Red marquis at 20:44, 24 October 2010

2010-10-24T20:44:07Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:44, 24 October 2010
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	\| Coordinates = {{Coord\|37\|50\|59\|S\|144\|58\|6\|E\|display=it}}		\| Coordinates = {{Coord\|37\|50\|59\|S\|144\|58\|6\|E\|display=it}}
	\| Time = GMT+10 (GMT+11 DST)		\| Time = GMT+10 (GMT+11 DST)
	\| Image =		\| Image = [[Image:Albert Lake Park Street Circuit in Melborne, Australia.png]]
	\| Image_caption = An overhead view of part of the circuit as viewed from the Eureka Tower observation deck		\| Image_caption = An overhead view of part of the circuit as viewed from the Eureka Tower observation deck
	\| Events = '''[[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile\|FIA]] [[Formula One]]'''<br>[[Australian Grand Prix]]		\| Events = '''[[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile\|FIA]] [[Formula One]]'''<br>[[Australian Grand Prix]]

Red marquis at 20:03, 24 October 2010

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	<!--Please note that only race lap times count for the official "lap record", and that Sebastian Vettel's pole position time from the 2010 Australian Grand Prix is not applicable.-->		<!--Please note that only race lap times count for the official "lap record", and that Sebastian Vettel's pole position time from the 2010 Australian Grand Prix is not applicable.-->
	\| Record_time = 1:24.125		\| Record_time = 1:24.125
	\| Record_driver = {{~~Flag icon~~\|GER}} [[Michael Schumacher]]		\| Record_driver = {{Flagicon\|GER}} [[Michael Schumacher]]
	\| Record_team = [[Scuderia Ferrari\|Ferrari]]		\| Record_team = [[Scuderia Ferrari\|Ferrari]]
	\| Record_year = 2004		\| Record_year = 2004

Red marquis at 20:02, 24 October 2010

2010-10-24T20:02:47Z

New page

{{Motorsport venue
| Name = Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit
| Location = Albert Park, Melbourne, Victoria
| Coordinates = {{Coord|37|50|59|S|144|58|6|E|display=it}}
| Time = GMT+10 (GMT+11 DST)
| Image =
| Image_caption = An overhead view of part of the circuit as viewed from the Eureka Tower observation deck
| Events = '''[[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile|FIA]] [[Formula One]]'''<br>[[Australian Grand Prix]]
| Layout1 =
| Length_km = 5.303
| Length_mi = 3.30
| Turns = 16

| Record_time = 1:24.125
| Record_driver = {{Flag icon|GER}} [[Michael Schumacher]]
| Record_team = [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]]
| Record_year = 2004
| Layout2 = Original circuit
| Length_km2 = 5.027
| Length_mi2 = 3.124
| Turns2 = 9
| Record_time2 = 1:50.0
| Record_driver2= {{Flag icon|UK}} [[Stirling Moss]]
| Record_team2 = [[Cooper Car Company|Cooper]]-[[Coventry Climax|Climax]]
| Record_year2 = 1958
| Record_class2 = [[Formula Libre]]<ref>{{Cite book| title = Fast Tracks | last = Walker | first = Terry | publisher = Turton & Armstrong Pty Ltd Publishers | year = 1995 | isbn = 0 908031 55 6 | page = 10}}</ref>
|}}
The '''Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit''' is a [[street circuit]] around Albert Park Lake, only a couple of kilometres south of central Melbourne. It is used once a year as a racetrack for the [[Australian Grand Prix]] and associated support races.

==Design==
The circuit uses everyday sections of road that circle Albert Park Lake, a small man-made lake just south of the Central Business District of Melbourne. The road sections that are used were rebuilt prior to the inaugural event in 1996 to ensure consistency and smoothness. As a result, compared to other circuits that are held on public roads, the Albert Park track has quite a smooth surface. Before 2007 there existed only a few other places on the Formula 1 calendar with a body of water close to the track. Most of the new tracks, such as Valencia, Singapore and Abu Dhabi have imitated that feature.

The course is considered to be quite fast and relatively easy to drive, with drivers having commented that the consistent placement of corners allows them to easily learn the circuit and achieve competitive times. However, the flat terrain around the lake, coupled with a track design that features few true straights, means that the track is not conducive to overtaking or easy spectating unless in possession of a grandstand seat.

Each year, most of the trackside fencing, pedestrian overpasses, grandstands and other motorsport infrastructure are erected approximately a month prior to the Grand Prix weekend and removed within 6 weeks after the event. Land around the circuit (including a large aquatic centre, a golf course, a football stadium, some restaurants and rowing boathouses) has restricted access during the grand prix weekend. Dissent is still prevalent among nearby local residents and some still maintain a silent protest against the event. Nevertheless, the event is reasonably popular in Melbourne and Australia (with a large European population and a general interest in motorsport). Middle Park, the home of South Melbourne FC was demolished in 1994 due to expansion at Albert Park.

On 4 July 2008, the official F1 site reported that more than 300,000 people attended the four-day Melbourne Grand Prix, though actual ticket sales were later disputed by the local media. The Grand Prix will continue until at least 2015 after securing a new contract with [[Formula One]] Management. There will be no night races in Albert Park but 2009’s event started at 5pm and took place between March 26–29.

Albert Park also has the distinction of being the only venue to hold the Australian Grand Prix in both World Championship and non-World Championship formats. Prior to the [[1996 Australian Grand Prix]], a modified version of the current circuit was used for both the [[1953 Australian Grand Prix|1953]] and [[1956 Australian Grand Prix|1956]] Australian Grands Prix. During this time Albert Park actually ran anti-clockwise as opposed to the current GP circuit which runs clockwise.

==See also==
*[[Formula One]]
*[[Australian Grand Prix]]
*[[Adelaide Street Circuit]]

{{Formula One circuits}}
{{V8 Supercar tracks}}

==External links==

* [http://www.grandprix.com.au/ Australian Grand Prix Corporation]
* [http://maps.google.com/maps?q=albert+park+melbourne&ll=-37.847070,144.970779&spn=0.047132,0.081050&t=k&hl=en Google Maps satellite view of the circuit]
* [http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/ciroalbertopabon/Circuitos_eng.htm&date=2009-10-25+17:21:30 Ciro Pabón's Racetracks] 3D views, websites, official ticket sites and virtual laps of all F1 circuits, including this one, via Google Earth
* [http://www.f1db.com/f1/page/Albert_Park_Grand_Prix_Circuit Albert Park Circuit Statistics]
* [http://www.trackpedia.com/wiki/Albert_Park Trackpedias guide to the Albert Park Circuit]
* [http://www.formula1.com/races/in_detail/australia_805/circuit_diagram.html Albert Park Circuit info from official F1 site]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/circuit_guide/4265437.stm BBC circuit guide]
* [http://www.kinomap.com/kms-a8xtp2 Melbourne Formula 1 Grand Prix on Kinomap] Kimi Räikkönen in 2007

[[Category:Motorsport venues in Australia]]
[[Category:Formula One circuits]]
[[Category:Australian Grand Prix]]
[[Category:Streets in Melbourne]]
[[Category:V8 Supercar tracks]]

Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit - Revision history

Red marquis at 20:44, 24 October 2010

Red marquis at 20:03, 24 October 2010

Red marquis at 20:02, 24 October 2010