The circuit measures 2.870 km in length and features 14 corners. The extended main straight rewards raw power and is a defining feature of racing at the venue — drivers often carry very high speeds through the approach to and exit of the main straight complex. The balance between traction in the sweeping bends and top-end horsepower for the straight gives the circuit a dual character that places demands on both car setup and driver skill. Alongside the road course, the Hidden Valley Motorsports Complex houses a 1 km drag racing track running parallel to the circuit's main straight, the 400 m Northline Speedway dirt track, and other off-road and kart facilities.
V8 Supercars racing came to Hidden Valley in 1998, with the first event held in July of that year. The timing of the Darwin round has traditionally been set in late June or early July to take advantage of the dry season and cooler temperatures, as the city's wet season heat and humidity would otherwise make both racing and spectating uncomfortable. The event carries the title CrownBet Darwin Triple Crown, with the Triple Crown awarded to the driver who records the fastest time in the top ten shootout and then wins both races on the weekend — a demanding combination. The 2008 event was voted the V8 Supercars Event of the Year.
In 2021, the Australian International Drag Racing Association announced the formation of an annual Australian Drag Racing Championship, designating the Hidden Valley complex as one of five national venues to host a round in the inaugural season, reflecting the site's capacity to run concurrent disciplines across its multiple facilities.
Beyond the Supercars championship round, the circuit has hosted a wide range of national-level competition. These include Australian Formula Ford Championship rounds from 2008 to 2010, Australian Superbike Championship rounds from 1998 through the 2020s, S5000 Australian Drivers' Championship events in 2022, and rounds of the Touring Car Masters series running from 2008 to 2018 and again from 2024. International motorcycle competition came to the circuit in the form of the MXGP of Australia motocross World Championship round, held annually in September. The GT World Challenge Australia also fields a Darwin round as part of its festival calendar.
Darwin's geographical remoteness from the major population centres of southern Australia has always given the Hidden Valley round a distinctive character on the national motorsport calendar. The circuit's combination of a long straight, high-speed bends, and proximity to the city has made it one of the more popular rounds with drivers and spectators alike, and its status as a multi-discipline complex has ensured consistent use throughout the year beyond the headline Supercars event.