Symmons Plains Raceway, Racing Circuit

Symmons Plains is Tasmania's premier racing facility and one of Australia's oldest circuits, having operated continuously since 1960. It lies about 30km south of Launceston, built on the Youl family's sheep-grazing land just south of the famed Longford road course, after brothers John and Gavin Youl and fellow Tasmanian racers pegged out a track on the edge of the estate in 1959. Resembling a pork chop with an extended bone, the short, fast layout is defined by long flat-out blasts to and from a very tight hairpin, putting a premium on horsepower, braking and traction across its mild elevation changes. The Australian Drivers' Championship first visited in 1966, but it was touring car racing that propelled the circuit to national prominence, running continuously from 1969 to 1999 and yielding victories for greats including Allan Moffat, Peter Brock, Dick Johnson and Allan Grice; Brock's five wins were matched in the modern era only by Jamie Whincup. The basic layout has remained unchanged for decades, though the originally primitive facilities have been progressively upgraded, including a new outside pit lane and relocated start/finish line in 1994. After the loss of the V8 Supercars following the 1999 race, a $3 million state-funded upgrade in 2004 added permanent pit garages and a short new section of track for motorcycles, bringing the championship back to a 60,000-strong crowd. In 2009 the Youl family sold the venue to the Motorsports Tasmania consortium, which also operates the state's other permanent circuit at Baskerville. The annual Supercars round remains the largest sporting event in Tasmania, and the circuit also hosts Australian Superbikes and TCR Australia competition.

Operated by: Motorsport Tasmania