Port Wakefield Circuit

{{Short description|Former motor racing circuit in Port Wakefield, South Australia}}

{{For|the current motor racing circuit in New South Wales|One Raceway}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}

{{Use Australian English|date=September 2015}}

{{Motorsport venue

| Name = Port Wakefield Circuit

| Nicknames =

| Location = Phillips Street, Porth Wakefield, South Australia

| Coordinates = {{coord|34|10|59|S|138|10|55|E|display=it}}

| Image =

| Events = Australian Drivers' Championship (1957–1960)
Australian Grand Prix (1955)

| Opened = 1953

| Closed = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1961|05|14}}

| Layout1 = Full Circuit (1953–1961)

| Length_km = 2.092

| Length_mi = 1.300

| Turns = 6

| Record_time = 1:03.0

| Record_driver = {{flagicon|AUS}} Jack Brabham/Reg Hunt

| Record_car = Cooper T40/Maserati A6GCM

| Record_year = 1955

| Record_class = Formula Libre

}}

Port Wakefield Circuit was a motor racing circuit located approximately {{cvt|1|km|abbr=off}} east of the town of Port Wakefield, South Australia. It was the first purpose built motor racing facility built in Australia after World War II, and only the second in Australian history. The circuit was created out of necessity in 1953 when two years prior the South Australian state government banned motor racing on public roads. The ban stayed in place until 1985 when it was rescinded to create the Adelaide Street Circuit for use in the Australian Grand Prix which had become a round of the Formula One World Championship.{{cite book | title = Fast Tracks | last = Walker | first = Terry | publisher = Turton & Armstrong Pty Ltd Publishers | year = 1995 | isbn = 0-908031-55-6 | page = 136}}

Port Wakefield was a small circuit for its time, in an era of three to four mile circuits. The limitations created a circuit of just {{cvt|2.092|km|abbr=on}}. In 1955{{cite web |url=http://www.nsm.org.au/Whats%20On/Latest%20News/2010/February/Grand%20Prix%20Programs.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100309015008/http://www.nsm.org.au/Whats%20On/Latest%20News/2010/February/Grand%20Prix%20Programs.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 March 2010 |title=Driving Force: Australian Grand Prix Programs |date=2010-02-24 |publisher=National Sports Museum |accessdate=2010-03-09 |df=dmy-all }} the circuit played host to the Australian Grand Prix where Jack Brabham won his first AGP. Brabham's win in his Cooper T40 Bristol was the first AGP won by a rear-engined car.

When it came to be South Australia's turn to again host the AGP in 1961, the Port Wakefield Circuit was declared inadequate and the {{cvt|3.379|km|abbr=on}} Mallala Race Circuit was created. With part of Port Wakefield's facilities used to create Mallala, the circuit faded very quickly back into the scrub, though the outline of the circuit is still visible via Google Maps.

The circuit ran clockwise, and started on the Repco Straight. This was followed by a right hand kink before a sharp left turn leading into the right hand TyreSoles Hairpin, the slowest turn on the circuit. A short run south to the right hand Kallin corner led onto the longest {{cvt|0.600|km|abbr=on}} straight on the circuit, Thompson Motors Straight. Dunlop corner (turn 5), and Stonyfell (turn 6), led back onto the Repco Straight.[http://theracingline.net/racingcircuits/Australia/index.html Port Wakefield @ Motor Racing Circuit Database] Lap times for the circuit were around the 1 minute mark, with Brabham and Reg Hunt (Cooper T40 and Maserati A6GCM) sharing the fastest lap of the 1955 AGP at 1:03.0.

The last race meeting, organised by the Austin 7 Club of South Australia, was held on 14 May 1961.[https://austin7clubsa.com.au/club-info/50th-book/50th-book-contents/ 50th Book, Chapter 2 - 1958-1962 - Making progress, austin7clubsa.com.au] Retrieved 23 February 2018