Winton Motor Raceway is a motor racing track in Winton, near Benalla, Victoria, Australia.
History The Benalla Auto Club began planning for a permanent racing track around 1958, as a replacement for their existing track at Barjarg. In 1960 it was decided to build the track at Winton Recreation Reserve and the track was completed in twelve months. The circuit hosted its first race meeting on 26 November 1961.Winton celebrates 50th birthday today Retrieved from www.speedcafe.com on 27 November 2011 The circuit was immediately popular - a March 1965 meeting featuring the Neptune touring car and the Victorian Formula Two championship drew a crowd of approximately 10,000 spectators. The circuit length was extended prior to the 1997 round of the V8 Supercar championship and the upgrade included a new pit complex.
The circuit Winton Motor Raceway has a combination of long fast straights and twisty and tight bends. It is also known as "Australia's Action Track". Dick Johnson once described the circuit being "like running a marathon around your clothes-line".
The original circuit (now called the Winton Club Circuit) is in length and comprises 10 turns. The circuit was lengthened to with the cars turning left prior to the esses and a series of right hand turns added before the extension rejoins the original track at the esses. The long circuit is called the Winton National Circuit.
V8 Supercars
The track was used as a round in the V8 Supercar series, hosting the Winton SuperSprint. The track was one of the more popular tracks in the series with spectators, especially those who live in the area. Easy access to the track and viewing areas made it very popular. It attracts some of the biggest crowds of any of the permanent race tracks in the series.
Although the circuit held various rounds of national championships such as the Australian Drivers' Championship and the Australian Sports Car Championship, Winton was not awarded a round of the Australian Touring Car Championship until the start of the Group A era in Australia in 1985. The first ATCC race was won by then triple-Bathurst 1000 winner Jim Richards in his JPS Team BMW 635 CSi. That race holds its place in ATCC/V8 Supercar history as not only the first all-Group A race in Australia, but the first ATCC win by BMW and the only race in history in which there were no Holdens on the grid.
Richards holds the record for most ATCC round wins at Winton with four, having won in 1985 and 1986 for BMW, while winning in 1990 and 1991 for Nissan.
Australian Drivers' Championship Winton has played host to 19 rounds of the Australian Drivers' Championship since 1980.
Year Driver Car Entrant Australian Formula 11980 Alfredo CostanzoLola T430Porsche Distributors1982 Alfredo CostanzoTiga FA81Porsche Cars Australia1983 Alfredo CostanzoTiga FA81Porsche Cars Australia Formula Mondial1984 John BoweRalt RT4Chris Leach Racing1986 Ken SmithRalt RT4Watson Motor Racing Pty Ltd Formula Holden1989* Rohan OnslowRalt RT20R.J.Macarthur Onslow1989* John BriggsRalt RT21John Briggs1990 John BriggsRalt RT21John Briggs Formula Brabham1992 Mark LarkhamReynard 90DLarkham Motor Sport1994 Paul StokellReynard 90DBirrana Racing Formula Holden1997 Jason BargwannaReynard 92DSH Racing1999 Simon WillsReynard 94DSH Racing2000 Tim LeaheyReynard 92DGreg Murphy Racing2001 Paul StokellReynard 94DBirrana Racing2002 Will PowerReynard 94DRalt Australia2003 Paul TrengoveReynard 95DCPA Australia2004 Rob NguyenReynard 97DHocking Motorsport Australian Formula 32009** Tim Macrow Joey FosterDallara F307Scud Racing Team BRM2011 James WinslowDallara F304R-Tek Motorsport * The 1989 Australian Drivers' Championship was contested over ten rounds at five race meetings at five different tracks. Although the races were held on the same day both Rohan Onslow and John Briggs are credited with separate round wins.**The 2009 round saw two heats. Tim Macrow and Joey Foster each won a heat while also finished second on the other heat giving the pair equal points (35) on the day.
Australian Sports Car Championship Winton played host to a round of the Australian Sports Car Championship on 7 occasions between 1978 and 1985.
