While the key race of the V8 Supercars endurance series is the Bathurst 1000, the Sandown 500 is a crucial lead-up event, particularly for co-drivers. But the jury is still out over whether Sandown is a good enough track for endurance racing.
Sandown is not by any means an easy race track, with 13 corners over its relatively short 3.1 kilometres.
This means drivers need to display a full range of technique, however I fail to get excited when the beginning of the V8 Supercars endurance championship rolls around and Sandown is the first race on the cards.
The Sandown 500 has been held at other tracks, being run at the Queensland Raceway from 1999 to 2002, and then at Phillip Island Motor Raceway from 2008 to 2011.
While neither of these worked out to permanently move the event away from the Sandown Raceway, they fell through due to changes of ownership at the tracks rather than the quality of racing.
While Sandown is not a poor track by any means, other tracks around Australia are much more suited to endurance racing.
So what are the options?
Queensland Raceway
Queensland Raceway may be my favourite track on the V8 Supercars calendar. While it is the same length as the Sandown Raceway, it has roughly half the turns, yet the drivers are constantly challenged.
No seriously long straights allow the drivers to relax, and a mix of right and left-hand corners throughout the track create some thrilling racing. The 500s run there were always awesome races and it seems to be a good option.
Phillip Island Motor Raceway
Phillip Island has a special place in Australian motorsport, hosting the Australian MotoGP grand prix on multiple occasions, and has been a regular fixture on the V8 Supercars calendar for many years.
A long front-straight combined with a number of technical corners, particularly one and two after the front straight, create some great overtaking opportunities. The crowds always flock to Phillip Island for the races and the weather can often play a part.
Sydney Motorsport Park (formerly Eastern Creek)
During last weekend’s coverage of the race there, Sydney Motorsport Park was labelled ‘the home of motorsport in Australia’ – and it is hard to argue with that.
An awesome racing circuit, like Phillip Island it has a long front-straight and there have been some memorable battles fought out over the years. It has hosted a 12-hour event once before, however the event was discontinued.
Any one of these options would be a far better option for the 500 and endurance racing than the Sandown Raceway.
Sydney Motorsport Park is the best track, but for a national series, having both of the major endurance races in the same state is a no-no and obviously the Bathurst 1000 will never be moved.
You could also argue that the Gold Coast 600 is an endurance race, and so that would rule out the Queensland Raceway.
So that leaves Phillip Island. One of the best tracks on the calendar, Phillip Island is a much more suitable length for endurance racing than Sandown, is famous in Australian motorsport tradition, has plenty of challenges, and is suited to the endurance format.
Sandown is much more suited to a sprint race, similar in nature to tracks like Barbagallo Raceway or Hidden Valley.
The only other option would be running a street race for the 500, however you would have to think after watching all the street races run around the country it is probably too demanding to send the endurance season there.
The track used in Adelaide is awesome, but the race there will never be moved from the season opener.
That leaves Phillip Island as the best option for the 500, as we saw between 2008 and 2011.
Joel Jenkins
Guest
Sandown has some major advantages over the other tracks you've mentioned. Firstly it always gets great crowds, primarily due to its proximity to Melbourne. Whilst Phillip Island may have a special place in the hearts of motor bike fans, I don't know if the same can be said for car racing enthusiasts and the distance to get down there and availability of accommodation are major turn offs. Additionally Sandown is probably the best spectator track in the country. What other track is there, especially with the demise of Oran Park, where you can see 90% of the track from the main grandstand? Phillip Island is a lot like Bathurst, great on TV but you can't see most of the track. SMSP has the same issue. You may be able to see a lot of the paper clip from any one point as well but 500kms of watching the same four right handers and two lefts would be far too much. I'm also a big fan of Sandown due to how narrow it is and how committed you must be to drive hard and win races. There are walls everywhere and you know two wide into a corner is going to end in disaster, thrilling stuff. By no means is Sandown perfect, I long for the days of the return of the infield section, however it's still one of the best tracks for a spectator in the country and gets bumper crowds every year.
Caragh
Guest
How many people attended Sandown in 2015?
Joel J
Guest
Since the demise of Oran Park, Sandown is easily the best circuit for spectators, being able to see almost the entire circuit from the main grandstand It's also guaranteed to have lots of action as there's no room for error. Phillip Island might be a great circuit for motorbikes but it's so far out of Melbourne and you can see hardly any of the action. I don't think anyone thinks of the paperclip as a serious alternative. SMSP is the same issue as PI, might be good on TV but rubbish if you're at the track.
Hamed Khatiz
Guest
Philip Island seems the best alternative for me, considering it's historical significance in terms of MotoGP, it's European characteristics and it's overall beauty. However, I see nothing wrong with Sandown and see no reason for a change.
Monsieur Gustave
Guest
Why not Avalon Raceway if you are going to talk up ridiculous locations.
MJ
Guest
Knowing Warburton he'd replace it with a random street race which is about as loved as a kick in the nether regions.
CG2430
Guest
Sandown is a great track, mainly for the chicane over the back dropping into Dandenong Road - looks unreal and is a genuine driver's challenge. I wouldn't be too upset if PI did get the 500 back, but Sandown is not at all undeserving.