_track_map_--_with_extension.svg) National Circuit (1997–present) | |
_track_map_--_original_track.svg) Original Club Circuit (1961–present) | |
| Location | Winton,Victoria |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 36°31′6″S146°5′15″E / 36.51833°S 146.08750°E /-36.51833; 146.08750 |
| FIA Grade | 3[a] |
| Owner | Benalla Auto Club |
| Broke ground | November 1960; 65 years ago (1960-11) |
| Opened | 26 November 1961; 63 years ago (1961-11-26) |
| Major events | Current: Australian Drivers' Championship (1980, 1982–1984, 1986, 1989–1990, 1992, 1994, 1997, 1999–2004, 2009, 2011, 2024–present) Australian Formula Ford Championship (1971, 1983–1994, 1998–1999, 2002–2004, 2007, 2009–2019, 2021–present) Future: AU4 Championship (2018, 2026) Former: Supercars Championship Winton SuperSprint (1985–1986, 1988–1995, 1997–2004, 2006–2019, 2022) S5000 (2023) Trans-Am Australia (2023) TCR Australia (2019, 2023) Australian GT (1982–1985, 2011–2012, 2016–2017) |
| National Circuit (1997–present) | |
| Length | 3.000 km (1.864 mi) |
| Turns | 12 |
| Race lap record | 1:14.3058 ( John Magro,Dallara F311,2019,F3) |
| Original Club Circuit (1961–present) | |
| Length | 2.028 km (1.260 mi) |
| Turns | 10 |
| Race lap record | 0:52.9900 (Mark Larkham,Reynard 90D,1992,Formula Brabham) |
Winton Motor Raceway is a motor racing track inWinton, nearBenalla,Victoria,Australia.
The Benalla Auto Club began planning for a permanent racing track around 1958, as a replacement for their existing track at Barjarg.[1] In 1960 it was decided to build the track at Winton Recreation Reserve and the track was completed in twelve months. The circuit hosted its first race meeting on 26 November 1961.[2] The circuit was immediately popular - a March 1965 meeting featuring the Neptune touring car and the Victorian Formula Two championship drew a crowd of approximately 10,000 spectators.[1] The circuit length was extended prior to the 1997 round of the V8 Supercar championship and the upgrade included a new pit complex.
Winton Motor Raceway has a combination of long fast straights and twisty and tight bends. It is also known as "Australia's Action Track".[3]Dick Johnson once described the circuit being "like running a marathon around your clothes-line".
The original circuit (now called the Winton Club Circuit) is 2.028 km (1.260 mi) in length and comprises 10 turns. The circuit was lengthened to 3.000 km (1.864 mi) with the cars turning left prior to the esses and a series of right hand turns added before the extension rejoins the original track at the esses. The long circuit is called the Winton National Circuit.
The track was used as a round in theV8 Supercar series, hosting theWinton SuperSprint. The track was one of the more popular tracks in the series with spectators, especially those who live in the area.[citation needed] Easy access to the track and viewing areas made it very popular.[citation needed] It attracts some of the biggest crowds of any of the permanent race tracks in the series.[citation needed]
Although the circuit held various rounds of national championships such as theAustralian Drivers' Championship and theAustralian Sports Car Championship, Winton was not awarded a round of theAustralian Touring Car Championship until the start of theGroup A era in Australia in1985. The first ATCC race was won by then triple-Bathurst 1000 winnerJim Richards in hisJPS Team BMW635 CSi. That race holds its place in ATCC/V8 Supercar history as not only the first all-Group A race in Australia, but the first ATCC win byBMW and the only race in history in which there were noHoldens on the grid.
Richards holds the record for most ATCC round wins at Winton with four, having won in 1985 and1986 forBMW, while winning in1990 and1991 forNissan.
Winton has played host to 19 rounds of theAustralian Drivers' Championship since 1980.
