Mallala Motor Sport Park is a 2.601km (01.616miles) bitumen motor racing circuit near the town of Mallala in South Australia, 55 km north of the state capital, Adelaide.
The Mallala Race Circuit, as it was originally known,[1] was established on the site of the former RAAF Base Mallala. The land was purchased from the Royal Australian Air Force at public auction in 1961 by a group of enthusiasts seeking to create a replacement for the Port Wakefield Circuit.[2] South Australia had been allocated the 1961 Australian Grand Prix on the state by state rotational system that applied at that time, but the organisers had subsequently been informed by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) that the 2.092km (01.3miles) Port Wakefield Circuit, which had hosted the 1955 Australian Grand Prix, was no longer suitable to host the event.[3]
The opening meeting for the new venue was held on 19 August 1961 with Bib Stillwell winning the main event in a Cooper Climax. The 1961 Australian Grand Prix headlined the circuits second meeting with Lex Davison winning his fourth and last AGP driving a Cooper T51 Coventry Climax FPF.[4] The original lap distance of 3.379km (02.1miles) was reduced to 2.601km (01.616miles) in late 1964[4] when Bosch Curve was moved closer to the Dunlop Curve Grandstand,[5] thus removing the north eastern leg of the circuit.[6] Mallala served as South Australia's home of motor sport throughout the sixties[4] and it hosted a round of the Australian Drivers' Championship each year from 1961 to 1971.[7] The Australian Tourist Trophy was held there in 1962 and 1968[8] and the single race Australian Touring Car Championship was staged in 1963, as were annual rounds of the same championship after it changed to a series format in 1969. In 1971 the property was bought by Keith Williams who at the time owned the Surfers Paradise International Raceway, and was constructing the new Adelaide International Raceway.[2] Mallala was closed in that year as Williams had a court ordered covenant placed on the property preventing any motor sport activities. This ensured that Adelaide International would become the new home of motor racing in SA.[2]
After the circuit's closure as a motor racing venue, Chrysler Australia, who had their manufacturing base in Adelaide, continued using the Mallala as their test track. Leading race drivers Leo and Pete Geoghegan, who were factory backed Chrysler drivers in Series Production racing, often tested vehicles such as the Chrysler Valiant Charger at the circuit. Mallala was also the test track for the Adelaide-based Elfin Sports Cars run by company founder Garrie Cooper. Elfin produced a variety of sports and Open-wheel race cars.
Following the purchase of the Mallala site by South Australia businessman and Sports Sedan racer Clem Smith in 1977, a Supreme Court decision declared the covenant unenforceable.[2] The facility was then redeveloped and was reopened for motorcycle racing in 1980 and for car racing in 1982.[4] It was now known as Mallala Motor Sport Park.[9]
The circuit was initially issued with a "B" track license, thus excluding the staging of championship level racing, and the track's biggest annual event became Historic Mallala which was held each Easter.[10] This was upgraded to an "A" track license in 1984, allowing Mallala to stage Round 5 of the 1984 Australian Formula 2 Championship on 3 June won by Keith McClelland driving a Cheetah Mk 8-VW. This was the first national championship round to be staged at the circuit since the final round of the 1971 Australian Sports Car Championship on 14 November 1971 won by John Harvey driving a McLaren M6B-Repco.
National championship motor racing continued sporadically over the next few years, but the circuit was brought back into national focus when it was chosen over Adelaide International to host a round of the Australian Touring Car Championship each year from 1989 to 1998. When that championship evolved into the Shell Championship Series in 1999, the Mallala round was replaced by the Clipsal 500, held on a shortened version of the Adelaide Street Circuit in an exclusive deal between V8 Supercars and the John Olsen led Government of South Australia. A round of the second tier V8 Supercar Development Series was held at Mallala Motor Sport Park each year from 2000 to 2006 before also moving to the Adelaide Street Circuit in 2007.
On 7 May 1989, Mallala had the honour of hosting the first ever Formula Holden race as part of the opening round of the 1989 Australian Drivers' Championship. Mark McLaughlin driving a South Australian designed and built Elfin FA891 won the opening heat of the meeting from former dual Australian Formula 2 champion Peter Glover, with television commentator turned race driver Neil Crompton finishing third.
Currently the main meetings held annually are the Mallala Historics each Easter and a round of the Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships staged shortly afterwards. Drifting now takes place on a regular basis in the form of the G1 Drift Competition and Drift Supercup which runs from turn 8 to turn 2. Supertruck Racing is no longer staged at Mallala due to the deteriorating surface of the track, the final event being in late 2009. Major meetings at Mallala are run by the Sporting Car Club of South Australia and other clubs that regularly use the circuit include the Adelaide Superkart Club, Marque Sports Car Association of SA, and the MG Car Club of SA. Since its re-opening, the Mallala circuit has also been used for private driver training courses and the South Australia Police use the circuit for driver training and assessment.
The Mallanats is an annual car show held at the circuit since 2009. The weekend includes burnout competitions and various performance car events similar to the Summernats format. The event returned once a year in 2010 and 2011, with two Mallanats events being scheduled in 2012.
