Longford circuit: Australia’s original, terrifying, high-speed arena

Sometimes known as the ‘Reims of the South Pacific’ due to its long, fast straights and undulations, Longford has a special place in the hearts of Australian motor racing fans and the European drivers who came to race there. Until Formula 1 moved to Albert Park in Melbourne in 1996 it was Australia’s fastest road circuit.

Established on the island of Tasmania in 1953 the 4.5-mile circuit on public roads was seriously old-school, and not a place for the faint-hearted. The Australian Grand Prix was held there in 1959 and ’65 and Longford also hosted the Tasman Series from 1964 to 1968 – before closing in ’68 due to lack of funds. The presence of all the big racing stars of the day travelling to Longford in the European winter for the Tasman races put the circuit firmly on the international motor sport map.

Aussie Frank Gardner, a regular front-runner in the Tasman Series, and on the podium at Longford in 1968, described the track as “really quite dangerous, very high speeds with two wooden bridges across the River Esk, a viaduct and a railway crossing. I was leading when a race had to be stopped because a train arrived at the crossing ahead of schedule. We were airborne in three places and when it rained there was a lagoon on the main straight. All the elements were there for a serious accident.”

At the final meeting in 1968 Chris Amon set the outright lap record in a Ferrari P4 at an average speed of 122.2mph at this high-speed arena, which included two long straights, one of which was known as the Flying Mile, and a slow right-hander just outside the Country Club Hotel where spectators, behind straw bales, were inches from the cars.

Parts of the track can still be seen today although the bridges have been demolished and a new highway built.

Motor sport returned to Longford back in 2011 with a new event called the Longford Revival Festival which used the Flying Mile straight and featured both historic race cars and road cars,

Visit Motor Sport’s online database to see details on racing circuits past and present.

My top 3 tracks: Damon Hill

• I choose Silverstone because this is our home grand prix circuit and the whole weekend is a total party. The track is also awesome, fast and vast, and it’s where the Formula 1 cars can get fully up to speed, creating huge loads from the current aerodynamics.
• I have included Suzuka because this circuit is just so frightening, there is simply no room for mistakes, and the satisfaction of nailing a lap around there is total. As well as this scary circuit, Japan is a beautiful country to visit too.
• Then there’s the old track at Hockenheim. You were flat out for 20sec at 215mph with the fir trees whizzing past, and then having to haul on the brakes. The stadium section is beautiful and flowing too, a complete contrast to the forest. Love it. Miss it.