Symmons Plains International Raceway

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Symmons Plains
Full Circuit (1960–present)
LocationLaunceston, Tasmania
Coordinates41°39′34″S 147°15′10″E / 41.65944°S 147.25278°E / -41.65944; 147.25278
FIA Grade3
OwnerMotorsports Tasmania
OpenedMarch 1960 (1960-03)[1]
Major eventsCurrent:
Supercars Championship
Tasmania Super 440 (1969–1999, 2004–2019, 2021–present)
SuperUtes Series (2022, 2025–present)
Aussie Racing Cars (2005, 2008, 2011, 2013–2015, 2017, 2019, 2021–present)
Former:
Trans-Am Australia (2021–2025)
TCR Australia (2021–2024)
S5000 (2021–2023)
Stadium Super Trucks (2021)
Australian Superbike Championship (1991–1994, 1996, 1998, 2006–2011, 2013, 2015)
Tasmanian Super Prix (2006–2008, 2010)
Australian GT (1982, 2007)
Full Circuit (1960–present)
Length2.411 km (1.498 mi)
Turns7
Race lap record0:48.5598 (Australia Joey Mawson, Ligier JS F3-S5000, 2022, S5000)

Symmons Plains Raceway is a 2.411 km (1.498 mi) motor racing circuit in Australia, located about 30 km (19 mi) south of Launceston, Tasmania (via the Midland Highway). Since the closure of the Longford Circuit in the 1960s it has been Tasmania's premier motor racing facility. The circuit is one of the longest serving circuits of the combined history of the Australian Touring Car Championship and the Supercars Championship. Since 2004 it has hosted the Tasmania Super 440 for Supercars Championship.

In 2004, the facility received a A$3 million upgrade which included some modifications to the layout of the track, including moving the start/finish line back to a more conventional location opposite the pits. It had previously been on a curve (which is now located just after the first corner), unusual for a road course. Symmons Plains is also known for its extremely tight hairpin bend, known as Brambles Hairpin, at the end of the old front straight.

The circuit

Symmons Plains Raceway is 2.411 km (1.498 mi) long and is very hard on brakes. The banking at the hairpin is a unique opportunity to overtake. The other overtaking opportunity is the left hander at the end of the back straight.[2]

Supercars Championship

The circuit has hosted rounds of the Australian Touring Car Championship and Supercars Championship since 1969. The circuit was left off the Supercars Championship calendar in 2000 before returning in 2004 after the upgrades were completed.

Events

Former

Lap records

From 1980 to 2021, Alfredo Costanzo held the outright race lap record by setting a time of 0:50.16 seconds with Lola T430 Formula 5000. The closest anyone had come since 1980 was British driver James Winslow who set a time of 0:50.5036 seconds on 1 April 2012 while driving a Dallara F307.

Then, that outright lap record was broken in 2021 by driver Joey Mawson. Driving a Ligier JS F3-S5000, the Australian driver set a time of 0:49.7242 seconds. In 2022, the record was improved again by himself, by setting a time of 0:48.5598 seconds.[3]

The 'Tassie Tin Tops' category included below is a combined closed car category not built to any specific set of regulations, it usually runs at major national meetings bringing together a collection of vehicles that usually compete in specific categories at Tasmanian State Championship race meetings, it usually includes Sports Sedans, Improved Production and Sports GT category vehicles.

As of May 2026, the fastest official race lap records at Symmons Plains Raceway are listed as:[4]

