The first V8 Supercar race was held at Darwin’s Hidden Valley Raceway in 1998. It is a very fast circuit with the longest straight in the series, taking up 1.1 of the circuit’s 2.9 km length. The actual circuit is not considered overly difficult for the drivers, but the tropical heat – even in mid winter, makes this without a doubt one of the toughest races on the calendar. The venue has produced some excellent races in the past and the NT fans are always out in force for this major event.
Mark Winterbottom:
“You nearly always lock wheels into turn 5 because the previous corner is such a big stop, which makes it hard to control the rear. It’s important to get turn 14 right as it leads onto the straight which presents the only real passing opportunity.”
Steven Richards:
“For a circuit that looks quite simple, Hidden Valley has plenty of its own little tricks. There are three good opportunities for passing; turn 1, 5 and 6 if you’re game.”