| Year | Driver | Car | Entrant | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Formula 1 | ||||
| 1980 | Alfredo Costanzo | Lola T430 | Porsche Distributors | |
| 1982 | Alfredo Costanzo | Tiga FA81 | Porsche Cars Australia | |
| 1983 | Alfredo Costanzo | Tiga FA81 | Porsche Cars Australia | |
| Formula Mondial | ||||
| 1984 | John Bowe | Ralt RT4 | Chris Leach Racing | |
| 1986 |  Ken Smith | Ralt RT4 | Watson Motor Racing Pty Ltd | |
| Formula Holden | ||||
| 1989* | Rohan Onslow | Ralt RT20 | R.J.Macarthur Onslow | |
| 1989* | John Briggs | Ralt RT21 | John Briggs | |
| 1990 | John Briggs | Ralt RT21 | John Briggs | |
| Formula Brabham | ||||
| 1992 | Mark Larkham | Reynard 90D | Larkham Motor Sport | |
| 1994 | Paul Stokell | Reynard 90D | Birrana Racing | |
| Formula Holden | ||||
| 1997 | Jason Bargwanna | Reynard 92D | SH Racing | |
| 1999 | Simon Wills | Reynard 94D | SH Racing | |
| 2000 | Tim Leahey | Reynard 92D | Greg Murphy Racing | |
| 2001 | Paul Stokell | Reynard 94D | Birrana Racing | |
| 2002 | Will Power | Reynard 94D | Ralt Australia | |
| 2003 | Paul Trengove | Reynard 95D | CPA Australia | |
| 2004 | Rob Nguyen | Reynard 97D | Hocking Motorsport | |
| Australian Formula 3 | ||||
| 2009** | Tim Macrow Joey Foster | Dallara F307 | Scud Racing Team BRM | |
| 2011 | James Winslow | Dallara F304 | R-Tek Motorsport | |
* The 1989 Australian Drivers' Championship was contested over ten rounds at five race meetings at five different tracks. Although the races were held on the same day both Rohan Onslow and John Briggs are credited with separate round wins.
**The 2009 round saw two heats. Tim Macrow and Joey Foster each won a heat while also finished second on the other heat giving the pair equal points (35) on the day.
Winton played host to a round of theAustralian Sports Car Championship on 7 occasions between 1978 and 1985.
| Year | Driver | Car | Entrant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Ross Mathiesen | Porsche Carrera | Ross Mathiesen |
| 1979 | Ross Mathiesen | Porsche Carrera | Ross Mathiesen |
| 1980 |  Allan Moffat | Porsche 930 Turbo | Porsche Distributors |
| 1981 | John Latham | Porsche 930 Turbo | John Latham |
| 1983 | Bap Romano | KaditchaK583Cosworth | Kaditcha Factory Racing Team |
| 1984 | Bap Romano | Romano WE84 Cosworth | Bap Romano Racing |
| 1985 | Terry Hook | Lola T610 | Terry Hook |
1980, 1981, 1997, 1998 and 2003 were run for Sports Sedans. 1982–1985 were run for GT style cars.
| Year | Driver | Car | Entrant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Jim Richards | Ford XC Falcon Hardtop | Jim Richards |
| 1981 | Tony Edmondson | Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTVChevrolet | Donald Elliott |
| 1982 | Alan Jones | Porsche 935/80 | Porsche Cars Australia |
| 1983 | Tony Edmondson | Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV Chevrolet | Donald Elliott |
| 1984 | Allan Grice | Chevrolet Monza | Re-Car Racing |
| 1985 | Kevin Bartlett | De Tomaso Pantera | Paul Halstead / The Toy Shop |
| 1997 | Wayne Park | Mazda RX-7 | Wayne Park |
| 1998 | Tony Ricciardello | Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTVChevrolet | Basil Ricciardello |
| 2003 | Darren Hossack | Saab 9-3 Aero Chevrolet | Darren Hossack |
| Year | Driver | Car | Entrant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Paul Stokell | Lamborghini Diablo GTR | Team Lamborghini Australia |
| 2003 | Nathan Pretty | Holden Monaro 427C | Garry Rogers Motorsport |
| 2004 | Nathan Pretty | Holden Monaro 427C | Garry Rogers Motorsport |
Winton Raceway is one of the most prominent Superbike races on theAustralian Superbike Championship racing calendar. Winton Raceway has seen riders such asMick Doohan,Kevin Magee andMat Mladin ride regularly at the venue.
| Year | Rider | Bike |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Jamie Stauffer | Yamaha YZF-R1 |
| 2006 | Jamie Stauffer | Yamaha YZF-R1 |
Formula X-treme Motorcycle Championship
| Year | Rider | Bike |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Craig Coxhell | Honda CBR1000RR |
| 2010 | Kevin Curtain | Yamaha YZF-R1 |
Winton Raceway is one of Australia's most popular Drift circuits. It hosts Australia largest drift event Drift Attack. Drift Attack is promoted by the Victorian Drift Club and offers the largest Prize Pool in Australian Drifting and is contested by Australia's 32 best Drifters in the Pro class and 32 Drivers in the street class.
| Year | Driver | Car |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Luke Fink | S14 Silvia |
| 2010 | Josh Coote | Nissan 180SX |
As of August 2024, the official race lap records at Winton Motor Raceway are listed as:[4][5]