CategoryTimeDriverCarDate
Permanent Circuit (1960–present): 2.412 km (1.499 mi)
S50000:48.5598[3]Australia Joey MawsonLigier JS F3-S500012 February 2022
Formula 50000:50.16Australia Alfredo CostanzoLola T43023 March 1980
Sports Sedans0:50.1985Australia Bradley SherriffNissan Skyline R3423 March 2025
Formula 30:50.3278[5]Australia Tim MacrowDallara F3076 April 2013
Supercars Championship0:51.2276[6]Australia Mark WinterbottomHolden ZB Commodore7 April 2019
Tassie Tin Tops0:51.9152[7]Australia Bradley SherriffNissan Skyline R3422 May 2026
Porsche Carrera Cup0:52.1160Australia Clay OsbornePorsche 911 (991 II) GT3 Cup18 August 2024
GT30:52.5247[8]Australia Bryce WashingtonLamborghini Gallardo2 September 2007
Super2 Series0:52.7091[9]New Zealand Chris PitherHolden VF Commodore8 April 2018
Superbike0:53.387[10]Australia Josh WatersSuzuki GSX-R100013 November 2011
Trans-Am Australia0:53.9755[11]Australia Kyle GurtonFord Mustang12 February 2022
Sports GT0:53.9882Australia Tony WarrenMitsubishi Evo7 April 2019
Australian Formula 20:54.73Australia Jon CrookeCheetah Mk89 March 1986
Touring Car Masters0:55.1795[12]Australia Steven JohnsonFord Mustang Trans-Am10 May 2025
Formula Ford0:55.3004[13]New Zealand Richie StanawayMygale SJ0931 May 2009
N-GT0:55.3797Australia John BoweFerrari 360 N-GT27 April 2003
Supersport0:55.493[10]Australia Jason O'HalloranYamaha YZF-R610 September 2006
TCR Touring Car0:55.7811[14]Australia Jay HansonAudi RS 3 LMS TCR (2021)12 February 2022
Formula 40:55.8236[15]Australia Cameron ShieldsMygale M14-F48 April 2018
Group A0:55.97New Zealand Jim RichardsNissan Skyline R32 GT-R10 March 1991
Improved Production Cars0:57.0638Australia Jason HouseBMW M3 (E92)18 May 2024
Super Touring0:58.2963[16]Australia Geoff BrabhamBMW 318i7 May 1995
Group C (Australia)0:58.51Australia Peter BrockHolden VH Commodore SS11 March 1984
Aussie Racing Cars1:00.2149[17]Australia Kody GarlandFord Mustang (S197)10 May 2025
V8 Superute Series1:00.2529[18]Australia Adam MarjoramIsuzu D-MAX10 May 2025
125cc Grand Prix1:00.681[10]Australia Blake Leigh-SmithAprilia RSW 1254 April 2009
Group Nc1:01.5586Australia Leon BellHolden HQ Monaro10 November 2013
V8 Ute Racing Series1:01.7761Australia Ryan HansfordFord FG Falcon Ute3 April 2016
Moto31:02.716[10]Australia Tom BramichHonda NSF250R6 September 2015
Improved Production - U2L1:02.601Australia Kyle SmithDatsun 120022 June 2025
Group Nb1:07.7233Australia Phillip ShepherdEH Holden25 October 2020
Supersport 3001:07.550[10]Australia Isaac SimmondsKTM RC 39021 April 2024
Excel Cup1:09.9997Australia Jackson ShawHyundai Excel18 May 2024
HQ Holden1:11.6103Australia Phil AshlinHQ Holden25 October 2020
Boost Mobile Super Trucks1:12.2884Australia Paul MorrisStadium Super Truck18 April 2021
250cc Production1:13.693[10]Australia Lachlan KeoghKawasaki Ninja 250R5 September 2015

Notes

References

  1. Terry Walker, Fast Tracks, 1995, p. 156
  2. "Falken Tasmania Challenge". v8supercars.com.au. n.d. Archived from the original on 20 February 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  3. "S5000 Series 2022 John McCormack Cup Statistics". 12 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  4. Natsoft Race Results
  5. "2013 Australian Formula 3 Symmons Plains (Race 1)". 6 April 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  6. "2019 Supercars Symmons Plains Race 2 Statistics". 7 April 2019. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  7. "2026 Tyrepower Tasmania Super 440 - Symmons Plains International Raceway - Duggan Family Hotels Tassie Tin Tops (Inv) - Race 1 - Final Result". 22 May 2026. Archived from the original on 1 June 2026. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  8. "Australian GT Symmons Plains 2007". 2 September 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  9. "2018 Super2 Tyrepower Tasmania SuperSprint (2 1)". 8 April 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  10. "Symmons Plains Raceway Motorcycle Lap Records" (PDF). Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  11. "2022 Trans-Am Australia AWC Race Tasmania Race 1 Results". 12 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  12. "Snowy River Caravans Tasmania Super 440 - Symmons Plains International Raceway - 2025 Touring Car Masters Series - Race 1". 10 May 2025. Archived from the original on 10 May 2025. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
  13. "Australian Formula Ford Lap Records". n.d. Archived from the original on 3 December 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  14. "2022 TCR Australia AWC Race Tasmania Race 1 Results". 12 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  15. "2018 Australian Formula 4 Symmons Plains (Race 2)". 8 April 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  16. "ASTC 1995 » Symmons Plains Raceway Round 6 Results". Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  17. "Snowy River Caravans Tasmania Super 440 - Symmons Plains International Raceway - 2025 Battery World Aussie Racing Cars Super Series - Race 1". 10 May 2025. Archived from the original on 10 May 2025. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
  18. "Snowy River Caravans Tasmania Super 440 - Symmons Plains International Raceway - 2025 Tyrepower V8 SuperUte Series - Race 2". 10 May 2025. Archived from the original on 10 May 2025. Retrieved 10 May 2025.