CARCO.com.au Raceway

Location	Wattle Avenue, Neerabup, Western Australia
Time zone	UTC+08:00
Coordinates	31°39′55.08″S 115°47′28.68″E / 31.6653000°S 115.7913000°E / -31.6653000; 115.7913000
Capacity	50,000
FIA Grade	3
Owner	WA Sporting Car Club
Operator	WA Sporting Car Club
Opened	2 March 1969 (1969-03-02)
Former names	Wanneroo Raceway (1969–1992, 2020–2022) Barbagallo Raceway (1992–2020)
Major events	Current: Supercars Championship Perth SuperSprint (1973, 1978–2009, 2011–2019, 2022–present) GT World Challenge Australia (1982, 2016–2017, 2019, 2023) Former: Australian Drivers' Championship Australian Grand Prix (1979) Stadium Super Trucks (2017–2018) Australian F4 (2017) Australian Grand Prix (1979) Six Hour Le Mans (1969–1972)
Long Circuit (1969–present)
Length	2.411 km (1.498 miles)
Turns	7
Race lap record	0:50.5769 ( Gary West, Lola T87/50, 2007, F3000)
Bike Circuit (2019–present)
Length	2.413 km (1.500 miles)
Turns	9
Race lap record	0:55.909 ( Cameron Stronach, Yamaha YZF-R1, 2022, Superbikes)
Short Circuit (1992–present)
Length	1.760 km (1.094 miles)
Turns	8

Wanneroo Raceway, currently known as CARCO.com.au Raceway for naming rights reasons, is a 2.411 km (1.498 mi) motorsport circuit located in Neerabup, approximately 50 km (31 mi) north of Perth in Western Australia. It was built by the WA Sporting Car Club.

The circuit was originally known as Wanneroo Park and the first race meet took place in March 1969. Initially the major race per year was a 6-hour Le Mans style race for sedans and sports cars known as the Six Hour Le Mans. However, as interest dulled in that event, production car racing took over as the major race type. In 1979, the Australian Grand Prix was held for the first and so far only time at Wanneroo Raceway which coincided with the opening of the new pits and paddock area to the west of the circuit. The Grand Prix was won by South Australian Johnnie Walker driving a Lola T332 Formula 5000. Walker was the last driver to win the AGP driving a Formula 5000.

In 1992, it was decided that a short circuit would be constructed by linking Turn 5 on the current circuit to the back straight forming a new 1.760 km (1.094 mi) circuit. This extension was funded by prominent West Australian motorsport identity Alf Barbagallo and hence the circuit name was changed to Barbagallo Raceway.^[1] The short circuit allowed for an increase in the types of racing including the inclusion of truck racing and also allowed events to be run at night.

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.

The circuit was resurfaced again in early 2019.^[2] The circuit was renamed Wanneroo Raceway in 2020, however its name was changed as CARCO.com.au Raceway from August 2022 to November 2025.^[3]

Events

Formula One ace Mark Webber drove a demonstration run at the circuit on 28 November 2010.

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 (62 mph) 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.^[4] 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

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 Motorcycle Racing was banned from Wanneroo Raceway in November 2016 until a number of safety upgrades could be implemented.^[5] 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.^[6] These upgrades included the addition of a "Bus Stop" Style turn 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.^[7] The track was relicenced by Motorcycling Australia in March 2019, allowing racing to return.^[8]

Touring Car round winners

Peter Brock racing at Wanneroo Park in 1985

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.

Lap records

As of April 2023, the fastest official race lap records at Wanneroo Raceway are listed as:^{[9][10][11][12]}

