Lakeside International Raceway, Racing Circuit

Lakeside International Raceway sits on the banks of Lake Kurwongbah at Kurwongbah, around 30 kilometres north of Brisbane in Queensland. Carved out of a former dairy farm by club volunteers between 1959 and 1960, it staged its opening meeting on 19 March 1961 and quickly became the spiritual home of Queensland motorsport. In its golden era the circuit hosted the Australian Grand Prix in 1966 and 1969, rounds of the international Tasman Series, and the Australian Touring Car Championship on 29 occasions between 1964 and 1998. It also ran the Australian Drivers' Championship, Australian GT and the Australian Superbike Championship, and helped launch the careers of figures such as Dick Johnson and Mick Doohan. The compact 2.41-kilometre layout is an undulating, old-school driver's circuit whose challenging corners earned it a reputation as one of the few true drivers' tracks left in the country outside Bathurst. Declining revenues, mounting debts, a hostile local council and competition from nearby Queensland Raceway forced its closure in 2001. A community campaign by the Friends of Lakeside secured heritage listing, which prevented demolition and paved the way for its reopening in April 2008 as Lakeside Park. Operating under noise restrictions, it now serves as a club circuit and test facility while retaining its historic character.

Operated by: Moreton Bay Regional Council (operated by Lakeside Park Inc)