Warwick Farm Raceway


Warwick Farm Raceway was a motor racing facility which was in operation from 1960 to 1973. Warwick Farm Raceway hosted numerous major events during its life such as the Australian Grand Prix and rounds of both the Australian Touring Car Championship and the Tasman Series.

History

Warwick Farm Raceway was built in 1960 on the site of the Warwick Farm Racecourse, a horse racing track with which it was to co-exist throughout its history. When a motor racing meeting was scheduled, two "crossings" had to be placed over the top of the horse racing track, and then removed after racing had finished. It became one of Australia's premier motor racing venues and gained a reputation as a "drivers' track", hosting the Australian Grand Prix and rounds of both the Tasman Series and the Australian Drivers' Championship. It also staged Australian Touring Car Championship races during its later years. The last major race at Warwick Farm was the final round of the 1973 Australian Touring Car Championship on 15 July and the final race meeting was a club day held in August 1973.
The reason for the closure was financial - the Confederation of Australian Motorsport wanted to have armco fencing installed around the circuit, and the AJC wasn't willing to spend the money to upgrade the circuit.
Warwick Farm held its first meeting in December 1960. On a wet track, Ian "Pete" Geoghegan won the opening touring car race driving a Jaguar 3.4 Litre.
When it closed as a motor racing facility in 1973, the lap record of the 3.621 km long Warwick Farm circuit was held by Australian motor racing legend Frank Gardner. Driving a Lola T300 Chevrolet Formula 5000 in the 1972 Tasman Series, Gardner set a time of 1:24.0 during the Warwick Farm 100. Gardner finished second in the race he had won in 1971, 18 seconds behind Frank Matich driving his self-designed and built Matich A50 Repco-Holden.

Australian Grand Prix

Warwick Farm Raceway hosted the Australian Grand Prix a total of four times:
YearDriverCarEntrant
1963Jack BrabhamBrabham BT4 ClimaxEcurie Vitesse
1967Jackie StewartBRM P261 V8R.H.H. Parnell
1970Frank MatichMcLaren M10B Repco-HoldenRothmans Team Matich
1971Frank MatichMatich A50 Repco-HoldenRothmans Team Matich

International 100

Warwick Farm hosted the annual International 100 from 1961 to 1973:
YearDriverCarEntrant
1961Stirling MossLotus 18 Coventry Climax FPFRRC Walker
1962Stirling MossCooper T53 Coventry Climax FPFRRC Walker Racing Team
1963
to
1973		Refer Australian Grand Prix &
Tasman Series

Australian Touring Car Championship

Warwick Farm Raceway hosted the single race Australian Touring Car Championship in 1968, and hosted rounds of the championship in 1970, 1972 and 1973.

Tasman Series

Warwick Farm Raceway hosted a round of the Tasman Series each year from 1964 to 1973.
YearRace nameDriverCarEntrant
1964Warwick Farm International Jack BrabhamBrabham BT7A Climax FPFEcurie Vitesse
1965Warwick Farm International Jim ClarkLotus 32B Climax FPFTeam Lotus
1966Warwick Farm International Jim ClarkLotus 39 Climax FPFTeam Lotus
1967Australian Grand Prix Jackie StewartBRM P261 V8R.H.H. Parnell
1968Warwick Farm International Jim ClarkLotus 49T CosworthTeam Lotus
1969Warwick Farm International Jochen RindtLotus 49BT CosworthWorld Wide Racing
1970Warwick Farm 100 Kevin BartlettMildren WaggottAlec Mildren Racing
1971Warwick Farm 100 Frank GardnerLola T192 ChevroletLola Cars Ltd
1972Rothmans 100 Frank MatichMatich A50 Repco-HoldenFrank Matich Racing Pty Ltd
1973Chesterfield 100 Steve ThompsonChevron B24 ChevroletServis Racing Team

Australian Drivers' Championship

Warwick Farm Raceway hosted a round of the Australian Drivers' Championship on 11 occasions.
Warwick Farm hosted a round of the Australian Sports Car Championship each year from 1969 to 1972.
Warwick Farm hosted a round of the Australian Manufacturers' Championship in 1971.
Warwick Farm hosted the Australian Formula Junior Championship in 1963.
Warwick Farm hosted the Australian GT Championship in 1962.
Warwick Farm was the venue for the finish of the London-Sydney Marathon. First place went to the Hillman Hunter crewed by Andrew Cowan, Colin Malkin and Brian Coyle.