The Bend Motorsport Park

Shell V-Power Motorsport Park
International Circuit (2018–present)
GT Circuit (2018–present)
LocationTailem Bend, South Australia, Australia
Coordinates35°18′30″S 139°31′0″E / 35.30833°S 139.51667°E / -35.30833; 139.51667
FIA Grade2 (3 layouts)
OwnerPeregrine Corporation
Broke groundMarch 2016 (2016-03)
Opened13 January 2018 (2018-01-13)
Former namesThe Bend Motorsport Park (January 2018–August 2023)
Major eventsCurrent:
Supercars Championship
The Bend 500 (2025–present)
The Bend SuperSprint (2018–2023)
GT World Challenge Australia (2018–2019, 2021–present)
TCR Australia (2019, 2024–present)
Australian SBK
(2018–2019, 2021–present)
Former:
TCR World Tour (2025)
Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia (2023–2024)
S5000 (2019, 2023)
Asian Le Mans Series (2020)
Asia Road Racing Championship (2018–2019)
Websitewww.thebend.com.au
GT Circuit (2018–present)
Length7.770 km (4.828 mi)
Turns35
Race lap record2:38.673 ( Aidan Read, Ligier JS P217, 2020, LMP2)
International Circuit (2018–present)
Length4.950 km (3.076 mi)
Turns18
Race lap record1:40.7295 ( John Magro, Dallara F308, 2019, F3)
West Circuit (2018–present)
Length3.410 km (2.119 mi)
Turns12
Race lap record1:10.085 ( Josh Kean, Footwork FA15, 2020, F1)
East Circuit (2018–present)
Length3.930 km (2.442 mi)
Turns22
West PLUS Circuit (2018–present)
Length3.660 km (2.274 mi)
Turns17
Sprint Circuit (2018–present)
Length2.784 km (1.730 mi)
Turns11
Southwest Circuit (2018–present)
Length1.811 km (1.125 mi)
Turns7
North Circuit (2018–present)
Length1.341 km (0.833 mi)
Turns13
Karting Circuit (2018–present)
Length1.101 km (0.684 mi)
Turns16
Drag Strip (2023–present)
Length0.402 km (0.250 mi)

The Bend Motorsport Park, currently known as Shell V-Power Motorsport Park for naming rights reasons, is a 7.770 km (4.828 mi) bitumen motor racing circuit at Tailem Bend, South Australia, Australia, about 100 km (62 mi) south-east of the state capital, Adelaide.

The complex has a bitumen circuit, drag racing strip, and drift racing circuit.[1]

The race circuits are of a high international standard and licensed by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) for car racing and the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) for motorcycle racing. Along with Sydney Motorsport Park, Surfers Paradise Street Circuit and the only Grade 1 track, the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit, The Bend is one of only four race circuits in Australia with an FIA Grade 2 track licence or better[2], while it is also one of only two Australian race tracks along with the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit (which hosts the annual Australian MotoGP and Superbike World Championship (WSBK) rounds), to carry an FIM Category A track licence.

The circuit name was changed to Shell V-Power Motorsport Park in August 2023.[3]

History

In February 2015, Peregrine Corporation lodged plans with the Government of South Australia to redevelop the former Mitsubishi Motors Australia test track at Tailem Bend, South Australia which had lay dormant since Mitsubishi ceased their Australian production in 2008 with the closure of their Adelaide manufacturing plant at Tonsley and their engine plant at Lonsdale.[4] Approval was granted in May 2015[5] with construction commencing in March 2016.[6] Initially titled the South Australian Motorsport Park, by the time construction commenced, The Bend Motorsport Park name had been adopted.[7]

The address of the site was originally in Elwomple. In September 2017, before the facility opened, the boundary between Tailem Bend and Elwomple was adjusted so that The Bend Motorsport Park is officially in Tailem Bend, not Elwomple.[8][9]

The first major event was the Revolve24 Endurance Cycling Challenge on 13–14 January 2018, an ultra-distance cycling festival featuring 24-hour, 12-hour and 6-hour races.[10][11] It hosted The Bend SuperSprint, a round of the 2018 Supercars Championship, in August 2018.[12] It has a desire to hold a MotoGP Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix round.[13][14]