The Elfin Mallala sports racing car was named after the circuit, having competed in its first race there.
Following the passing of owner Clem Smith in February 2017 the Peregrine Corporation, owners of the upcoming The Bend Motorsport Park, purchased the complex and took over the operations in May the same year.[11] Peregrine Corporation is owned by the Shahin family who also own On the Run (convenience store) in Australia.
In just its second race meeting, the Mallala Race Circuit hosted the 1961 Australian Grand Prix. The race was won by Lex Davison driving a Cooper T51 Coventry Climax FPF from Bib Stillwell, with David McKay finishing third. McKay finished first on the road, but was controversially penalised 60 seconds for an alleged jump start.
Each year from 1960 to 1968 the Australian Touring Car Championship was contested as single race, with Mallala hosting the title in 1963 on its original 3.38 km (2.1 mi) layout. From 1969 onwards the championship was contested over a number of rounds with Mallala hosting a round each year from 1969 to 1971 and from 1989 to 1998. From 1972 to 1988 all ATCC rounds in South Australia were held at the Adelaide International Raceway. In 1999 the Australian Touring Car Championship was renamed to the Shell Championship Series with all South Australian rounds from that time held at a modified (shortened) version of the Adelaide Street Circuit.
In 1989 when the ATCC returned to Mallala after an absence of 18 years, the tight and bumpy circuit received mixed reviews from the top touring car drivers. Some, such as Nissan driver Jim Richards praised the circuit stating that the racing would be closer as it did not allow the all-powerful Ford Sierra RS500's to fully utilise their speed advantage. Others such as reigning (and that years) ATCC champion Dick Johnson were openly critical of the circuit and its lack of facilities, though some cynically noted that other than Bathurst, Johnson wouldn't admit to liking any circuit located outside of his home state of Queensland. Ironically, Dick Johnson would actually win the 1989 ATCC race at Mallala rather easily, claiming pole position and sprinting away from the field to win by 29 seconds after 60 minutes of racing. To his credit circuit owner Clem Smith would use the profits made from hosting Australia's highest profile race series which would regularly draw a capacity crowd despite not always having good weather, to continually upgrade the facilities at Mallala until the championship moved to Adelaide in 1999.[12]
The following table lists the winner of the single race 1963 championship and the winners of each Australian Touring Car Championship round held at the Mallala circuit.
| Year | Driver | Car | Entrant | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appendix J Touring Cars | ||||
| 1963 |  Bob Jane | Jaguar Mark 2 | Bob Jane | |
| Group C Improved Production | ||||
| 1969 | Ian Geoghegan | Ford Mustang GTA | Mustang Team | |
| 1970 | Ian Geoghegan | Ford Mustang GTA | Geoghegan's Sporty Cars | |
| 1971 | Bob Jane | Chevrolet Camaro ZL-1 | Bob Jane Racing Team | |
| Group A | ||||
| 1989 | Dick Johnson | Ford Sierra RS500 | Shell Ultra-Hi Racing | |
| 1990 | Colin Bond | Ford Sierra RS500 | Caltex CXT Racing | |
| 1991 | Mark Skaife | Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R | Nissan Motor Sport | |
| 1992 | Mark Skaife | Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R | Winfield Team Nissan | |
| Group 3A Touring Cars | ||||
| 1993 | Glenn Seton | Ford EB Falcon | Peter Jackson Racing | |
| 1994 | Mark Skaife | Holden VP Commodore | Winfield Racing | |
| 1995 | Glenn Seton | Ford EF Falcon | Peter Jackson Racing | |
| 1996 | Craig Lowndes | Holden VR Commodore | Holden Racing Team | |
| 1997 |  Greg Murphy | Holden VS Commodore | Holden Racing Team | |
| 1998 | Russell Ingall | Holden VS Commodore | Castrol Perkins Racing | |
Mallala hosted the Australian Super Touring Championship (known as the Australian 2.0 Litre Touring Car Championship in 1993 and Australian Manufacturers' Championship in 1994) 8 times between 1993 and 2000–01.
Mallala Motor Sport Park hosted a round of the V8 Supercar Development Series each year from the inception of the series in 2000 through to 2006. Since 2007 all South Australian rounds have been held at the Adelaide Parklands Circuit.
Mallala Race Circuit hosted the South Australian round of the annual Australian Drivers' Championship each year from 1961 to 1971. Mallala Motor Sport Park has hosted rounds in numerous years since 1988.
