Barbagallo Raceway – Western Australia Supercars and WASCC Guide
Originally published June 2016. Last updated September 2026: expanded Tier B circuit guide, facts table, table of contents, internal links, FAQ schema, and editorial refresh while preserving legacy narrative and images.
Barbagallo Raceway at Wanneroo, north of Perth, is Western Australia’s primary permanent race track and the traditional home of touring-car championship rounds in the state. Opened in 1969 as Wanneroo Park, the circuit hosted sports cars, motorcycles, and — once — a non-championship Australian Grand Prix before becoming a Supercars staple named for businessman and racer Alf Barbagallo.
The venue matters because it carried national championship racing to the Indian Ocean coast: Allan Moffat and Peter Brock opened the ATCC era in WA, Peter Brock later dominated round wins, and Craig Lowndes built a record run of Perth victories that still defines the track’s modern folklore.
Compare Australian national venues with Mount Panorama Bathurst, Surfers Paradise Street Circuit, and The Bend Motorsport Park.
Contents
Barbagallo Raceway facts
| Location | Neerabup / Wanneroo, Western Australia (about 50 km north of Perth) |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Wanneroo Park, Wanneroo Raceway (pre-1992) |
| Circuit type | Permanent road course |
| Opened | 1969 (first event March 1969 — Six Hour Le Mans) |
| Length | 2.415 km full course; 1.7 km short loop since 1992 extension |
| Turns | 7 on the full layout (two long straights, simple and fast) |
| Direction | Clockwise |
| Main events | Historic ATCC / V8 Supercars / Repco Supercars rounds; Australian GT; club racing via WASCC |
| Operator | Western Australia Sporting Car Club (WASCC) |
| Listed touring-car qualifying record | 54.9898 s — Jamie Whincup (2011) |
Lap record note: Open-wheel, GT, and touring-car sessions use different tyres and regulations. Compare times only within the same category and layout.
Barbagallo Raceway — full and short circuit layouts
Racing circuit with a simple and fast layout
From the first days, the 2.415-km Wanneroo track used a simple layout with seven turns and two long straights. The surface was upgraded once, in 1992, when a short 1.7-km circuit was built by linking Turn 5 to the back straight. Alf Barbagallo funded the work, and the venue was officially renamed Barbagallo Raceway.
After the Six Hour Le Mans race was held for the last time in 1972, production-car racing dominated the 1970s. In March 1979, the Australian Grand Prix visited Wanneroo for the first and only time.
Barbagallo Raceway entrance — home of WASCC activities
One and only Australian Grand Prix at Wanneroo in 1979
The 1979 Australian Grand Prix was the opening round of the Australian Drivers’ Championship, open to cars under Australian Formula 1 rules mixing Formula 5000 and Formula Pacific machinery. Eighteen drivers started. Larry Perkins — later a six-time Bathurst winner — retired after a first-lap accident. Johnny Walker won in a Chevrolet-powered Lola T332 F5000.
Alfredo Costanzo set the best qualifying lap at 52.11 s. The fastest race lap was 54.92 s. After a full resurfacing in 2004, Gary West set the listed outright in-race record of 52.26 s in a Lola T88/50 Buick in 2005.
The touring-car lap record was 55.944 s, set by Jason Bright in a Holden VY Commodore in June 2004. Jamie Whincup’s 54.9898 s qualifying lap from 2011 remains the listed Supercars benchmark.
Detail from the program cover for the first ATCC race at Wanneroo Park in 1973
Touring cars came to Western Australia in 1973
Touring cars first visited Wanneroo in 1973 — the first ATCC event ever held in Western Australia. Allan Moffat won in a Ford XY Falcon ahead of Peter Brock. The championship skipped Wanneroo from 1974 to 1977, then returned in 1978 as a regular ATCC, Shell Championship Series, and V8 Supercars stop.
The round left the calendar in 2010 while the state government funded upgrades to the track and facilities. Supercars later returned for Perth SuperSprint events through the 2010s; confirm the current Repco Supercars calendar before booking travel.
Peter Brock was the Wanneroo touring car king
When the ATCC returned in 1978, the Holden Dealer Team scored a 1-2-3 with Peter Brock beating John Harvey and Wayne Negus. Brock went on to five overall round victories at Barbagallo through 1997 — a tally built from varying heat formats rather than a simple count of individual race wins.
Other winners included Allan Grice, Jim Richards, Glenn Seton, Dick Johnson, John Bowe, Mark Skaife, and Alan Jones. In 1997 Brock took the round despite not winning any of the three races; Larry Perkins, John Bowe, and Greg Murphy won the heats while Brock collected the most points.