On 4–14 January 2019, the circuit hosted the 25th Australian Scout Jamboree.[15] From January 10–12, 2020 it hosted a round of the 2019–20 Asian Le Mans Series season as the 4 Hours of The Bend[16] and the Supercars sprint round would be replaced by a new endurance event, The Bend 500.[17] The Supercars race was later dropped from the calendar altogether, in a shortened calendar due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with circuit managing director Sam Shahin openly critical of the cancellation.[18] After multiple changes in the Supercars calendar, it was announced that the track would held a doubleheader in late September.[19]

Sam Shahin also offered up the facility for Hotel Quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic, but this was not taken up by the South Australian Government.[20]

Facilities

International Circuit

Length: 4.950 km (3.076 mi)

  • Used for majority of events including Supercars, Superbikes and national series events, through to state racing, club racing and track hire

GT Circuit

Length: 7.770 km (4.828 mi)

  • The Bend's GT Circuit is used for endurance racing, specialist racing events, private hire and test days. It is the longest motor racing circuit in Australia since the closure of the 7.242 km (4.500 mi) Longford Circuit in Tasmania in 1968.

At 7.770 km (4.828 mi) long, the 35 turn GT Circuit is the second longest permanent race track in the world behind only the famed Nürburgring Nordschleife in Germany which is 20.832 km (12.944 mi) long. It is also one of only 4 permanent race circuits in the world with an official length of at least 7.000 km (4.350 mi), the others being the 154 turn Nürburgring, the 7.220 km (4.486 mi), 23 turn Burt Brothers Motorpark (formerly known as the Utah Motorsports Campus and Miller Motorsports Park) in the USA, and the 7.004 km (4.352 mi), 20 turn Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium.

The circuit hosted a four-hour Asian Le Mans Series (ALMS) event in January 2020 called the 4 Hours of The Bend. Unfortunately it has proven to be a one off race as the planned return of the ALMS did not eventuate due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was announced that the ALMS would return in 2021–22 and 2022–23, but the global pandemic and a change in series focus to an annual series, plus cutting costs for the teams (including travel), has seen that to date (2025), the ALMS has not returned to Australia or The Bend.[21][22]

West Circuit

Length: 3.410 km (2.119 mi)

  • Used for the majority of short track events. Includes club racing, testing, sprint events, “cruising” events, driver/rider training
  • Used for 2020 OTR SuperSprint The Bend event in 2020 Supercars Championship
  • Can be used independently from the East Circuit
  • Will be used for The Bend 500 in 2026

East Circuit

Length: 3.930 km (2.442 mi)

  • Used for driver/rider training, drifting, testing, club days, private days
  • Can be used independently from the West Circuit[23]

West PLUS Circuit

Length: 3.660 km (2.274 mi)

Sprint Circuit

Length: 2.784 km (1.730 mi)

Southwest Circuit

Length: 1.811 km (1.125 mi)

North Circuit

Length: 1.341 km (0.833 mi)

Karting Circuit

Length: 1.101 km (0.684 mi)

Drag Strip

Length: 0.402 km (0.250 mi)

The drag racing strip at The Bend opened to fanfare and a capacity 20,000 crowd in October 2023. The drag strip itself is approximately 1.250 km (0.777 mi) in total length by 18.5 m (61 ft) wide, built to international standards. The Bend's drag racing strip has taken over from the older (and shorter) Adelaide International Raceway as South Australia's main drag racing venue.

Pit building and hotel

Construction commenced in February 2017 for the 300 m (980 ft) long pit building which includes hotel accommodation in the upper levels of the four-storey building. There are 34 pit garages.[24] The 100 room Rydges Pit Lane Hotel opened in 2019.[25]

Layout configurations

The Bend Motorsport Park layout configurations
  • GT Circuit (2018–present)
  • International Circuit (2018–present)
  • West Circuit (2018–present)

Events

Current
Former

Lap records

As of September 2025, the fastest official lap for the GT Circuit was set in qualifying for the 4 Hours of The Bend by British driver Ben Barnicoat who took pole position in a Dallara P217 LMP2 with a time of 2:35.698. The circuit's official lap record, set during the 4 Hours of The Bend race, is 2:38.673 by New Zealand's Aidan Read driving a Ligier JS P217 LMP2.[26][27]

As of November 2025, the fastest official race lap records at The Bend Motorsport Park are listed as:[28][29][30]

