Queensland Raceway
LocationWillowbank, Ipswich, Queensland
Coordinates27°41′25″S 152°39′9″E
Fia grade3
OwnerTony Quinn (October 2021–present)
John Tetley (2004–September 2021)
Motorsport Queensland (1999–2003)
EventsCurrent:
Supercars Championship
Ipswich Super 440 (1999–2000, 2003–2019, 2025–present)
Queensland 500 (1999–2002)
GTWC Australia (2005–2007, 2013, 2016–2017, 2022–present)
ASBK (2000–2014, 2022–present)
Opened1999
LayoutNational Circuit (1999–present)
Length3.126 km
Length1.942 mi
Turns6
Record time1:04.0661
Record driverSimon Wills
Record carReynard 94D
Record year1999
Record classFormula Holden
Layout 2Sportsman Circuit (1999–present)
Length 22.150 km
Length 21.336 mi
Turns 27
Layout 3Clubman Circuit (1999–present)
Length 32.110 km
Length 31.311 mi
Turns 37
Layout 4Sprint Circuit (1999–present)
Length 41.890 km
Length 41.174 mi
Turns 47

Queensland Raceway nicknamed "the paperclip" is a motor racing circuit located at Willowbank in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. The circuit hosted Supercars Championship until 2019, drifting as well as club level racing and ride days.

Queensland Raceway is 3.126 km (1.942 mi) long and 12 m (13 yd) wide, running clockwise. There are six corners. The circuit was designed by Tony Slattery with input from car and motorcycle racing authorities including CAMS circuit expert Professor Rod Troutbeck.

Queensland Raceway is a FIA Grade 3 circuit. However, the track uses a mixture of sanctioning bodies including Motorsport Australia, AASA and Motorcycling Australia for its events including race meetings, drifting, motorbike ride days and roll racing.

Spectator viewing at the facility is excellent with the flat layout of the circuit and spectator mounds. However the flat layout makes racing less exciting for the competitors than undulating circuits like Phillip Island. The track became infamous for its bumps, although it was resurfaced in late 2011.

Queensland Raceway is located with the bounds of the Ipswich Motorsport Precinct, which is also home to the Willowbank Raceway dragstrip, a kart track, a short dirt circuit and a junior (under-16) motorcycle speedway. The track is also located near RAAF Base Amberley and shares the base's 6-kilometre (3.7-mile) noise exclusion zone.

Layout configurations

There are four Short Circuit variations of the track in addition to the full circuit:

  • Sportsman: 2.150 km (1.336 mi)
  • Clubman: 2.110 km (1.311 mi)
  • Sprint: 1.890 km (1.174 mi)
  • Switchback: 2.500 km (1.553 mi)

The National circuit gets the most use for testing purposes and for major motorsport events. The Clubman circuit is also utilised regularly at state and club level racing. The Sprint circuit also in semi-regular use. The Sportsman circuit, originally optimised for truck racing, is now rarely used. In 2024 a new track was created, the Switchback, which incorporates a new section connecting the interior straights half way along their lengths. A variation of the Clubman circuit it turns left onto the Switchback section and completes the lap using the Crossover and turn 6 to return to the Dick Johnson Straight.

Dick Johnson Straight

Dick Johnson was honoured on 16 August 2001, when the front straight of the Queensland Raceway was officially named "Dick Johnson Straight".

Johnson, a five-time national champion and three-time Bathurst winner, proudly unveiled a piece of pit-lane wall, which now bears his name and a plaque commemorating the ceremony and Johnson's motor racing achievements. The unveiling was part of the pre-race build-up to the 2001 VIP Petfoods Queensland 500. Johnson was joined by his son Steve during the ceremony as well as a host of V8 Supercar drivers and teams during what was a serious day of testing at the circuit.

Johnson was one of the driving forces behind the development of the Queensland Raceway and made his last competitive drive in a V8 Supercar in 2000's Queensland 500 with son Steve.

