Hidden Valley Raceway – Darwin Supercars and NT Motorsport Guide
Originally published June 2017. 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.
Hidden Valley Raceway is the main permanent circuit at the Hidden Valley Motorsport Complex near Darwin in Australia’s Northern Territory — a fast, counter-clockwise track that hosts the Repco Supercars round during the dry-season winter. The Northern Territory Government opened the complex in 1986, but the venue only became a national motorsport destination after a major rebuild in 1998 replaced the original dust track with a sealed layout for cars and motorcycles.
June or July Supercars action is the biggest annual event in the Top End, drawing teams north when southern circuits run in colder months. The 2.87 km lap mixes a 1.1 km main straight with sweeping bends; drivers and engineers rate it among the fastest stops on the Supercars calendar.
Compare Hidden Valley with Barbagallo Raceway, Symmons Plains Raceway, and Townsville Street Circuit for other Australian Supercars venues.
Contents
Hidden Valley Raceway facts
| Location | Berrimah, Northern Territory, Australia (about 10 km east of Darwin) |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Hidden Valley Motorsport Complex (multi-venue site) |
| Circuit type | Permanent race circuit (counter-clockwise) |
| Complex opened | 1986 (Northern Territory Government) |
| Sealed circuit | Major upgrade completed 1998 |
| Length | 2.87 km, 14 turns |
| Signature feature | About 1.1 km main straight; fast sweeping bends |
| Main event | Repco Supercars Championship round (dry season, typically June–July) |
| Spectator viewing | Grass terraces (no permanent grandstand on the race circuit) |
Lap record note: Formula Holden, Supercars, and motorcycle categories use different tyres and downforce. Simon Wills’s outright mark and Craig Lowndes’s Supercars record are not directly comparable.
Map: Hidden Valley Raceway track layout
Small dust track became a proper motorsport circuit
This relatively large venue owned by the Northern Territory Government was opened in 1986 but had to wait until 1998 to break through to the Australian racing stage. That year the small dust track was transformed into a proper motorsport venue suitable for both car and motorcycle events.
The V8 Supercars Championship round in June or July, during the dry season, remains the biggest happening at Hidden Valley Raceway and one of the largest sporting events in the Top End.
Supercars and lap records
Hidden Valley Raceway is a 2.87 km circuit with 14 turns. The counter-clockwise layout mixes sweeping bends and the long main straight. The track is considered one of the fastest on the Supercars calendar; car and driver must be well prepared because the circuit demands respect yet rewards aggressive lap times.
The overall lap record is 1:02.9268, set by Simon Wills during a Formula Holden race in 2001. The Supercars lap record — 1:06.0258 — belongs to Craig Lowndes from 2016.
Supercars action at Hidden Valley Raceway
Motorsport complex with drag strip and club facilities
Hidden Valley Raceway is only one part of the motorsport complex. The site also includes a popular drag strip, speedway, go-kart track, quad-bike course, and mud-racing track. Facilities are modest but adequate: 30 pit garages, control towers, conference space with VIP lounge, food kiosks, bar, and sealed exhibition areas with lighting for night events.
Pitlane at Hidden Valley Raceway
Beyond Supercars, the raceway hosts national championships, cycling events, driver training, track days, and corporate activities. Local motorsport clubs also use the complex as a home base.
Part of the Hidden Valley Motorsport Complex
Getting to Darwin and accommodation
Hidden Valley Motorsport Complex lies about 10 km east of Darwin. Darwin International Airport is close to the venue with connections across Australia and limited regional flights. Accommodation in Darwin and the surrounding area ranges from budget lodges to resort hotels.
Frequently asked questions about Hidden Valley Raceway
Where is Hidden Valley Raceway?
Hidden Valley Raceway is at the Hidden Valley Motorsport Complex near Berrimah, about 10 km east of Darwin in Australia’s Northern Territory.
When did Hidden Valley Raceway open?
The motorsport complex opened in 1986. The sealed circuit used for national car and motorcycle racing was completed in a major 1998 upgrade.
How long is Hidden Valley Raceway?
The permanent circuit is 2.87 km long with 14 turns, running counter-clockwise.
What is the main event at Hidden Valley?
The Repco Supercars Championship round in the Northern Territory dry season (typically June or July) is the circuit’s flagship event.
What is the Hidden Valley lap record?
Simon Wills set the outright reference at 1:02.9268 in Formula Holden (2001). Craig Lowndes holds the Supercars record at 1:06.0258 (2016).
Is Hidden Valley a fast Supercars track?
Yes. The layout combines a 1.1 km main straight with fast sweeps and is widely regarded as one of the quickest circuits on the Supercars calendar.
What else is at Hidden Valley Motorsport Complex?
The site includes a drag strip, speedway, kart track, quad-bike course, mud-racing track, and club facilities — not only the road course.
Are there grandstands at Hidden Valley?
The race circuit has no permanent grandstand; spectators watch from grassed terraces around the lap.
Who owns Hidden Valley Raceway?
The Northern Territory Government owns the Hidden Valley Motorsport Complex.
Which Australian circuits compare with Hidden Valley?
See Barbagallo Raceway, Symmons Plains, and Townsville Street Circuit.
Related reading
- Mount Panorama Bathurst — Great Race endurance
- Barbagallo Raceway — Western Australia Supercars
- Symmons Plains Raceway — Tasmania
- The Bend Motorsport Park — South Australia
- Townsville Street Circuit — North Queensland
Address: Hidden Valley Motor Sport Complex, Hidden Valley Rd, Berrimah, NT 0828, Australia
Phone: +61 8 8947 1471
Website: nt.gov.au — Hidden Valley Motor Sports Complex
Photo credits: speedcafe.com, panoramio.com, Wikipedia contributors