Category Driver Vehicle Time Date
GT Circuit: 7.770 km (2018–present)
LMP2 Aidan Read Ligier JS P217 2:38.673[31] 12 January 2020
LMP3 David Fumanelli Ligier JS P3 2:51.692[31] 12 January 2020
GT3 Alessandro Pier Guidi Ferrari 488 GT3 2:56.990[31] 12 January 2020
CN Mark Short Prince LSR 3:00.3237[32] 24 November 2024
Production Cars Keith Wong Honda Integra DC5 3:45.671[33] 12 January 2020
International Circuit: 4.950 km (2018–present)
Formula Three John Magro Dallara F308 1:40.7295 23 June 2019
S5000 Thomas Randle Ligier JS F3-S5000 1:41.2560[29][34] 16 November 2019
GT3 Jamie Whincup Mercedes-AMG GT3 1:45.6607[29] 13 July 2019
Superkart Jordan Ford Anderson Maverick 1:46.6960[29] 10 April 2021
Sports Sedans Jordan Caruso Audi A4-Chevrolet 1:47.0564 31 July 2022
Group CN Mark Laucke Wolf GB08 Tornado 1:47.1031 18 September 2021
Lamborghini Super Trofeo Jonathan Cecotto Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2 1:48.3219 11 June 2023
Toyota Racing Series Christopher Slusarski Tatuus FT-50 1:49.2963 10 June 2023
Supercars David Reynolds Holden ZB Commodore 1:49.4042[29][35] 24 August 2019
Formula 4 James Piszcyk Tatuus F4-T421 1:49.8767 5 May 2024
Superbike Cru Halliday Ducati Panigale V4 R 1:50.035[36] 9 November 2025
Radical Cup Cooper Cutts Radical SR3 XX 1:50.2406 8 June 2024
Porsche Carrera Cup Jordan Love Porsche 911 (991 II) GT3 Cup 1:50.7966[29][37] 25 August 2019
Ferrari Challenge Enzo Cheng Ferrari 296 Challenge 1:51.3360[38] 6 September 2025
Supersport Archie McDonald Yamaha YZF-R6 1:53.724[39] 9 November 2025
Trans-Am Australia Nathan Herne Ford Mustang Trans-Am 1:54.9677[40] 13 September 2025
GT4 Steve Jakic BMW M4 GT4 1:56.4204[41] 7 September 2025
TCR Touring Car Mikel Azcona Hyundai Elantra N TCR 1:56.4810[42] 13 September 2025
Formula Ford Angelo Mouzouris Mygale SJ18A 1:57.5339[43] 23 June 2019
Improved Production Cars Adam Poole Holden Monaro 2:00.2456 25 May 2024
Touring Car Masters Joel Heinrich Chevrolet Camaro RS 2:00.2787[44] 24 November 2024
Sidecar F1 Corey Turner/Danyon Turner LCR-Suzuki GSXR-1000 2:04.715[45] 1 March 2025
Aussie Racing Cars Joel Heinrich Chevrolet Camaro 2:05.3605[46] 14 September 2025
Asia Production 250 Muklada Sarapuech Honda CBR250RR 2:07.170[28][47] 28 April 2019
Supersport 300 Jordan Simpson Yamaha YZF-R3 2:08.775[28][48] 10 November 2024
Sidecar F2 Jamie Crass/Lee Menzies Windle-Suzuki GSXR-600 2:09.347[49] 16 March 2024
SuperUtes David Sieders Mazda BT-50 2:10.8731 20 August 2023
Toyota 86 Racing Series Jayden Wanzek Toyota 86 2:15.3067 26 May 2024
Asia Underbone 150 Md Helmi Azman Yamaha MX King 150 2:16.894[28][50] 22 April 2018
Oceania Junior Cup Valentino Knezovic Yamaha YZF-R15 2:29.820[28][51] 3 December 2023
West Circuit: 3.410 km (2018–present)
Formula One Josh Kean Footwork FA15 1:10.085[52][53] 5 September 2020
GT3 Jaxon Evans Ferrari 296 GT3 1:14.9167 2 June 2024
Sports Sedans Thomas Randle Saab 9-3-Chevrolet 1:15.5004 2 June 2024
Supercars Shane van Gisbergen Holden ZB Commodore 1:16.2224[54] 26 September 2020
Porsche Carrera Cup Clay Osborne Porsche 911 (991 II) GT3 Cup 1:18.2243 2 June 2024
Formula 4 Noah Killion Tatuus F4-T421 1:18.3384[55] 12 July 2025
Trans-Am Australia Jordan Boys Ford Mustang Trans-Am 1:20.6785 2 June 2024
GT4 Jason Yu McLaren Artura GT4 1:21.7144 2 June 2024
TCR Touring Car Josh Buchan Hyundai Elantra N TCR 1:22.7478 2 June 2024
Production Cars Grant Sherrin BMW M4 (F82) 1:26.3355 1 June 2024
Improved Production Cars Scott Cook Nissan Silvia S13 1:26.5584 16 May 2021

