Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit
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Template:F1 circuit The Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit is a street-based circuit around Albert Park Lake, only a couple of kilometres south of Melbourne. It is best-known for holding the opening race of each Formula One season, the Australian Grand Prix.
The circuit utilises everyday sections of road that circle Albert Park Lake, a small man-made lake just south of the Central Business District of Melbourne. The road sections that are used were rebuilt prior to the inaugural event in 1996 to ensure consistency and smoothness. As a result, compared to other circuits that are held on public roads, Albert Park is quite smooth as a racing surface and picturesque as there are only a few other places on the Formula 1 calendar where there is a body of water close to a racing track.
As a racing track of interest to drivers, it is considered quite fast and relatively easy to drive, drivers having commented that the consistent placement of corners allows them to easily learn the circuit and achieve competitive times. However, the flat terrain around the lake, coupled with the track design, means that the track is not conducive to overtaking or easy spectating unless in possession of a grandstand seat.
Each year, the track is erected from approximately 4 weeks prior to the event and taken down within 2 weeks after the event. Land around the circuit (including a large aquatic centre, a golf course, a football stadium, some restaurants and rowing boathouses) have restricted access on the weekend of the event. Dissent is still prevalent among residents around the track area and some still maintain a silent protest against the event. Nevertheless, the event is immensely popular in Melbourne and Australia (with a large european population and a general interest in motorsports).
- See also : Formula One, Australian Grand Prix
External links
- Australian Grand Prix Corporation (http://www.grandprix.com.au/)fr:Circuit international de Melbourne