The Bend Motorsport Park

Circuit History

The facility is the brainchild of the Shahin family-owned Peregrine Corporationwhich announced plans in 2015 with the South Australian Government to redevelop the former Mitsubishi test track at Tailem Bendone hour south-east of Adelaide. The Shahins are keen motor racing enthusiasts and it has been reported that they regularly hire Phillip Island and Hidden Valley for private track days.

The AUS $100 million project includes State and Federal Government contributions of $7.5 million each and was originally known as South Australian Motorsport Parkuntil it adopted its new name.

Final planning approval was granted in May 2015 with construction commencing in March the following year. The plans certainly did not lack in ambitioncalling for a 7.7km circuitsecond only to the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife in length. South Australian civil construction company Lucas won the contract to build the facility.

Construction progressed wellwith the work focusing on the initial groundworks and layoutbefore development of 34-garage pit lane complex began in February 2017. In an interesting twistthe four storey building incorporates luxury hotel accommodation on its upper floorswith 100 four-star rooms of varying configurationsfrom twin shareking rooms and suites. Rooms have balconies overlooking the pit lane and track but are well insulated with double glazing to provide a sanctuary away from the action when desired.

Rydges Pit Lane Hotel began taking bookings from December 2017 ahead of the official opening of the facility for its first racing events in early April 2018. Elsewhere in the pit building is a function centrewith multiple rooms which can host from 20 to 600 peoplewith premium catering services.

The track itself combines technical cornersfast flowing sections and an aggregate rise and fall of 85 metres to ensure exciting racing and an enjoyable drive. With a full total of eight configurationsit can accommodate a wide range of racing and driving activity.

The challenging 7.77km long GT Circuit is the second longest permanent race track in the world and suitable for GT and endurance racing as well as the perfect drive experience. At 4.95km longthe International Circuit is likely to form the mainstay for racing action and will be the layout used for the visit of SupercarsSuperbikes and national series events right through to state racingclub racing and private hire.

As it includes the main pit straightthe 3.41km West and West Plus configurations will be used for most short track events including club racingtestingsprintscruising events and driver/rider training.

With its ownsmaller pit buildingthe 3.93km East Circuit can be run independently from the West Circuit. This configuration is suitable for driver/rider trainingdriftingtestingclub days and private days.

In addition to these main five configurationsthe West Circuit can be further divided into North and South West Loops and a Sprint variant. These configurations are suitable for short track eventsdrive experiencestesting and private track days. The North and South West Loops can be run simultaneously.

The circuit held its first event in January 2018 - the Revolve24 Endurance Cycling Challenge - ahead of its opening motorsport eventa round of the Shannons Nationals in Aprilquickly followed by the Australian Superbikes and Asia Road Racing Championships combined event. The headline eventhoweveris the annual visit on the International Circuit of the Supercars Championship. From 2020 the event was due to become a 500km endurance roundreplacing Sandown as the traditional warm-up event for the Bathurst 1000. Howeverwith the coronavirus pandemic affecting the calendartwo sprint rounds were hosted on consecutive weekend instead.  It has remained a sprint race in 2021 and beyond.

International motorsport also returned to South Australia in 2020 with the arrival of the Asian Le Mans Series in January.

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