Notes

References

  1. ^ Pepper, Robert (21 May 2015). "New Motorsport Park in Tailem Bend, South Australia". Practicalmotoring.com.au. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  2. ^ "LIST OF FIA LICENSED CIRCUITS UPDATED ON : 2025-12-01" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 1 December 2025. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  3. ^ Herrero, Daniel (16 August 2023). "The Bend unveiled as Shell V-Power Motorsport Park". speedcafe.com. Speedcafe. Archived from the original on 16 August 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  4. ^ Tailem Motorsport Park master plan revealed Murray Valley Standard 4 February 2015
  5. ^ Tailem Bend track redevelopment gets green light ABC News 21 Mat 2015
  6. ^ Construction underway at SA Motorsport Park Speedcafe 25 March 2016
  7. ^ The Bend Motorsport Park:Tailem Bend raceway, former SA Motorsport Park and Mitsibushi test track, has new official name Murray Valley Standard 8 March 2016
  8. ^ Grimm, Nick (26 July 2017). "Council to adjust town boundaries to make 'The Bend' an official part of Tailem Bend". The Murray Valley Standard. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
  9. ^ Burdett, Michael (19 September 2017). "Notice to Alter the Boundaries of Places" (PDF). Geographical Names Act, 1991. Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure. DPTI 2017/17699/01. Retrieved 15 February 2018. and Boundary Alteration of Tailem Bend and Elwomple (PDF) (Map). Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure. 11 September 2017. 2017_17699_01_Tailem_Bend. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
  10. ^ "From Britain to the Bend: UK's Biggest 24 Hour Cycling Challenge heads to Adelaide" (Press release). SANTOS Tour Down Under. 4 May 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  11. ^ Coch, Mat (14 January 2018). "Bend Motorsport Park hosts first event". speedcafe.com. Speedcafe. Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  12. ^ "Supercars reveals 16 event 2018 calendar". Speedcafe. 4 October 2017.
  13. ^ SA Motorsport Park targets MotoGP race Speedcafe 8 February 2016
  14. ^ "Bend Motorsport Park tipped for August 2018 slot". Speedcafe. 31 May 2017.
  15. ^ AJ2019 - A New (12 Day) Township for South Australia Scouts Australia
  16. ^ Goodwin, Graham (16 February 2019). "Asian Le Mans Series Confirms Date For 2020 Race At The Bend, South Australia". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  17. ^ Howard, Tom (28 August 2019). "Supercars drops QR, Phillip Island in revised 2020 calendar". speedcafe.com. Speedcafe. Archived from the original on 28 August 2019. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  18. ^ McAlpine, Heath (19 June 2020). "The Bend Responds to Supercars Calendar Omission". Auto Action. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  19. ^ "Doubleheader locked in at The Bend". Supercars. 31 August 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  20. ^ Aston, Joe (17 February 2021). "Hotel quarantine in rent-seeking pandemic". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  21. ^ Kilbey, Stephen (19 June 2020). "Asian Le Mans Confirms Return To The Bend". dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  22. ^ Williams, Bruce (24 July 2021). "Asian Le Mans Confirms Won't Return To The Bend In 2022". autoaction.com.au. Auto Action. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  23. ^ The Circuit South Australia Motorsport Park
  24. ^ "Adelaide's First Permanent Pit Building Starts Construction" (Press release). The Bend Motorsport Park. 2 February 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  25. ^ "Rydges Pit Lane Hotel | Accommodation in Tailem Bend | Hotel in the Bend Motorsports Park".
  26. ^ "2020 4 Hours of The Bend Qualifying Results" (PDF). dailysportscar.com. Asian Le Mans Series. 12 January 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  27. ^ "2020 4 Hours of The Bend Race Results" (PDF). dailysportscar.com. Asian Le Mans Series. 12 January 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  28. ^ a b c d e "The Bend Motorsport Park Motorcycle Lap Records". November 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
