Planning for a permanent racing facility began with the Benalla Auto Club around 1958, as a replacement for their existing track at Barjarg. In 1960, a decision was made to construct the track at Winton Recreation Reserve, and construction was completed within twelve months. The circuit hosted its inaugural race meeting on November 26, 1961. A meeting in March 1965, featuring Neptune touring cars and the Victorian Formula Two championship, drew approximately 10,000 spectators, demonstrating the immediate popularity of the venue.
The original circuit, now known as the Winton Club Circuit, comprised 10 turns and a length of 2.028 km (1.260 mi). Prior to the 1997 V8 Supercar championship round, the circuit underwent an extension. This upgrade involved adding a left-hand turn before the esses, followed by a series of right-hand turns that rejoined the original track at the esses, creating the longer Winton National Circuit.
The circuit is characterized by its combination of high-speed straights and challenging corners. Dick Johnson famously described the track as “like running a marathon around your clothes-line”, highlighting its demanding nature.
The most significant modification to Winton Motor Raceway was the extension to create the 3.000 km (1.864 mi) National Circuit in 1997, undertaken in preparation for the V8 Supercar championship round. This involved adding a new pit complex alongside the track extension.
Winton Motor Raceway has hosted a diverse range of motorsport categories beyond its regular V8 Supercar events. It has been a prominent venue for the Australian Superbike Championship, with riders such as Mick Doohan, Kevin Magee, and Mat Mladin frequently competing there. The circuit also hosts Drift Attack – Australia’s largest drift event – and various national championships including the Australian Drivers' Championship, Australian Sports Car Championship, Australian GT Championship, and the Australian Nations Cup Championship. The track also accommodates events like the AU4 Australian Championship, Historic Winton, Winton Festival of Speed, and the Winton 300.
Winton Motor Raceway remains a popular venue for motorsport in Australia, attracting large crowds, particularly from the local area, due to its easy accessibility and viewing areas. The track continues to host rounds of the Supercars Championship, currently known as the Winton SuperSprint, having done so in 1985–1986, 1988–1995, 1997–2004, 2006–2019 and 2022. Jim Richards holds the record for most Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC) round wins at Winton with four victories (1985, 1986, 1990, and 1991). The 1985 ATCC race at Winton is historically significant as the first all-Group A race in Australia, the first ATCC win for BMW, and the only race in history without any Holden cars on the grid. As of August 2024, official race lap records are maintained by the raceway.
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