Year Driver Car Entrant1978 Ross MathiesenPorsche CarreraRoss Mathiesen1979 Ross MathiesenPorsche CarreraRoss Mathiesen1980 Allan MoffatPorsche 930 TurboPorsche Distributors1981 John LathamPorsche 930 TurboJohn Latham1983 Bap RomanoKaditcha K583 CosworthKaditcha Factory Racing Team1984 Bap RomanoRomano WE84 CosworthBap Romano Racing1985 Terry HookLola T610Terry Hook
Australian Sports Sedan / GT Championship 1980, 1981, 1997, 1998 and 2003 were run for Sports Sedans. 1982–1985 were run for GT style cars. Year Driver Car Entrant1980 Jim RichardsFord XC Falcon HardtopJim Richards1981 Tony EdmondsonAlfa Romeo Alfetta GTV ChevroletDonald Elliott1982 Alan JonesPorsche 935/80Porsche Cars Australia1983 Tony EdmondsonAlfa Romeo Alfetta GTV ChevroletDonald Elliott1984 Allan GriceChevrolet MonzaRe-Car Racing1985 Kevin BartlettDe Tomaso PanteraPaul Halstead / The Toy Shop1997 Wayne ParkMazda RX-7Wayne Park1998 Tony RicciardelloAlfa Romeo Alfetta GTV ChevroletBasil Ricciardello2003 Darren HossackSaab 9-3 Aero ChevroletDarren Hossack
Australian Nations Cup Championship Year Driver Car Entrant 2002 Paul Stokell Lamborghini Diablo GTR Team Lamborghini Australia 2003 Nathan Pretty Holden Monaro 427C Garry Rogers Motorsport 2004 Nathan Pretty Holden Monaro 427C Garry Rogers Motorsport
Australian Superbike Championship Winton Raceway is one of the most prominent Superbike races on the Australian Superbike Championship racing calendar. Winton Raceway has seen riders such as Mick Doohan, Kevin Magee and Mat Mladin ride regularly at the venue.
Year Rider Bike 2007 Jamie Stauffer Yamaha YZF-R1 2006 Jamie Stauffer Yamaha YZF-R1 Formula X-treme Motorcycle Championship Year Rider Bike 2009 Craig Coxhell Honda CBR1000RR 2010 Kevin Curtain Yamaha YZF-R1
Drift Attack Winton Raceway is one of Australia's most popular Drift circuits. It hosts Australia largest drift event Drift Attack. Drift Attack is promoted by the Victorian Drift Club and offers the largest Prize Pool in Australian Drifting and is contested by Australia's 32 best Drifters in the Pro class and 32 Drivers in the street class.
Year Driver Car 2009 Luke Fink S14 Silvia 2010 Josh Coote Nissan 180SX
Events
Current
May: AU4 Australian Championship, Historic Winton July: Winton Festival of Speed August: Winton 300 September: Hi-Tec Oils Super Series, TA2 Racing Muscle Car Series, Australian Formula Ford Championship, Australian Production Car Series November: David Lowe Memorial
Former
Aussie Racing Cars (2002–2004, 2008–2009, 2011, 2013, 2018, 2022) Australian Drivers' Championship (1980, 1982–1984, 1986, 1989–1990, 1992, 1994, 1997, 1999–2004, 2009, 2011, 2024–2025) Australian GT Championship (1982–1985, 2011–2012, 2016–2017) Australian GT Production Car Championship (1994, 1996–1999, 2001–2002) Australian Improved Production Nationals (1991–1992) Australian motorcycle Grand Prix (1987) Australian National Trans-Am Series (2023) Australian Nations Cup Championship (2002–2004) Australian Sports Car Championship (1978–1985) Australian Super Touring Championship (1993–1999, 2001) Australian Superbike Championship (1992, 1998–2008, 2017–2019, 2021) Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Championship (2003–2004, 2007, 2013, 2022) S5000 Australian Drivers' Championship (2023) Supercars Championship Winton SuperSprint (1985–1986, 1988–1995, 1997–2004, 2006–2019, 2022) SuperUtes Series (2018–2019, 2022) TCR Australia Touring Car Series (2019, 2023) V8 Ute Racing Series (2002–2004, 2008–2010, 2012, 2016–2017)
Lap records
As of May 2026, the official race lap records at Winton Motor Raceway are listed as:
Category Time Driver Vehicle Date National Circuit (1997–present): Formula 3 1:14.3058 John Magro Dallara F311 10 March 2019 Formula Holden 1:14.5697 Christian Murchison Reynard 95D 16 July 2000 Formula Hyper Racer 1:17.501 Hayden Crossland Hyper Racer X1 11 August 2024 S5000 1:18.1659 Joey Mawson Ligier JS F3-S5000 11 June 2023 Sports Sedan 1:18.8794 Jordan Caruso Audi A4 21 May 2022 Australian Sports Racer 1:19.000 Roger I'Anson West WR1000 June 2016 Superbike 1:19.274 Troy Herfoss Honda CBR1000RR 14 March 2021 Supercars Championship 1:19.7092 Fabian Coulthard Ford FG X Falcon 21 May 2016 Formula 4 1:20.4026 Jensen Marold Tatuus F4-T421 2 May 2026 GT3 1:20.4298 Jake Fouracre Audi R8 LMS GT3 10 June 2017 Porsche Carrera Cup 1:20.7969 Callum Hedge Porsche 911 (992 I) GT3 Cup 21 May 2022 Supersport 1:21.872 Tom Edwards Yamaha YZF-R6 14 March 2021 V8 Touring Car National Series 1:23.3446 Taz Douglas Holden VE Commodore 22 May 2016 Super2 Series 1:23.7669 Steve Owen Ford FG Falcon 5 April 2014 Nations Cup 1:23.8403 Paul Stokell Lamborghini Diablo GTR 21 September 2003 TCR Touring Car 1:24.372 Will Brown Hyundai i30 N TCR 1 September 2019 Trans-Am Australia 1:24.5162 Brett Holdsworth Chevrolet Camaro 10 June 2023 Formula Ford (Duratec) 1:24.7731 James Piszcyk Mygale SJ13 22 May 2022 Super Touring 1:25.3181 Jim Richards Volvo S40 9 August 1998 Formula Ford (Kent) 1:26.2188 Jamie Whincup Van Diemen RF01 18 August 2002 Touring Car Masters 1:28.0049 John Bowe Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 22 May 2016 Sidecar 1:29.112 Corey Turner/ Danyon Turner Suzuki LCR 13 March 2021 Supersport 300 1:30.604 Carter Thompson Yamaha YZF-R3 14 March 2021 Aussie Racing Cars 1:31.2640 Tom Hayman Mustang-Yamaha 21 May 2022 Moto3 1:32.543 Dylan Whiteside Honda NSF250R 2 October 2016 Formula Vee 1:32.6485 Blaine Grills Sabre 02 4 September 2016 GT Performance 1:32.6533 Bob Pearson Mazda RX-7 Series 8 21 September 2003 F2 Sidecar 1:33.757 Terry Goldie/ Jamie Crass LCR - Honda CBR600RR 30 April 2017 Porsche 944 1:33.9462 Cameron Beller Porsche 944 2 September 2018 SuperUtes (V8) 1:34.4853 David Sieders Mitsubishi Triton 22 May 2022 V8 Ute Racing Series 1:35.2253 Kim Jane Holden VE SS Ute 21 May 2016 Motor Events 1:38.9840 John Bermingham BMW E36 328 15 May 2021 24 Hours of Lemons 1:40.4680 John Bermingham BMW E36 328 27 April 2019 SuperUtes (Diesel) 1:42.9017 Tom Alexander Holden Colorado 20 May 2018 Original Club Circuit (1961–present): Formula Brabham 0.52.99 Mark Larkham Reynard 90D 4 April 1992 Formula Mondial 0.53.80 John Bowe Ralt RT4 12 August 1984 Formula X1 Hyper Racer 0.54.91 Dean Crooke Hyper Racer X1 10 July 2022 Formula 5000 0.55.80 Alfredo Costanzo Lola T430 October 1979 Formula 2 0.56.96 Arthur Abrahams Cheetah Mk 8 December 1988 Group A Sports Cars (Under 3-Litre) 0.57.10 Bap Romano Kaditcha K583 Cosworth 14 August 1983 Group A Sports Cars (Over 3-Litre) 0.57.40 Peter Hopwood Kaditcha Chevrolet 14 August 1983 Sports Sedan 0.58.80 Tony Edmondson Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV 12 August 1984 Group 5 0.59.00 Alan Jones Porsche 935/80 16 May 1982 Clubman 0.59.60 Grant Taylor Galloway December 1987 Group 3A Touring Car 0.59.65 Glenn Seton Ford EB Falcon 16 May 1993 Superbikes 1:00.7655 Kirk McCarthy Honda RVF750 RC45 May 1995 Super Touring 1:00.972 Geoff Brabham BMW 318is 25 August 1996 Formula Ford 1:01.18 John Blanchard Swift SC92F 5 April 1992 Group A 1:01.56 Mark Skaife Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R 5 April 1992 GT Production 1:02.3751 Peter Fitzgerald Porsche 911 RSCS 25 August 1996 Porsche 944 1:05.0137 Chris Lewis-Williams Porsche 944 4 December 2016 Formula Vee 1:07.01 Adrian Wilkinson Elfin 76 March 1996 Group 3E Series Production Cars 1:09.42 Terry Bosnjak Holden VP Commodore 16 May 1993 Truck racing 1:14.0430 Steven Zammit Kenworth T401 11 August 2024
Notes
References
External links Official raceway website Map and circuit history at RacingCircuits.info