Motorsports Tasmania harbours ambitions to extend the track layout, having purchased land beyond the Turn 4 hairpin. This will leave the layout unaltered but see the circuit's remaining tyre walls replaced with concrete or more permanent barriers and the installation of protective fencing in front of spectator areas between Turns 2 and 3 and the final 200m before the Turn 4 hairpin. In 2009, the future of the circuit was secured when it was sold by the Youl family to the Motorsports Tasmania consortium, which had operated the circuit since 2000 and also owns the State's other permanent circuit, Baskerville.Ī new deal to keep the Supercars at Symmons Plains until 2019 was signed in 2014, with a $2 million investment in circuit safety upgrades pledged by the Tasmanian Government. The efforts were rewarded when the circuit regained its V8 Supercar slot from 2004, with 60,000 fans turning out to watch Russell Ingall take victory. A new section of track was added after turn two, for use by motorcycle racers, to provide a safer run on to the straight to the hairpin and general resurfacing took place around the lap.
#V8 supercars racing room introduced upgrade#
In 2004, a $3 million upgrade was carried out, with numerous safety upgrades and the creation for the first time of permanent pit garages, complete with hospitality and conferencing facilities.
#V8 supercars racing room introduced series#
The loss of the V8 Supercars after the 1999 race was a body blow to to Tasmanian motorsport and it took investment from the State Government to bring the series back. The start/finish line was relocated to a more conventional position in front of the new pits at the same time.
In 1994, a new pit lane was built on the outside of the circuit, greatly increasing the amount of space available for teams. The basic layout of the circuit has remained unchanged over the years, but the rather primitive pits and paddock facilities have received a number of upgrades. Over this period, greats such as Alan Moffatt, Peter Brock, Colin Bond, Allan Grice, Dick Johnson, Robbie Franceivic and George Fury all tasted victory, with Brock taking five wins, a record only equalled in the modern era by Jamie Whincup. It was touring car racing however which really propelled Symmons Plains into the big league, starting in 1969 and running continuously until 1999.
In 1966 the Australian Driver's Championship paid its first visit, Greg Cusack winning in a Lotus-Climax, a feat he repeated the following year in a Repco Brabham. Symmons Plains soon became a busy circuit for the local racing scene and by the middle of the 1960s began its rise to national prominence. The long straight and tight hairpin put a premium on horsepower, braking and traction. The pit lane was also crammed into the centre of the course in a somewhat illogical spot which rather restricted space. Resembling a pork chop with and extended bone, the circuit was noted for its unusual start/finish position, located on a curve. The circuit had mild elevation changes and was noted for its flat-out blasts to and from a tight hairpin. In 1959, their father Boyce gave the go-ahead to create a circuit on land at the edge of the estate and the brothers, together with fellow Tasmanian racers Robin Bessant and John Berrenger, began pegging out a circuit in the farmland.īy 1960, the circuit was asphalted and ready for action. The Youls were a well-established Tasmanian family who became an integral part of the local motor racing scene thanks to the exploits of brothers John and Gavin who were noted racers. The circuit was built on the Youl family's land deep in sheep grazing countryside, near to Launceston and just south of the famed Longford road course.
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