  29. ^ a b c d e f "The Bend Fastest Lap Comparison". Archived from the original on 28 February 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  30. ^ "Natsoft Race Results". Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  31. ^ a b c "2019-2020 4 Hours of The Bend - Best Laptimes per Driver" (PDF). 12 January 2020. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  32. ^ "South Australian Motor Racing Championship Event 8 & 777 Endurance - The Bend - GT Circuit - Australian Prototype Series & SA Prototype Series - Race 2". 24 November 2024. Archived from the original on 24 November 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  33. ^ "4H of The Bend - Asian Le Mans Series 2019-2020 - The Australian Prototype & Production GT Challenge - Final Results Race 2" (PDF). 12 January 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  34. ^ "2019 S5000 - The Bend Race 1 Results". 16 November 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  35. ^ "2019 Supercars Championship The Bend SuperSprint Race 1 Statistics". 24 August 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  36. ^ "Round 8: November 7–9, 2025 - The Bend Motorsport Park - SW-Motech Superbike Championship - Race 1 - Provisional Classification" (PDF). 9 November 2025. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  37. ^ "Round 6, 2019: The Bend - Race 3". 25 August 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  38. ^ "2025 Shannons SpeedSeries - GT Festival The Bend Motorsports Park - Ferrari Challenge Trofeo - Race 1 - Final Classification". 6 September 2025. Archived from the original on 6 September 2025. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  39. ^ "Round 8: November 7–9, 2025 - The Bend Motorsport Park - Kawasaki Supersport Championship - Race 1 - Provisional Classification" (PDF). 9 November 2025. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  40. ^ "2025 Airtouch 500 At The Bend - The Bend Motorsport Park - International - 2025 Trico Trans Am Series - Race 1 - Classification - Final". 13 September 2025. Archived from the original on 14 September 2025. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  41. ^ "2025 Shannons SpeedSeries - GT Festival The Bend Motorsports Park - Monochrome GT4 Australia Series - Race 2 - Final Classification" (PDF). 7 September 2025. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  42. ^ "2025 Airtouch 500 At The Bend - The Bend Motorsport Park - International - 2025 Kumho FIA TCR World Tour Australia - Race 1 - Classification - Final" (PDF). 13 September 2025. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
  43. ^ "Australia Formula Ford Lap Records". n.d. Archived from the original on 25 April 2025. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  44. ^ "South Australian Motor Racing Championship Event 8 & 777 Endurance - The Bend - GT Circuit - Touring Car Masters - Race 2". 24 November 2024. Archived from the original on 24 November 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  45. ^ "2025 South Australian (Round 1) & Victorian (Round 2) Road Racing Championships - February 28–March 2 - The Bend Motorsport Park - Australian F1 & F2 Sidecars - Race 2 - Provisional Classification" (PDF). 1 March 2025. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  46. ^ "2025 Airtouch 500 At The Bend - The Bend Motorsport Park - International - 2025 Battery World Aussie Racing Cars Super Series - Race 3 - Classification - Final". 14 September 2025. Archived from the original on 14 September 2025. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  47. ^ "Asia Road Racing Championship Round 2 - 2019 - Australia Asia Production 250 Championship - Race 2 - Provisional Classification" (PDF). 28 April 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  48. ^ "2024 Round 7: November 8–10 - The Bend Motorsports Park - Race & Road Supersport 300 Championship - Race 3 - Provisional Classification" (PDF). 10 November 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
  49. ^ "The Bend Motorsports Park - Round 1 - Horsell Australian Sidecars - Race 2 - Provisional Classification" (PDF). 16 March 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  50. ^ "2018 Asia Road Racing Championship Round 2: The Bend Motorsport Park - Australia: April 19–22 Asia Underbone 150 Championship Race 2 - Provisional Classification" (PDF). 22 April 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  51. ^ "2023 bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup - The Bend Motorsports Park - Round 7: December 1–3 - Race 3 - Provisional Classification". 3 December 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  52. ^ "The Bend Classic - Classic Open Wheel & F1 - Sprint 4". 5 September 2020. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  53. ^ "The Bend Motorsport Park's new West Circuit record is stupidly fast". 8 September 2020. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  54. ^ "2020 Supercars Championship OTR The Bend Race 1 Statistics". 26 September 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  55. ^ "2025 Australian Formula 4 The Bend 2 (Race 1)". 12 July 2025. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
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