Craig Lowndes built the modern win record at Barbagallo Raceway
Craig Lowndes is an absolute master of Barbagallo Raceway
Craig Lowndes holds the outright victory record at Wanneroo. He first won in 1996, taking all three races in his first championship title year. After racing overseas in 1997, he returned in 1998 and scored nine consecutive Barbagallo wins from 1998 to 2000 — a streak unmatched at any Australian circuit.
Paul Radisich ended the run in 2001 by winning all three races. Lowndes added victories in 2009, 2013, 2014, and 2015 (round win without a race victory), then won the opening race of the 2016 Perth SuperSprint to push his Wanneroo tally to sixteen race wins.
Karl Reindler and Steve Owen crash — 2011 Perth Challenge
Fiery crash at 2011 V8 Supercars race
The 2011 Perth Challenge produced one of the most remembered incidents in Supercars history. In the second of three races, Karl Reindler’s Holden stalled from 13th on the grid and was hit by Steve Owen’s car from 25th. The impact ruptured Reindler’s fuel tank and both cars caught fire. Reindler suffered superficial burns and smoke inhalation; Owen escaped serious injury.
F1 guests at 2010 Australian Festival of Speed
Formula One machinery visited Barbagallo in 2010 during the inaugural Australian Festival of Speed — a demonstration rather than a championship round. Red Bull Racing and Mark Webber appeared for the one-off festival.
Beyond Supercars, the circuit has hosted Australian GT, V8 Utes, and year-round WASCC club events on both the full and short layouts.
Visiting Barbagallo Raceway
Race meetings, track days, and driving experiences are booked through WASCC. Major Supercars weekends draw Perth-region crowds; accommodation ranges from coastal suburbs to Perth CBD hotels.
Frequently asked questions about Barbagallo Raceway
Where is Barbagallo Raceway?
Barbagallo Raceway sits at Wattle Ave East, Neerabup, WA 6031, about 50 km north of Perth in Western Australia. It is operated by the Western Australia Sporting Car Club (WASCC).
What was Barbagallo Raceway called before?
The circuit opened in 1969 as Wanneroo Park (also Wanneroo Raceway). It was renamed Barbagallo Raceway in 1992 after Alf Barbagallo funded a short-circuit extension.
How long is Barbagallo Raceway?
The full course measures 2.415 km with seven turns. A 1.7 km short loop has linked Turn 5 to the back straight since the 1992 upgrade.
Did Formula 1 race at Barbagallo?
No Formula One world championship race has been held at Barbagallo. Formula One teams appeared for the 2010 Australian Festival of Speed demonstration, and the 1979 Australian Grand Prix (Australian Drivers’ Championship round) used Formula 5000 and Formula Pacific cars.
Who won the 1979 Australian Grand Prix at Wanneroo?
Johnny Walker won in a Chevrolet-powered Lola T332 Formula 5000 car. Larry Perkins retired after a first-lap accident in the opening round of the 1979 Australian Drivers’ Championship.
Who has the most wins at Barbagallo Raceway?
Craig Lowndes holds the record for Supercars/ATCC race wins at Wanneroo, including a run of nine consecutive victories from 1998 to 2000. Peter Brock leads the tally of overall championship round wins at the circuit.
When did touring cars first race at Wanneroo?
The 1973 ATCC round was the first Australian Touring Car Championship event in Western Australia. Allan Moffat won in a Ford XY Falcon ahead of Peter Brock.
What happened in the 2011 Perth Supercars crash?
Karl Reindler’s Holden stalled at the start and was hit by Steve Owen’s car. Fuel ignited and both vehicles burned; Reindler suffered superficial burns and smoke inhalation while Owen escaped serious injury.
Does Supercars still race at Barbagallo?
Barbagallo was a long-time ATCC/V8 Supercars venue, with Perth SuperSprint rounds through the 2010s. Calendar status changes — check the current Repco Supercars Championship schedule and WASCC before booking travel.
How do you visit Barbagallo Raceway?
Buy tickets for race meetings, track days, or experiences through wascc.com.au. Major championship weekends use both the full and short layouts depending on the category.
Western Australia’s national racing hub
Barbagallo began as scrubland north of Perth and became the stage for Brock-era Holden battles, Lowndes dominance, and one unforgettable 2011 fireball. The layout is short and fast, but the history is anything but simple.
Related reading
- Mount Panorama Bathurst — Australia’s mountain marathon
- Surfers Paradise Street Circuit — Gold Coast Supercars
- The Bend Motorsport Park — South Australia’s modern complex
- Sandown Raceway — Melbourne endurance heritage
Address: Barbagallo Raceway, Wattle Ave East, Neerabup, WA 6031, Australia
Phone: (08) 9306 8022
Official website: wascc.com.au
