Warwick Farm Raceway

Warwick Farm Raceway

The Farm
Location	Warwick Farm, New South Wales
Time zone	GMT +10
Coordinates	33°54′39″S 150°56′42″E / 33.91083°S 150.94500°E / -33.91083; 150.94500Coordinates: 33°54′39″S 150°56′42″E / 33.91083°S 150.94500°E / -33.91083; 150.94500
Owner	Australian Jockey Club
Operator	Australian Automobile Racing Company
Opened	1960
Closed	15 July 1973
Major events	Australian Grand Prix Tasman Series Australian Drivers' Championship Australian Touring Car Championship
Length	3.621 km (2.250 mi)
Turns	14
Lap record	1:24.0 (Frank Gardner, Lola T300 Chevrolet, 1972, Formula 5000)

Warwick Farm Raceway was a motor racing facility which was in operation from 1960 to 1973.^[1] Warwick Farm Raceway hosted numerous major events during its life such as the Australian Grand Prix and rounds of both the Australian Touring Car Championship and the Tasman Series.

History

Warwick Farm Raceway was built in 1960 on the site of the Warwick Farm Racecourse, a horse racing track with which it was to co-exist throughout its history. When a motor racing meeting was scheduled, two "crossings" had to be placed over the top of the horse racing track, and then removed after racing had finished.^[2] It became one of Australia's premier motor racing venues and gained a reputation as a "drivers' track", hosting the Australian Grand Prix and rounds of both the Tasman Series^[3] and the Australian Drivers' Championship. It also staged Australian Touring Car Championship races during its later years. The last major race at Warwick Farm was the final round of the 1973 Australian Touring Car Championship on 15 July and the final race meeting was a club day held in August 1973.^[3] The reason for the closure was financial - the Confederation of Australian Motorsport wanted to have armco fencing installed around the circuit, and the AJC wasn't willing to spend the money to upgrade the circuit.^[2]

Warwick Farm held its first meeting in December 1960. On a wet track, Ian "Pete" Geoghegan won the opening touring car race driving a Jaguar 3.4 Litre.

When it closed as a motor racing facility in 1973, the lap record of the 3.621 km (2.250 mi) long Warwick Farm circuit was held by Australian motor racing legend Frank Gardner. Driving a Lola T300 Chevrolet Formula 5000 in the 1972 Tasman Series, Gardner set a time of 1:24.0 during the Warwick Farm 100. Gardner finished second in the race he had won in 1971, 18 seconds behind Frank Matich driving his self-designed and built Matich A50 Repco-Holden.

Australian Grand Prix

Warwick Farm Raceway hosted the Australian Grand Prix a total of four times:

International 100

Warwick Farm hosted the annual International 100 from 1961 to 1973:

Australian Touring Car Championship

Warwick Farm Raceway hosted the single race Australian Touring Car Championship in 1968, and hosted rounds of the championship in 1970, 1972 and 1973.

Year	Driver	Car	Entrant
Group C Improved Production
1968	Ian Geoghegan	Ford Mustang GTA	The Mustang Team
1970	Jim McKeown	Porsche 911S	Jim McKeown Shell Racing Team
1972	Bob Jane	Chevrolet Camaro ZL-1	Bob Jane Racing
Group C
1973	Peter Brock	Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1	Holden Dealer Team

Tasman Series

Warwick Farm Raceway hosted a round of the Tasman Series each year from 1964 to 1973.

Year	Race name	Driver	Car	Entrant
1964	Warwick Farm International	Jack Brabham	Brabham BT7A Climax FPF	Ecurie Vitesse
1965	Warwick Farm International	Jim Clark	Lotus 32B Climax FPF	Team Lotus
1966	Warwick Farm International	Jim Clark	Lotus 39 Climax FPF	Team Lotus
1967	Australian Grand Prix	Jackie Stewart	BRM P261 V8	R.H.H. Parnell
1968	Warwick Farm International	Jim Clark	Lotus 49T Cosworth	Team Lotus
1969	Warwick Farm International	Jochen Rindt	Lotus 49BT Cosworth	World Wide Racing
1970	Warwick Farm 100	Kevin Bartlett	Mildren Waggott	Alec Mildren Racing
1971	Warwick Farm 100	Frank Gardner	Lola T192 Chevrolet	Lola Cars Ltd
1972	Rothmans 100	Frank Matich	Matich A50 Repco-Holden	Frank Matich Racing Pty Ltd
1973	Chesterfield 100	Steve Thompson	Chevron B24 Chevrolet	Servis Racing Team

Australian Drivers' Championship

Warwick Farm Raceway hosted a round of the Australian Drivers' Championship on 11 occasions.

• 1963 Australian Grand Prix – Jack Brabham – Repco Brabham BT4 Coventry Climax FPF
• 1963 Hordern Trophy – John Youl – Cooper T55 Coventry Climax FPF
• 1964 Hordern Trophy Leo Geoghegan – Lotus 32 Ford
• 1965 International 100 – Jim Clark – Lotus 32B Coventry Climax FPF
• 1965 Hordern Trophy – Bib Stillwell – Repco Brabham BT11A Coventry Climax FPF
• 1966 Hordern Trophy – Frank Gardner – Repco Brabham BT16 Coventry Climax FPF
• 1967 Hordern Trophy – Frank Gardner – Brabham BT23D Alfa Romeo
• 1968 Hordern Trophy – Kevin Bartlett – Brabham BT23D Alfa Romeo
• 1969 Hordern Trophy – Kevin Bartlett – Mildren Waggott
• 1970 Hordern Trophy – Leo Geoghegan – Lotus 59B Waggott
• 1972 Hordern Trophy – Frank Matich – Matich A50 Repco-Holden

Australian Sports Car Championship

Warwick Farm hosted a round of the Australian Sports Car Championship each year from 1969 to 1972.

• 1969 RAC Trophy – Frank Matich – Matich SR4 Repco
• 1970 RAC Trophy – Neil Allen – Elfin ME5 Chevrolet
• 1971 RAC Trophy – John Harvey – McLaren M6 Repco
• 1972 RAC Trophy – John Harvey – McLaren M6 Repco

Australian Manufacturers' Championship

Warwick Farm hosted a round of the Australian Manufacturers' Championship in 1971.

• 1971 – Castrol Trophy – Colin Bond – Holden LC Torana GTR XU-1

Australian Formula Junior Championship

Warwick Farm hosted the Australian Formula Junior Championship in 1963.

• 1963 – Leo Geoghegan – Lotus 22 Ford

Australian GT Championship

Warwick Farm hosted the Australian GT Championship in 1962.

• 1962 – Frank Matich – Jaguar D-Type

London to Sydney Marathon rally - 1968

Warwick Farm was the venue for the finish of the London-Sydney Marathon. First place went to the Hillman Hunter crewed by Andrew Cowan, Colin Malkin and Brian Coyle.^[5]

References