Class	Driver	Vehicle	Time	Date
Long Circuit: 2.411 km (1969–present)[13]
F3000	Gary West	Lola T87/50	0:50.5769[11]	25 March 2007
F1000	Nick Percat	Stohr F1000	0:53.0792[11]	13 July 2019
Sports Sedan	Tony Ricciardello	Alfa Romeo GTV-Chevrolet	0:53.1680[11]	3 March 2019
Formula Mondial	John Bowe	Ralt RT4	0:53.44[11]	25 August 1984
Australian GT	Peter Major	Lamborghini Gallardo R-EX	0:53.7056[11][14]	4 May 2019
Supercars	James Courtney	Holden Commodore ZB	0:53.7293[11][15]	3 May 2019
GT3	Christopher Mies	Audi R8 LMS Evo	0:53.8065	30 April 2023
Super2	Zane Goddard	Nissan Altima	0:54.3949	3 May 2019
F5000	John Wright[lower-alpha 1] Johnnie Walker[lower-alpha 1]	Lola T400[lower-alpha 1] Lola T332[lower-alpha 1]	0:54.92[lower-alpha 1]	11 March 1979
Superbikes	Daniel Falzon	Yamaha YZF-R1	0:55.446[16]	5 June 2016
Super3	Brad Vaughan	Ford FG Falcon	0:56.7392	30 April 2022
Porsche Carrera Cup	Steven Richards	Porsche 911 (997) GT3 Cup	0:56.9816[17]	1 May 2011
Supersport	Sam Clarke	Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R	0:57.184[16]	5 June 2016
Group 3A	Craig Lowndes	Holden VR Commodore	0:57.995[18]	26 May 1996
250cc Grand Prix	Rip Crocker	Yamaha TZR250	0:58.050[16]	8 October 1995
Formula 4	Nick Rowe	Mygale M14-F4	0:58.4291	6 May 2017
GT4	Justin McMillian	KTM X-Bow GT4	0:58.727[11][14]	4 May 2019
Street Car Racing	Andrew Stevens	Nissan 180SX	0:58.9157	24 July 2016
Group A	John Bowe	Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth	0:59.040[19]	7 June 1992
Sidecar	Steve Abbott Jamie Biggs	LCR-Suzuki GSX-R1000	0:59.4480[16]	29 May 2005
Formula Ford	Ashley Walsh	Spectrum 011b	0:59.5717[11][20]	24 March 2007
Formula Ford Kent	James Small	Van Diemen 011b	0:59.7669[11][20]	13 June 2004
Improved Production	Matt Cherry	Holden Monaro CV8	1:00.4662[11]	14 April 2019
125cc Grand Prix	Josh Brookes	Honda RS125R	1:00.7983[16]	8 October 2000
Formula Ford Silver	Ray Stubber	Royale RP31M	1:02.2195[11]	20 May 2007
Group C (Australia)	Allan Moffat	Mazda RX-7	1:02.37	1 April 1984
Group Nc	Paul Stubber	Chevrolet Camaro	1:02.7990	29 April 2023
Touring Car Masters	Michael Almond	Porsche 911 RS	1:02.9005[11]	5 May 2013
Clubman Sports	Terry Smith	Hooper	1:03.8160[11]	8 April 2006
SuperUtes Series	George Gutierrez	Holden Colorado–Chevrolet	1:04.7952	30 April 2023
Aussie Racing Cars	Dave Robson	Chevrolet Camaro-Yamaha	1:05.1660	7 May 2017
Saloon Cars	Grant Johnson	Holden Commodore (VT)	1:05.1876[11]	18 August 2019
Mini Challenge	Leanne Tander	Mini Cooper R56 JCW	1:05.6260	11 May 2008
Supersport 300	Sam Condon	Kawasaki Ninja 300	1:06.263[16]	5 June 2016
V8 Ute Racing Series	Grant Johnson	Ford FG Falcon Ute	1:06.4669	1 May 2015
Group Nb	Graeme Woolhouse	Ford Mustang	1:06.7704[11]	4 May 2019
Group Sc	Harvey Leys	Porsche 911 Carrera	1:07.1633[11]	26 July 2009
Group 3E Series Production	Graham Stones	Mazda RX-7	1:07.1823	15 August 1999
Formula Vee 1600	Ryan Simpson	Jacer F2K6 Volkswagen	1:07.9889[11]	14 October 2006
Formula Vee 1200	Jez Hammond	Spook Mk 1 Volkswagen	1:09.6141[11]	9 August 2004
Group Sb	Ted Jordan	Porsche 356C	1:11.8089[11]	18 April 2004
HQ Holden	Tony James	HQ Holden	1:14.1755[11]	11 July 2004
Group Sa	John Rowe	Austin-Healey 3000 MkI	1:14.9372[11]	6 May 2007
Group Na	Terry Smith	Ford Zephyr	1:20.7941[11]	11 July 2004
Bike Circuit: 2.413 km (2019–present)[13]
Superbikes	Cameron Stronach	Yamaha YZF-R1	0:55.909	24 April 2022
Supersport	Tommy King	Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R	0:58.285	29 November 2020
sub 400cc Production	Jordan White	Kawasaki Ninja 400	1:06.3250	24 April 2022
150cc Junior 4T	Lenny Cowley	Yamaha YZF-R15	1:17.7480	3 April 2022

Oral history

• John Hurney^[21]
• Patsie McCrakan^[22]

Notes

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wanneroo Raceway.

• CARCO.com.au Raceway