Transformation of Sydney’s Accor Stadium into motorsport facility for Race Of Champions

Sydney’s Accor Stadium, Australia’s largest rectangular stadium with a capacity of 83,000 is being transformed into a motorsport facility to host ‘The Race Of Champions’ event and will be set for its first ‘test laps’ this afternoon.

The slick 1km asphalt surface has been completed and concrete and tech-pro safety barriers will be installed and then sign-written.

Over five days more than 200 staff have worked night and day to create the side-by-side track which will host 20 of the biggest names in motorsport, past present and future.

The Race Of Champions is a defining contest in global motorsports. For 30 years it has given audiences and world champions a unique head-to-head showdown designed to level the playing field and crown the world's very best of the best. ROC draws on a diversity of disciplines from Formula 1, IndyCar, and other open-wheel leagues to the grittier contests of NASCAR, World RallyCross and even MotoGP, as it travels the world and exotic venues.

The inaugural Sydney event will include participation from four-time Formula 1 World Champion, Sebastian Vettel;  F1 ace Valtteri Bottas; seven-time Supercars champion Jamie Whincup; reigning Supercars champion Will Brown; Extreme champion Molly Taylor; nine-time FIA World Rally Champion, Sébastien Loeb; 11-time X-Games Gold medallist, Travis Pastrana; NASCAR star Kurt Busch,  seven-time FIA World Rallycross Champion, Johan Kristoffersson; former FIA F2 champion and F1 driver, Mick Schumacher, two-time European Rally Champion, Kiwi, Hayden Paddon, father and son rally stars Petter and Oliver Solberg and Australian Dakar star Toby Price.

The construction has involved more than 400 semi-trailer movements as more than 4500 tonnes of road base and asphalt have been delivered into place.

The build process has involved many local and national suppliers, ensuring millions of dollars into the economy.

More than 350 concrete blocks have been delivered eight at a time and craned into place with millimetre precision.

The circuit consists of five different layers including a foundation of more than 11000sqm of specially-designed Geofabric.

On top of that is more than 3600 ply floor boards and then 100mm or 4000 tonne of gravel road base which was shaped into the track configuration which includes a spectacular 43metre cross-over bridge.

Once the layout was finalised, a heavy base of asphalt was applied before a final small-pebble asphalt which gives the circuit its sharp shiny appearance.

The surface of Accor Stadium has a curvature which has a difference in height of 300mm from the centre to the sidelines to allow for drainage. This presented its own set of challenges with the depth of the track having to be continually adjusted to cater for the variances.

While the build timeline and “just in time” process would be enough to make any local council envious, there were actual delays to the process because of road closures that had to be endured because of Kylie and Billie Eilish concerts at the adjacent Qudos Bank Arena on Friday and Saturday night.

Just hours after the event is finished this weekend, crews will start demolition with the complete “bump out” expected to take two days.

Once all the materials are removed for recycling, the annual replacement of the grass surface will commence in time for Accor Stadium’s opening National Rugby League game between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Penrith Panthers on Thursday 27th March.

The replacement of the current surface with “ready to play” grass was always scheduled at the completion of the heavy summer series of concerts and events which have included May Day and the ROC event.

Friday’s opening night includes the ROC Nations Cup where two-driver teams compete for their nominated country to crown the ‘World’s Fastest Nation’. Saturday night will see all drivers going head-to-head for ‘Champion of Champions’ honours.

The complete field will do this in a series of six different vehicles, with entrants going head-to-head in identical versions of each of those cars - making the driver’s skill and not the vehicle’s preparation the deciding factor.

All 20 drivers will battle it out in a range of six vehicles including FC2 Rallycross, Supercar Lite Rallycross, KTM X-Bow Comp R, Polaris RZR Pro R, Subaru BRZ tS and Toyota GR86 Cup machines.

The Race Of Champions comes one week before the opening round of the F1 World Championship in Melbourne (March 13-16), creating a massive two weeks of motorsport in Australia.

Stephen Saunders, Group General Manager Venues New South Wales noted “Race Of Champions is the most unique event we have ever hosted at Accor Stadium.

“It has been truly amazing to see the transformation of our stadium into a world class motor racing circuit.

“The construction team have had their challenges, but handled them all in their stride and the result is first class.”

 John Modystach, Prosurv Director, Head of ROC Australian construction enthused “It has been a lot of work, my team and group of local suppliers have done a amazing job, we are delighted with the result so far.

“The heavy work is done, but now we just need to put the finishing touches on this unique project.

“I think the fans are going to love the venue and the chance to see some of these superstars in action at Accor Stadium.”

Fredrik Johnsson, Race Of Champions President and Co-Founder added “Our ROC Track Team together with our Australian contractor John Modystach and his team have worked almost non-stop since Wednesday and they have done a fantastic job bringing the track to life for the 2025 Race Of Champions.

“In the 33-year history of ROC and working in some of the world’s greatest venues like Stade de France in Paris, Wembley Stadium and the Bird’s Nest Olympic Stadium, I don’t think we have had a more conducive venue to work in than Accor Stadium here in Sydney.

“Obviously every venue for a major event, especially one this complex, is presented with lots of challenges, but our Team ROC spirit is always that “there are no problems, only solutions” and it’s been a very positive experience working with everyone here at the Stadium.

“At the end of the day we wanted to build a fast, safe and environmentally-friendly track and I think we have certainly achieved that.

“We are looking forward to hearing the first drivers’ reaction when we reveal the track to select media on Wednesday and for the full practice and media day on Thursday

EVENT SCHEDULE

Friday 7th March – ROC Nations Cup – to crown the world's fastest Nation. Accor Stadium, Sydney

Doors Open 5:30pm

Show Starts 6:30pm

Race Starts 7:30pm

Saturday 8th March – Race Of Champions – to crown the "Champion of Champions"

Accor Stadium, Sydney

Doors open 5:30pm

Show Starts 6:30pm

Race Starts 7.30pm

More information on Race Of Champions (ROC) at www.raceofchampions.com

For ticketing and event information www.tegsport.com.au