stokell Reynard 91D Birrana Racing
Formula Holden
1996 Australia Jason Bright Reynard 91D Birrana Racing
1997 Australia Mark Noske Lola T93/50 Mark Noske
2000 New Zealand Simon Wills Reynard 94D Birrana Racing
2001 Australia Rick Kelly Reynard 94D Holden Young Lions
2002 Australia Will Power Reynard 94D Ralt Australia
Formula 4000
2003 New Zealand Daniel Gaunt Reynard 96D Ralt Australia / Pure Power Racing
2004 Australia Neil McFadyen Reynard 96D Ralt Australia
Australian Formula 3
2005 Australia Michael Caruso Dallara F301 Picollo Scuderia Corse
2006 United Kingdom Ben Clucas Dallara F304 Gawler Farm Machinery
2007 United Kingdom James Winslow Dallara F304 Piccola Scuderia Corse
2008 Australia Leanne Tander Dallara F307 TanderSport
2010 United Kingdom Ben Barker Dallara F307 Team BRM
2017 Australia Calan Williams Dallara F311 Gilmour Racing

Australian Formula 2 Championship

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Australian Formula 2 Championship raced at Mallala 6 times between 1971 and 1988.

Year Winner Car Team
1971 Australia Henk Woelders Elfin 600C Bill Patterson Racing
1984 Australia Keith McClelland Cheetah Mk 8 Keith McClelland
1985 Australia Peter Glover Cheetah Mk 8 Peter Macrow
1986 Australia Jon Crooke Cheetah Mk 8 Jonathon Crooke
1987 Australia Mark McLaughlin Elfin 852 Elfin Sports Cars Pty Ltd
1988 Australia Rohan Onslow Cheetah Mk 8 RJ MacArthur Onslow

Australian Sports Sedan Championship

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The Australian Sports Sedan Championship raced at Mallala 6 times between 1991 and 2003.

Year Winner Car Team
1991 Australia Mick Monterosso Ford Escort Mark II Chevrolet Mick Monterosso
1992 Australia Brian Smith Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV Chevrolet B. Smith
1998 Australia Tony Ricciardello Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV Chevrolet Basil Ricciardello
1999 Australia Tony Ricciardello Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV Chevrolet Basil Ricciardello
2000 Australia Kerry Baily Nissan 300ZX Chevrolet Kerry Baily
2003 Australia Tony Ricciardello Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV Chevrolet Basil Ricciardello

Australian Nations Cup Championship

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The Australian Nations Cup Championship raced at Mallala in 2004. It would be the final ever round of the Nations Cup Championship for GT style cars.

Year Winner Car Team
2004 Australia James Brock Holden Monaro 427C Team Brock

Australian GT Championship

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The Australian GT Championship raced at Mallala in 2006.

Year Winner Car Team
2006 Australia Bryce Washington Porsche 911 (996) GT3 Cup ADRAD Radiator Experts

Lap records

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As of February 2024, the fastest official race lap records at Mallala Motor Sport Park are listed as:[14][15]

