Newcastle Street Circuit
{{Short description|Supercar street circuit in Australia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Motorsport venue
| Name = Newcastle Street Circuit
| Nicknames =
| Location = Newcastle
| Coordinates = {{Coord|32|55|35.25|S|151|47|16.75|E|display=it}}
| image = Newcastle Street Track.svg
| image_caption = Map as used in the 2019 Supercars race
| Time = GMT+10:00
| FIA_grade = 3
| Events = Supercars Championship Newcastle 500 (2017–2019, 2023)
| Length_km = 2.641
| Length_mi = 1.640
| Opened = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2017|11|24}}
| Closed = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2023|03|12}}
| Layout1 = Street Circuit (2017–2019, 2023)
| Turns = 14
| Record_time = 1:10.6403
| Record_driver = {{flagicon|AUS}} David Reynolds
| Record_car = Holden Commodore VF
| Record_year = 2017
| Record_class = Supercars}}
The Newcastle Street Circuit was a temporary street circuit around the east end of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. The circuit hosted the Newcastle 500 round of the Supercars Championship in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2023 with the 2020, 2021 and 2022 events cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite news|url=http://www.motorsport.com/v8supercars/news/five-year-57-million-newcastle-supercars-deal-confirmed-830507/|title=Five-year, $57 million Newcastle Supercars deal confirmed|publisher=Motorsport.com|access-date=27 September 2016}} The 14-turn, {{convert|2.641|km|mi|abbr=on}} circuit takes in Newcastle Beach and the foreshore around Nobbys Beach Reserve.{{cite news|url=http://www.motorsport.com/v8supercars/news/date-and-layout-locked-in-for-newcastle-supercars-race-858925/|title=Date and layout locked in for Newcastle Supercars race|publisher=Motorsport.com|access-date=13 December 2016}} The Newcastle 500 was last held, with the council deciding not support the event and voting to remove the permanent sections of racetrack.[https://autoaction.com.au/2023/11/30/council-shifts-focus-from-newcastle-500-to-wine-country-500 Council shifts focus from Newcastle 500 to Wine Country 500] Auto Action 30 November 2023
Circuit
=Layout=
The circuit began on Wharf Road, heading southwest towards the city. It then turned left at Watt Street, crossing over the Newcastle Light Rail tracks before ascending a 1:22 hill up Watt Street, before again turning left onto Shortland Esplanade {{cvt|500|m|yd}} after turn one.[https://www.speedcafe.com/2018/04/27/supercars-cross-tram-tracks-newcastle/ Supercars to cross tram tracks in Newcastle] Speedcafe 27 April 2018 Once on Shortland Esplanade, the circuit snaked down the beachside road before reaching a 90° left turn at Zaara Street. This was followed by a 90° right turn onto Scott Street and another 90° left turn onto Parnell Place to the fastest stretch of circuit, Nobbys Road down past Fort Scratchley followed by a left-handed hairpin bend in the Camp Shortland carpark. From there a right-hand turn onto Wharf Road completed the lap.
