by Matthew Agius.
The 2006 V8 Supercar Championship Series and the 2006 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series get underway this weekend with the award-winning and most popular motor racing event in Australia – the Clipsal 500 Adelaide.
The Adelaide Parklands Circuit originally shot to fame as the Australian venue for the nation's
Formula One Grand Prix during the 1980s and early 1990s, however since the inception of the Clipsal 500 on a modified version of the former
F1 track the round has secured the V8 Supercar Event of the Year Award every year since 1999 and was also inducted into the category’s Hall of Fame in 2005.
The circuit comprises of fourteen turns, and a myriad of corner sequences – from a chicane and a series of 90 degree turns at the start, to two long straights and finally to a series of tight bends and hairpins before the finish line.
The Clipsal 500 Adelaide first joined the calendar in 1999 as the Sensational Adelaide 500. Whilst many other events in the championship have often changed their racing formats from year to year, the Clipsal 500 has always featured a single race each on Saturday and Sunday covering 250 kilometres. With South Australia’s traditional March heat posing as a major contributor to driver fatigue, and the complex circuit layout bound by close walls, racing at the circuit is often a tough challenge.
As an event, the Clipsal is Australia’s (and possibly the world’s best). By day up to eight racing categories tear up the streets, and crowds are treated to the very best of Touring Car action. By night, live bands play at the event’s after race concerts and give spectators a thrilling conclusion to a day’s events. Several sessions of V8 Supercar racing will be completed over the weekend.
