Construction advances on new Sydney International Speedway venue

Development of the new Sydney International Speedway at Eastern Creek has passed the half-way point and is on track to be operational by the start of the 2021 racing season in late September.

The new venue has been developed following the decommissioning of the previous speedway at Clyde, which was on land required to stable new metro trains for the mega Sydney Metro West project.

Construction began in December 2020 with the speedway circuit currently taking shape and the grandstand, seating and corporate boxes all to be installed over the coming months.

Once completed, the venue will feature a 4750-seat grandstand with corporate facilities, workshops and garages as well as trackside pits and spectator facilities, including terraced seating for as many as 7000 fans.

In operation, the site will also host a range of recreational and community events, including vocational education and training, festivals, charity functions, markets and club activities.

Speaking following a recent visit to the Eastern Creek site, NSW Minister for Sport, Natalie Ward stated “this is an exciting and revolutionary addition to motorsport in Sydney which will bring in interstate and overseas competitors, crews and spectators, delivering a boost to our economy.

“Motorsport fans can look forward to more world-class motor racing in Western Sydney with the new speedway on track to be operational for the 2021 racing season.”

“This is the first time in more than 20 years a Five Star speedway has been built in Australia with the last one being Perth Motorplex, which opened in 2000.”

Construction of the venue has included:

• Excavating 1 million tonnes of soil and rock at the site to support construction

• Constructing a 500 metre long reinforced retaining wall using almost a 1000 precast concrete panels and 40,000 tonnes of recycled sandstone from the WestConnex project

• Work on the construction of a 1,200,000 litre storm water retention tank. The tank’s capacity is the equivalent of 60% of a standard Olympic-size swimming pool and is one of two water retention tanks being built for the project

• Construction of new dedicated car park for speedway competitors and an additional car park for dragway events also under construction.

Following a public tender process undertaken by Greater Sydney Parklands, Speedway Promotions has secured an eight-year lease to operate the venue.

The new speedway comes on top of a $33 million upgrade of Sydney Motorsport Precinct which will enable the site to host some of the biggest motor racing events in Australia.

Images: Artist impressions of the Sydney International Speedway.