The Bend Motorsport Park – Tailem Bend Circuit Guide (Layout, FAQ)
Originally published August 2018. Last updated September 2026: added labelled circuit map (Wikimedia Commons, with attribution in caption)
The Bend Motorsport Park is a FIA Grade 2 road-racing complex at Tailem Bend, South Australia — roughly 100 km southeast of Adelaide — built by the Peregrine Corporation and opened in 2018 as Australia’s newest international-standard circuit. The headline GT Circuit measures 7.77 km, making it the longest permanent track in the country and one of the longest in the world after the Nürburgring Nordschleife.
Supercars, Australian GT, Asian Le Mans Series, and Superbike events share the site with a drag strip, drift bowl, kart track, and the trackside Rydges Pit Lane Hotel. For Antipodean context compare Mount Panorama Bathurst, Surfers Paradise, or Highlands Motorsport Park in New Zealand.
Contents
The Bend Motorsport Park facts
| Location | Tailem Bend, South Australia (543 Dukes Highway) |
|---|---|
| Circuit type | Permanent road course with multiple linked layouts |
| Opened | April 2018 (first Australian GT round) |
| Owner / developer | Peregrine Corporation (Shaun and Sam Shahin) |
| GT Circuit length | 7.77 km (maximum configuration) |
| International Circuit | 4.90 km (primary Supercars layout) |
| Elevation change | About 85 m across the site |
| Homologation | FIA Grade 2; FIM Category A (road course) |
| Main events | Repco Supercars Championship (The Bend SuperSprint); Australian GT; Asian Le Mans Series; ASBK |
Lap record note: outright times depend on configuration and category. Supercars and GT3 cars set the published references on the 4.90 km International Circuit; the full GT loop is rarely used for timed shootouts because of length and tyre wear.
The Bend Motorsport Park — GT Circuit (7.77 km) — Map: Wikimedia Commons
One gate for every discipline
Earthworks began in early 2016 on farmland beside the Murray River. Peregrine — South Australia’s largest private company — wanted a destination where spectators could watch Supercars, ride karts, and stay in a pit-lane hotel without leaving the property.
The main asphalt was ready for the Australian GT Championship round in April 2018. Dragway, rallycross, and off-road precincts followed through 2018–2019, fulfilling the promise of “all motoring disciplines through one gate.”
Eight layouts on rolling Murray Plains
Designers cited inspiration from classic European tracks. The full GT Circuit strings together fast esses, a long back straight, and blind crests across 7.77 km. Shorter loops include the International Circuit (4.90 km), West Circuit (3.4 km), and East Circuit (3.9 km), plus combinations for simultaneous club racing.
Australian GT opened the circuit in April 2018
Supercars and endurance prototypes
The Repco Supercars Championship adopted The Bend SuperSprint on the International layout, giving South Australia a second headline round alongside Adelaide’s street circuit heritage. Australian GT endurance races and Asian Le Mans Series rounds brought prototype sportscars, while ASBK national superbikes validated the FIM Category A homologation.
Compared with Sandown Raceway or Barbagallo Raceway, The Bend trades urban history for greenfield runoff and hotel-backed hospitality.
Dragway, drift bowl, and Pit Lane Hotel
The quarter-mile drag strip meets ANDRA Group 1 standards for Top Fuel exhibition runs. A shared drift, kart, and rallycross arena sits inside earth banks for stadium viewing. The 4WD Adventure Park adds off-road trails and rock crawls on 80 hectares.
Rydges Pit Lane Hotel rooms overlook the circuit
One hundred hotel rooms line the pit straight, with caravan and camping bays for race weekends. That makes The Bend rare among purpose-built tracks: you can watch Saturday night racing from a balcony above the garages.
Getting to The Bend Motorsport Park
Drive 90–100 km southeast of Adelaide via the South Eastern Freeway and Dukes Highway, or follow signs to Tailem Bend. Adelaide Airport is the usual gateway; Melbourne is roughly five hours by road.
Event tickets, hotel packages, and experience drives are sold at thebend.com.au. Plan fuel and accommodation early for Supercars weekends — the Murraylands towns fill quickly.
Fast facts about The Bend Motorsport Park
- The Bend opened for racing in April 2018 on greenfield land at Tailem Bend.
- The GT Circuit is 7.77 km — Australia’s longest permanent loop.
- Supercars race the 4.90 km International Circuit each year.
- FIA Grade 2 and FIM Category A homologation cover the main layouts.
- Peregrine Corporation funded the complex as a tourism and retail anchor.
- Eight circuit configurations can be used, sometimes in parallel.
- A quarter-mile dragway, drift bowl, and kart track share the precinct.
- Rydges Pit Lane Hotel offers 100 trackside rooms.
- Asian Le Mans Series and Australian GT have both raced prototypes here.
- Nearest iconic comparison is Bathurst for length and elevation drama.
Frequently asked questions about The Bend Motorsport Park
Where is The Bend Motorsport Park?
The Bend Motorsport Park is at Tailem Bend, South Australia, on the Dukes Highway roughly 100 km southeast of Adelaide. The mailing address is 543 Dukes Highway, Tailem Bend SA 5260.
How long is The Bend race track?
The maximum GT Circuit configuration is 7.77 km — Australia’s longest permanent road course. Supercars typically race the 4.90 km International Circuit; shorter West and East loops are also available.
When did The Bend Motorsport Park open?
The circuit hosted its first major event in April 2018 with the Australian GT Championship. Construction by the Peregrine Corporation began in early 2016.
Is The Bend the longest race track in Australia?
Yes for permanent asphalt road courses: the 7.77 km GT layout exceeds any other Australian permanent circuit. Only street courses such as Bathurst’s Mount Panorama combine similar length with public-road sections.
Does Supercars race at The Bend?
Yes. The Repco Supercars Championship runs the Bend SuperSprint on the International Circuit, giving South Australia a permanent-track round alongside Adelaide’s street-race history.
What FIA grade is The Bend Motorsport Park?
The main road course holds FIA Grade 2 homologation and FIM Category A certification for motorcycles, allowing international GT, touring, and superbike events.
Can you stay at the track at The Bend?
Yes. The Rydges Pit Lane Hotel offers about 100 rooms overlooking the pit straight, plus caravan and camping areas for event weekends.
What else is at The Bend besides the road course?
The precinct includes a quarter-mile dragway, drift and kart bowl, rallycross layout, 4WD adventure park, and hospitality precinct — marketed as all disciplines through one gate.
How do I get to The Bend from Adelaide?
Drive southeast on the South Eastern Freeway and Dukes Highway for about 90–100 km to Tailem Bend. Adelaide Airport is the usual fly-in point; book accommodation early for Supercars weekends.
How does The Bend compare with Bathurst?
Mount Panorama Bathurst is a public-road hill climb steeped in endurance history. The Bend is a modern Grade 2 facility with longer maximum length, hotel-backed hospitality, and multiple layouts built for year-round tourism.
Related reading
- Mount Panorama Bathurst — Australia’s sacred endurance hill
- Surfers Paradise — Gold Coast Indy street circuit
- Sandown Raceway — Melbourne horsepower hub
- Barbagallo Raceway — Western Australia’s national venue
- Highlands Motorsport Park — Cromwell’s South Island circuit
Address: 543 Dukes Highway, Tailem Bend SA 5260, Australia · Phone: +61 8 8165 5700 · Website: thebend.com.au