The originally proposed layout featured a section through Pacific Park and a differently-profiled permanent course in Camp Shortland.{{cite news|url=http://www.speedcafe.com/2016/12/13/changes-newcastle-street-track-date-set/|title=Changes to Newcastle street circuit as date set|work=Speedcafe|date=13 December 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsport/supercars/supercars-newcastle-street-circuit-revealed-with-changes-to-initial-layout/news-story/113068a797abbcd5dd56bb8286f5d134|title=Supercars: Newcastle street circuit revealed with changes to initial layout|work=Fox Sports Australia|date=13 December 2016}} In 2019, the Camp Shortland hairpin bend was altered to improve overtaking. The corner apex moved to where the outside track limit point was initially situated and the corner radius was tightened, giving drivers a longer and deeper braking zone to complete passes.{{cite news|url=https://www.speedcafe.com/2019/11/15/track-tweak-to-improve-overtaking-at-newcastle-500/|title=Track tweak to improve overtaking at Newcastle 500|publisher=Speedcafe|date=15 November 2019}}
=Construction=
Works to prepare the precinct for racing began in July 2017, four months before the first event was held.{{cite news|url=https://newcastle.nsw.gov.au/getmedia/3DD90F8C-DD59-49CB-B5FF-967E3987C3BC/BN010-FINAL.PDF|title=BUILD NOTICE 010 - Civil Construction Works|publisher=City of Newcastle|accessdate=26 June 2024}} Significant civil works were undertaken in Foreshore Park to create a pit area, as well as in Camp Shortland and on Nobbys' Road to make the streets suitable for racing. Additional works were undertaken to replace local water and electrical infrastructure, with some services close to a century old.{{cite news|url=https://www.iedm.com.au/projects/newcastle-500-supercars|title=Newcastle 500 Civil & Overlay Works|publisher=iEDM|accessdate=26 June 2024}}
Two permanent roundabouts were removed to create the circuit, and were reinstalled when the track was decommissioned in 2024.{{cite news|url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/8650316/watt-street-permanent-roundabout-works-start-after-supercars/|title=Watt Street roundabout works in Supercars restoration project|publisher=Newcastle Herald|date=3 June 2024}}
=Criticism=
The circuit attracted criticism from residents within the precinct, mainly citing concerns about noise and a lack of access.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/sep/02/we-essentially-live-inside-a-racetrack-supercars-race-leaves-newcastle-residents-fuming|title='We essentially live inside a racetrack': Supercars race leaves Newcastle residents fuming|last=Zhou|first=Naaman|date=2 September 2017|publisher=The Guardian Australia|access-date=25 October 2017}} Some residents took an extremist view of the event, claiming it would encourage hoon behaviour and comparing themselves to victims of persecution.{{cite news|url=https://www.triplem.com.au/story/anti-supercar-group-slammed-over-nazi-facebook-post-58236|title=Anti-Supercar Group Slammed Over Nazi Facebook Post|publisher=Triple M Newcastle|date=19 September 2017}} In March 2017, ahead of civil works to prepare the streets for racing, residents staged a protest resulting in clashes with motorsport fans.{{cite news|url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/4444768/clashes-at-supercar-protest-in-newcastle-video/|title=Newcastle V8 Supercar race draws protests in East End|publisher=Newcastle Herald|access-date=3 March 2017}}
{{-}}
Lap records
The fastest official race lap records at Newcastle Street Circuit are listed as:[http://racing.natsoft.com.au/results/#1 Natsoft Race Results]
| class="wikitable"
! Class ! Time ! Driver ! Vehicle ! Event ! Date |
| colspan=6 | Street Circuit: 2.641 km (2017–2019, 2023) |
|---|
| Supercars – {{tooltip|Gen2|Gen2 regulation set used across all categories}}
| 1:10.6403 | {{flagicon|AUS}} David Reynolds | 26 November 2017 |
| Supercars – {{tooltip|Gen3|Gen3 regulation set used across all categories}}
| 1:12.5355 | {{nowrap|{{flagicon|NZL}} Shane van Gisbergen}} | 12 March 2023 |
| {{nowrap|Supercars – {{tooltip|Project Blueprint|Project Blueprint regulation set used across all categories}}}}
| 1:12.9790 | {{flagicon|AUS}} Brodie Kostecki | 2017 Newcastle 500 (support race) | 26 November 2017 |
| Touring Car Masters
| 1:17.9460 | {{flagicon|AUS}} Steven Johnson | 2023 Newcastle 500 (support race) | 11 March 2023 |
| Aussie Racing Cars
| 1:20.8036 | {{flagicon|AUS}} Kel Treseder | 2019 Newcastle 500 (support race) | 24 November 2019 |
| V8 Utes
| 1:24.5471 | {{flagicon|AUS}} Jeremy Gray | 2017 Newcastle 500 (support race) | 26 November 2017 |
| Toyota 86
| 1:26.1035 | {{flagicon|AUS}} Declan Fraser | 2018 Newcastle 500 (support race) | 24 November 2018 |
| SuperUtes
| 1:29.1969 | {{flagicon|NZL}} Tom Alexander | 2019 Newcastle 500 (support race) | 23 November 2019 |
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Supercars Championship circuits|state=collapsed}}
Category:Defunct motorsport venues in Australia
Category:Motorsport venues in New South Wales
Category:Motorsport in the Hunter Region
Category:Former Supercars Championship circuits