Events

Current
Former

Lap records

As of August 2025, the fastest official race lap records at Queensland Raceway are listed as:[1]

ClassDriverVehicleTimeDate
National Circuit (1999–present): 3.126 km (1.942 mi)
Formula HoldenSimon WillsReynard 94D1:04.0661[2]11 July 1999
Formula 3Tim MacrowDallara F3071:04.41464 August 2013
Sports SedansJordan CarusoAudi A41:06.83236 August 2023
SuperbikesJosh WatersDucati Panigale V4 R1:07.265[3]4 May 2025
Group CNJohn-Paul DrakeWolf F1 Mistral1:07.99086 August 2022
GT3Paul LucchittiMercedes-AMG GT3 Evo1:07.3959[4]4 August 2024
SupercarsBroc FeeneyChevrolet Camaro ZL11:09.2638[5]9 August 2025
Radical Cup AustraliaMitch NeilsonRadical SR3 RSX1:09.609031 May 2025
Porsche Carrera CupHarri JonesPorsche 911 (992 I) GT3 Cup1:09.6785[6]10 August 2025
Super2 SeriesRylan GrayFord Mustang S5501:10.1494[7]9 August 2025
Formula 4Isaac McNeillMygale M14-F41:10.22384 August 2024
SupersportTom ToparisYamaha YZF-R61:10.596[8]28 April 2024
N-GTJohn BoweFerrari 360 N-GT1:11.063815 June 2003
Trans-Am AustraliaNathan HerneFord Mustang Trans-Am1:12.06713 August 2024
GT4Nathan MorcomMcLaren Artura GT41:13.1370[9]4 August 2024
Super TouringJim RichardsVolvo S401:13.8379[2][10]1 August 1999
Formula FordNick RoweMygale SJ131:13.875810 August 2014
TCR Touring CarJay HansonAudi RS 3 LMS TCR (2021)1:13.9090[11]7 August 2022
Formula Ford 1600Stewart McCollVan Diemen RF981:15.8823[2]2 July 2000
Touring Car MastersJohn BoweHolden Torana SL/R 50001:16.395130 July 2017
Production Touring CarsAaren RussellBMW M3 (F80)1:16.89036 August 2022
125cc GPJosh BrookesHonda RS125R1:16.983[12]4 June 2000
Moto3Corey TurnerHonda NSF250R1:18.084[12]16 September 2012
Aussie Racing CarsMason HarveyChevrolet Camaro1:20.188[13]27 April 2024
Supersport 300Tara MorrisonKawasaki Ninja 3001:21.261[14]4 May 2025
Toyota 86 Racing SeriesLincoln TaylorToyota 861:23.1138[15]9 August 2025
V8 Ute Racing SeriesMason BarberaFord FG Falcon Ute1:23.326529 July 2017
SuperUtesRyal HarrisMazda BT-501:30.434622 July 2018
Oceania Junior CupEthan JohnsonYamaha YZF-R151:34.438[16]28 April 2024

Future development

A huge accident on 1 May 2010 in a Mini Challenge support race to the 2010 V8 Supercar Championship Series sparked discussion about the safety of the circuit. However, circuit owner at the time, John Tetley insisted that the track was still safe. TeamVodafone driver Craig Lowndes suggested that Queensland Raceway was long overdue for upgrades including a resurfacing. Tetley stated that resurfacing would be done in late 2010,[17] although major flooding in the south-east Queensland region early in 2011, and the subsequent lack of availability of necessary equipment as devastated roads are repaired has seen that resurfacing delayed for twelve months. In October 2011 the resurfacing was commenced and completed before Christmas.[18]

During July 2016, the Ipswich council announced plans to invest $220 million upgrading Queensland Raceway. The first phase of the project is to extend the length of current circuit.[19] The proposed plans by the council were never followed through with after massive upheaval and controversy.[20] The company responsible (Ipswich Motorsport Park PTY LTD) for the redevelopment was wound up in 2017 and de-registered.