Australian Formula 2 Championship raced at Mallala 6 times between 1971 and 1988.
| Year | Winner | Car | Team | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Henk Woelders | Elfin 600C | Bill Patterson Racing | |
| 1984 | Keith McClelland | Cheetah Mk 8 | Keith McClelland | |
| 1985 | Peter Glover | Cheetah Mk 8 | Peter Macrow | |
| 1986 | Jon Crooke | Cheetah Mk 8 | Jonathon Crooke | |
| 1987 | Mark McLaughlin | Elfin 852 | Elfin Sports Cars Pty Ltd | |
| 1988 | Rohan Onslow | Cheetah Mk 8 | RJ MacArthur Onslow |
The Australian Sports Sedan Championship raced at Mallala 6 times between 1991 and 2003.
| Year | Winner | Car | Team | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Mick Monterosso | Ford Escort Mark II Chevrolet | Mick Monterosso | |
| 1992 | Brian Smith | Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV Chevrolet | B. Smith | |
| 1998 | Tony Ricciardello | Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV Chevrolet | Basil Ricciardello | |
| 1999 | Tony Ricciardello | Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV Chevrolet | Basil Ricciardello | |
| 2000 | Kerry Baily | Nissan 300ZX Chevrolet | Kerry Baily | |
| 2003 | Tony Ricciardello | Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV Chevrolet | Basil Ricciardello |
The Australian Nations Cup Championship raced at Mallala in 2004. It would be the final ever round of the Nations Cup Championship for GT style cars.
The Australian GT Championship raced at Mallala in 2006.
As of February 2024, the fastest official race lap records at Mallala Motor Sport Park are listed as:[13] [14]
| Class | Driver | Vehicle | Time | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Circuit: 2.601 km (1964–1971, 1980–present)[15] | ||||
| Formula Holden | Paul Stokell | Reynard 90D | 1:02.57 | 7 August 1994 |
| Formula 3 | Calan Williams | Dallara F311 | 1:03.4078 | 11 June 2017 |
| Sports Sedan | Tony Ricciardello | Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV-Chevrolet | 1:05.6328 | 27 April 2014 |
| Superbikes | Daniel Falzon | Yamaha YZF-R1 | 1:05.767[16] | 06 March 2021 |
| Time Attack Pro Class | Matt Longhurst | Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 | 1:05.8612 | 18 November 2017 |
| Sports Racer |  James Winslow | West WR 1000 | 1:05.9810 | 26 April 2014 |
| Superkart | Gary Pegoraro | Anderson Maverick FPE | 1:06.3237 | 7 June 2009 |
| Supersport | Jamie Stauffer | Yamaha YZF-R6 | 1:07.424[17] | 31 August 2009 |
| GT3 | Mark Rosser | Audi R8 LMS GT3 | 1:07.6377 | 10 October 2021 |
| Group 3A | Greg Murphy | Holden VS Commodore | 1:08.1437 | 13 July 1997 |
| Nations Cup | Paul Stokell | Lamborghini Diablo GTR | 1:08.5179 | 19 September 2004 |
| Dunlop V8 Supercar | Paul Dumbrell | Holden VT Commodore | 1:08.7330 | 12 August 2001 |
| Porsche GT3 Challenge | John Goodacre | Porsche 911 (997) GT3 Cup 3.8 | 1:09.0918 | 27 April 2014 |
| Prostock | Pat Medcalf | Yamaha YZF-R1 | 1:09.231 | 31 August 2009 |
| Group A | Mark Skaife | Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 | 1:09.26 | 31 May 1992 |
| Formula 1000 | Aaron Steer | Firman F1000 | 1:09.3565 | 23 May 2015 |
| Super Touring | Brad Jones | Audi A4 Quattro | 1:10.2569 | 19 July 1998 |
| Formula Ford | Nick Percat | Van Diemen RF04 | 1:11.3624 | 17 September 2006 |
| Sidecar | Steve Abbott / Jamie Biggs | Suzuki LCR | 1:11.505 | 5 June 2005 |
| 125cc GP | Brett Simmonds | Honda RS 125 | 1:12.265 | 5 June 2005 |
| Improved Production Outright | Andy Sarandis | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8 RS | 1:12.4487 | 8 July 2023 |
| Time Attack ClubSprint |  Stanley Gong | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII MR | 1:13.9359 | 19 February 2022 |
| Improved Production Class B | Michael De Luca | Mazda RX7 | 1:15.5948 | 21 Aug 2016 |
| Formula Vee | Andrew Ford | Birrana 274 | 1:16.5879 | 12 March 2022 |
| Commodore Cup | Daniel Richert | Holden VS Commodore | 1:17.6841 | 1 July 2007 |
| Saloon Cars | Wayne King | Holden VT Commodore | 1:18.6555 | 23 May 2016 |
| Porsche 944 | Chris Lewis-Williams | Porsche 944 | 1:19.6163 | 19 August 2017 |
| Production Cars | Steve Knight | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8 | 1:19.3665 | 17 October 2007 |
| V8 Utes | Grant Johnson | Holden SS Ute | 1:21.4940 | 21 August 2005 |
| Circuit Excel | Joel Johnson | Hyundai Excel | 1:25.3746 | 10 July 2022 |
| HQ Holdens | Peter Lines | Holden HQ Kingswood | 1:26.8479 | 15 August 1999 |
| Full Circuit: 3.379 km (1961–1964) | ||||
| Bill Patterson Lex Davison | Cooper T51 Cooper T51 | 1:44.0 | 9 October 1961 | |
| David McKay | Elfin Mallala | 1:56.9 | 28 December 1962 | |
| Bob Jane | Jaguar Mark 2 4.1 | 1:57.2 | 15 April 1963 | |
