Reid Park Street Circuit

Reid Park Street Circuit, also known as the Townsville Street Circuit, is a semi-permanent street circuit located in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. Opened in 2009, the circuit hosts the Townsville 500 Supercars Championship event every year.

Reid Park Street Circuit

Map of the track showing the local streets
LocationTownsville, Queensland
Time zoneGMT+10:00
Coordinates19°16′19″S 146°48′33″E / 19.27194°S 146.80917°E / -19.27194; 146.80917
FIA Grade3
Opened10 July 2009; 15 years ago (2009-07-10)
Major eventsCurrent:
Supercars Championship
Townsville 500 (2009–present)
Super2 Series (2009-2019, 2021–present)
Super3 Series (2021–present)
Porsche Sprint Challenge Australia (2024)
Aussie Racing Cars (2012, 2017, 2023–present)
Toyota 86 Racing Series (2017–2019, 2021–present)
Former:
Australian GT (2011, 2014–2017)
Australian Formula 4 (2015)
Australian Formula Ford (2010, 2012–2013)
Porsche Carrera Cup Australia (2011–2015, 2019, 2021–2023)
Aussie Tin Tops (2020–2021)
Touring Car Masters (2018, 2022)
V8 Ute Racing Series (2009–2011, 2013–2017)
SuperUtes Series (2018–2019)
Australian Mini Challenge (2009–2010)
Stadium Super Trucks (2016, 2021)
Street Circuit (2009–present)
Length2.860 km (1.777 miles)
Turns13
Race lap record1:11.9875 (Germany Christopher Mies, Audi R8 LMS GT3, 2016, GT3)

The circuit

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Main straight (Boundary Street) as pictured between events in November 2018
 
Turn 10 as pictured between events in November 2018

The Reid Park Street Circuit is reminiscent of the Albert Park Circuit's parkland setting.[1] It winds its way through Reid Park where specially constructed roads form approximately 70 percent of the circuit.[2] The circuit borders the Townsville State High School and Townsville Civic Theatre, crosses the Ross Creek multiple times and runs adjacent to Townsville railway station. The circuit's pit building, and much of the Reid Park infrastructure, is a permanent construction that can be used all year round for various events. The event also has five viewing mounds/grandstands that can seat approximately 12,000.[3]

Paul Dumbrell suggested it is a high grip circuit, while Mark Winterbottom stated that the circuit is like a standard racing circuit but in the middle of a city. Winterbottom described the first corner as almost a clone to the high speed turn eight at the Adelaide Street Circuit, noting that it also produces a great passing opportunity exiting the corner.[4][2]

In February 2019, parts of the circuit were flooded in the 2019 Townsville flood.[5]

Supercars Championship

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On 28 July 2008, the official website of V8 Supercars (the then-name of Supercars) reported that the Queensland Sports Minister, Judy Spence, said the State Government will contribute $2.5 million annually for the first five years of the event.[6] The 2009 Dunlop Townsville 400 was held from 10 to 12 July.[3] In 2014, the event was held as a 500 kilometre event with two 250 kilometre races across the weekend.

Lap records

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As of July 2024, the fastest official race lap records at Townsville Street Circuit are listed as:[7]

Class Driver Vehicle Time Date
Street Circuit (2009–present)
GT3   Christopher Mies Audi R8 LMS GT3 1:11.9875[8] 9 July 2016
Supercars Championship   Nick Percat Holden VF Commodore 1:12.9311 9 July 2017
Porsche Carrera Cup   David Wall Porsche 911 (992) GT3 Cup 1:13.6549 10 July 2022
Super2 Series   Cameron Waters Ford FG Falcon 1:13.7527 6 July 2014
Super3 Series   Cameron McLeod Nissan Altima L33 1:15.7341 9 July 2023
Townsville Tin Tops   Geoff Taunton MARC II V8 1:16.1376 18 July 2021
Formula 4   Jordan Lloyd Mygale M14-F4 1:16.7182 12 July 2015
Formula Ford   Chaz Mostert Spectrum 012 1:17.3157 11 July 2010
Touring Car Masters   Ryan Hansford Holden Torana A9X 1:20.2322 9 July 2022
Aussie Racing Cars   Cody Brewczynski Ford Mustang-Yamaha 1:23.7342 5 July 2024
V8 Ute Racing Series   Craig Dontas Holden VE SS Ute 1:26.3008 11 July 2015
Australian Mini Challenge   Chris Atkinson Mini JCW R56 1:26.3795 12 July 2009
Toyota 86 Racing Series   Matthew Hillyer Toyota GR86 1:28.8706 6 July 2024
SuperUtes Series   Cameron Crick Mitsubishi Triton 1:32.7112 6 July 2019
Stadium Super Trucks   Toby Price Stadium Super Truck 1:35.3754 10 July 2021

Notes

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References

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  1. ^ "The Need To Know for the Townsville 400". Triple M. 7 July 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Armor All Townsville 400, Queensland". v8supercars.com.au. n.d. Archived from the original on 20 February 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  3. ^ a b 2008 L&H 500 official race program, pages 68–70
  4. ^ "Townsville means level playing field". v8supercars.com.au. 28 October 2009. Archived from the original on 10 July 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
  5. ^ Herrero, Daniel (5 February 2019). "Supercars circuit flooded amid Townsville disaster". Speedcafe. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  6. ^ Briar Gunther (28 July 2008). "Townsville circuit unveiled". Official site of the Australian V8 Supercar Championship Series. Archived from the original on 20 September 2008. Retrieved 29 July 2008.
  7. ^ "Natsoft Race Results - Townsville". Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  8. ^ "Australian GT Townsville 2016". 10 July 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
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