In October 2021 former owner John Tetley and Tony Quinn signed a pact under which the Quinn took the lease, management and operations of Queensland Raceway. Since this time the circuit has seen a big investment to lift its standards and facilities to where they should have been.[21]

Willowbank 300

The Willowbank 300 is held annually at Queensland Raceway as part of the Queensland Endurance Championship.

The Endurance Championship consists of the Ipswich event and the Lakeside Park 300 which is traditionally held in the latter part of the year at the historic circuit north of Brisbane. The Willowbank 300 has been a landmark event on the Queensland Raceway calendar since 2014.

Fatalities at the circuit

There have been five fatalities at the venue since it opened in 1999. Porsche Supercup driver Sean Edwards in 2013 during testing, as well as club-racer Dennis Smith at a sprint event in 2016. Two further deaths occurred when a 32-year-old driver and 41-year-old passenger were killed in August 2017.[22] In 2023, Shane Savage died at the Queensland Raceway after his car rolled.[23]

See also

References

  1. ^ Natsoft Race Results
  2. ^ "Queensland Raceway Hall of Fame Lap Records". Queensland Raceway. Archived from the original on 25 April 2007. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  3. ^ "Rnd 3 : May 2–4, 2025 - Queensland Raceway - SW-Motech Australian Superbike Championship - Race 1 - Provisional Classification". 4 May 2025. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  4. ^ "2024 Shannons SpeedSeries Round 5 Eventelec Race Queensland - Queensland Raceway Ipswich - 2024 Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia - Race 2". 4 August 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  5. ^ "2025 Supercars Queensland (Race 1)". 9 August 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  6. ^ "2025 Porsche Cup Australia Queensland (Race 3)". 10 August 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  7. ^ "2025 Super2 Queensland (Race 1)". 9 August 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  8. ^ "2024 Round 3 : April 26–28 - Queensland Raceway - Michelin Supersport Championship - Race 1 - Amended Classification". 28 April 2024. Archived from the original on 28 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  9. ^ "2024 Shannons SpeedSeries Round 5 Eventelec Race Queensland - Queensland Raceway Ipswich - 2024 Monochrome GT4 Australia Series - Race 2". 4 August 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  10. ^ "ASTC 1999 » Queensland Raceway Round 15 Results". 1 August 1999. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  11. ^ "2022 TCR Australia Queensland Raceway Race 2". Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  12. ^ "Queensland Raceway Motorcycle Lap Records". Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  13. ^ "2024 Round 2 : April 26–28 - Queensland Raceway - Battery World Aussie Racing Cars - Race 2 - Classification". 27 April 2024. Archived from the original on 27 April 2024. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  14. ^ "Rnd 3 : May 2–4, 2025 - Queensland Raceway - Race & Road Australian Supersport 300 Championship - Race 2 - Amended Classification". 4 May 2025. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  15. ^ "2025 Century Batteries Ipswich Super 440 - Queensland Raceway Ipswich - 2025 Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia GR Cup - Race 1 - Final Classification". 9 August 2025. Retrieved 9 August 2025.[dead link]
  16. ^ "2024 bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup - Queensland Raceway - Round 3: April 26–28 - Race 2 - Provisional Classification". 28 April 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  17. ^ "Circuit safe says CEO". v8supercar.com.au. 2010-05-02. Archived from the original on 5 May 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
  18. ^ "Bitumen Trucks Arrive At Queensland Raceway". www.speedcafe.com.au. 2011-09-29. Archived 27 July 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2013-06-14.
  19. ^ "$220m targeted for Queensland Raceway upgrade". motorsport.com. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  20. ^ "Queensland to sack entire scandal-plagued Ipswich council after fraud charges". the Guardian. Australian Associated Press. 2018-05-02. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  21. ^ "Quinn takes over Queensland Raceway". autoaction.com.au. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  22. ^ "Two killed in Queensland Raceway crash". motorsport.com. Archived from the original on 7 September 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  23. ^ Pengilley, Victoria (20 September 2023). "Amateur racing advocates insist powercruising is safe after death of man during Queensland race". ABC News. Retrieved 1 November 2023.