Class Driver Vehicle Time Date
Full Circuit: 2.601 km (1964–1971, 1980–present)[16]
Formula Holden Australia Paul Stokell Reynard 90D 1:02.57[15] 7 August 1994
Formula 3 Australia Calan Williams Dallara F311 1:03.4078 11 June 2017
Sports Sedan Australia Tony Ricciardello Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV-Chevrolet 1:05.6328 27 April 2014
Superbikes Australia Daniel Falzon Yamaha YZF-R1 1:05.767[17] 06 March 2021
Time Attack Pro Class Australia Matt Longhurst Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 1:05.8612 18 November 2017
Sports Racer United Kingdom James Winslow West WR 1000 1:05.9810 26 April 2014
Superkart Australia Gary Pegoraro Anderson Maverick FPE 1:06.3237 7 June 2009
Supersport Australia Jamie Stauffer Yamaha YZF-R6 1:07.424[18] 31 August 2009
GT3 Australia Mark Rosser Audi R8 LMS GT3 1:07.6377 10 October 2021
Group 3A New Zealand Greg Murphy Holden VS Commodore 1:08.1437[15] 13 July 1997
Nations Cup Australia Paul Stokell Lamborghini Diablo GTR 1:08.5179[15] 19 September 2004
Dunlop V8 Supercar Australia Paul Dumbrell Holden VT Commodore 1:08.7330[15] 12 August 2001
Porsche GT3 Challenge Australia John Goodacre Porsche 911 (997) GT3 Cup 3.8 1:09.0918 27 April 2014
Prostock Australia Pat Medcalf Yamaha YZF-R1 1:09.231[18] 31 August 2009
Group A Australia Mark Skaife Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 1:09.26 31 May 1992
Formula 1000 Australia Aaron Steer Firman F1000 1:09.3565 23 May 2015
Super Touring Australia Brad Jones Audi A4 Quattro 1:10.2569[15] 19 July 1998
Formula Ford Australia Nick Percat Van Diemen RF04 1:11.3624[15] 17 September 2006
Sidecar United Kingdom Steve Abbott / Jamie Biggs Suzuki LCR 1:11.505[18] 5 June 2005
125cc GP Australia Brett Simmonds Honda RS 125 1:12.265[18] 5 June 2005
Improved Production Outright Australia Andy Sarandis Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8 RS 1:12.4487 8 July 2023
Time Attack ClubSprint China Stanley Gong Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII MR 1:13.9359 19 February 2022
Improved Production Class B Australia Michael De Luca Mazda RX7 1:15.5948 21 Aug 2016
Formula Vee Australia Andrew Ford Birrana 274 1:16.5879 12 March 2022
Commodore Cup Australia Daniel Richert Holden VS Commodore 1:17.6841 1 July 2007
Saloon Cars Australia Wayne King Holden VT Commodore 1:18.6555 23 May 2016
Porsche 944 Australia Chris Lewis-Williams Porsche 944 1:19.6163 19 August 2017
Production Cars Australia Steve Knight Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8 1:19.3665 17 October 2007
V8 Utes Australia Grant Johnson Holden SS Ute 1:21.4940[15] 21 August 2005
Circuit Excel Australia Joel Johnson Hyundai Excel 1:25.3746 10 July 2022
HQ Holdens Australia Peter Lines Holden HQ Kingswood 1:26.8479[15] 15 August 1999
Full Circuit: 3.379 km (1961–1964)[16]
Formula Libre Australia Bill Patterson[a]
Australia Lex Davison[a]
Cooper T51[a]
Cooper T51[a]
1:44.0 9 October 1961
Sports car racing Australia David McKay Elfin Mallala 1:56.9 28 December 1962
Group 1 Australia Bob Jane Jaguar Mark 2 4.1 1:57.2 15 April 1963

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e Both drivers took the same lap time independently on the same race.

References

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  1. ^ a b Stuart Innes, Mallala's lap of honour, The Advertiser, Saturday, 20 August 2011, page 41
  2. ^ Official Souvenir Programme, Mallala Motor Races, Easter Monday, 15 April 1963, page 6
  3. ^ a b c d Mallala History Retrieved from www.spriteclub.com.au on 24 May 2010
  4. ^ Austin 7 Club SA 50 Years Retrieved from www.austin7clubsa.com.au on 25 May 2010
  5. ^ a b c d The Macquarie Dictionary of Motoring, 1986, page 288
  6. ^ The Revised Race Track, Official Souvenir Programme, Mallala Motor Races, 12 October 1964, page 6
  7. ^ Mallala circuit map Retrieved from www.silhouet.com on 25 May 2010
  8. ^ Gold Star Supplement, Racing Car News, August 1972
  9. ^ 1980 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, page 56
  10. ^ Official Souvenir Programme, The Premier Meeting of Mallala Motor Sport Park, 27 June 1982
  11. ^ Official Souvenir Programme, The Premier Meeting of Mallala Motor Sport Park, 27 June 1982, page 4
  12. ^ Kemp, Miles (11 May 2017). "SA's No. 1 motorsport fan Sam Shahin plans to improve Mallala Motor Sport Park after buying it". The Advertiser. News Corp. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  13. ^ 1989 ATCC R5 Mallala
  14. ^ Natsoft Race Results
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Austin 7 Club (S.A.) Inc. - Lap Records". www.austin7clubsa.com.au. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  16. ^ a b "Mallala - Racing Circuits". Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  17. ^ "Computime 2021 Adelaide 3 Hour". Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  18. ^ a b c d "Mallala Motorsport Park Motorcycle Lap Records" (PDF). Retrieved 14 December 2022.
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