Unseen Sandown: 2024 Edition
It’s a grand old feature on the motorsport landscape—this is a close-up look at Sandown Raceway.
There have been some subtle changes since then, while others are more obvious.
For instance, ahead of this most recent meeting, concrete patches were applied to the apexes at turn four, and at Dandenong Road Corner, and line marking was renewed around much of the circuit.
A bigger push was made to revive spectator amenities, which was largely carried out to coincide with Sandown picking up the slack from the Melbourne Racing Club’s other venue at Caulfield when that cross-town racecourse undertook major works last summer.
Items such as painting the spectator benches in the grandstand, refreshing corporate areas, and improving drink outlets attracted significant investment.
Elsewhere around the grounds, there are many sections that appear to be past their prime.
No matter what the transformation timeline is, Sandown sure has packed many memories.
Main Straight
Including the kink at the pit entry, Sandown’s pit straight is nearly 950m long, and features two distinct starting grids – one in front of the pits, and the other in front of the grandstand, as used at the Sandown 500 weekend.
Some of the old-school markings that are still visible on the pit straight:
- The start line for the drag races from the Easternats, which ran from 1997 through to 2009.
- Staggered grid start boxes.
- Betta Electrical Sandown 500 branding on the start grid, an event that was last run in 2006.
Grass growing through the cracks on race line prior to the Sandown 500 weekend.
Turn 1
The launching ramp kerb on the inside of the corner has tipped up many vehicles in a range of ways.
A common sight around the circuit’s Armco are a range of helping hands to keep things upright in the sometimes sodden ground.
Elsewhere, weeds have found a way to flourish, while the wall at the end of the sandtrap has seen better days.
Turn 2-3-4
The turns 2-3 water feature copped a pummelling throughout the Sandown 500 weekend. The obstacle saw errant cars take a significant step down into the puddle, before cars smacked into a launching ramp on the other side, which sent them skyward. The vehicles then typically landed near the base of the hill before trickling back onto the circuit. By the end of the meet, the top had been well and truly shaved down at the top of the ramp.
Remnants of the original pit straight, which travelled straight back to the first iteration of turn one, which was a similar shape to the current first turn, albeit somewhat further to the left of the picture.
Somehow, the tyre barrier at turn three doesn’t entirely have a solid wall behind it.
The outside wall at turn three regularly cops a pummelling…
…and the backside of the barrier has the scars to prove it. Interestingly, the supports to prop up the Armco barriers are not connected to the ground.
A significant crash at recent midweek testing resulted in the replacement of a length of Armco, the supporting sound barrier, and the sound barrier’s post before 500 race week.
The wall on the exit of turn four also carries the scars of misadventures past. The area between the new concrete wall and the original Armco is collecting its share of lost mirrors.
The original version of Sandown saw multiple competitors launch toward the dam behind the modern turn four. Here’s a look at the significant drop-off into the water.
The Back Straight
One of the remaining lengths of two-high Armco, with the first image showing how close it is positioned to a line of taps.
The marshalls at turn five have to contend with horse racing infrastructure.
A close-up look at either side of the straight, including the old school horse running rail on the steeplechase track.
Grass encroaching on the back straight and growing through the cracks carved into the circuit for timing line use.
The back straight narrows significantly prior to the Esses, with the circuit losing a lane in the area where the old international circuit used to exit to the left.
Rothmans Rise/Marlboro Country/The Esses
The remnants of the old infield loop, plus the more recent addition of three high Armco to the inside of the Esses.
Numerous weepers can now be found seeping through the cracks just over the rise, with sealant having been applied in some of the worst places.
A look at the wall protruding out at worse than a right angle to traffic on driver’s left prior to Dandenong Road Corner. This area has seemingly received some attention in the past two years, with the original tyre barrier, which was hard up against the earth bank, replaced by the bound tyre stacks, which had previously sat out away from the wall. The earlier configuration essentially provided two layers of protection.
The sound barrier wears the pockmarks of earlier monumental accidents in this area.
Dandenong Road Corner
A look behind the sound barrier that runs up against the race track, and the pedestrian walkway that allows spectators to reach the Red Hill viewing area alongside the Princes Highway.
The Northern End of the Circuit
The over-track bridge exiting Dandenong Road corner is rather simple in construction. It also allows TV cables to be run across the circuit.
More line markings along the top of the track: from the Easternats, Grid 49, which is a long way away from the startline, plus the latest yellow lines have seemingly included this unfortunate patch of grass.
The final sequence of corners includes a lone tree growing in the demarcation lane and the exit kerb, which has been repeatedly extended over the years.
This drainage channel would probably not be hugely successful.
The relay start lights, located adjacent to the causeway.
The Pits
Pit bunker number one at pit entry has forever and day been occupied by a work shed for the circuit, featuring some nice memories from years past. Also of note, the old concrete ledges that once protruded from the pit lane-facing walls have now been cut off.
Causeways
Slicing the venue in half is Mile Creek, which necessitates the famous Causeway section of the race track, which can be found just prior to the pit lane entry road.
Out of sight and out of mind, the creek also crosses under the track at the kink in the back straight, about 250m north of turn four.
Elsewhere around the grounds
Outside of Park and View spectators at major events, the spectator mound on the outside of the back straight is an angle less viewed.
These signs greet passersby on the Princes Highway.
A look around the immense Thomas S Carlyon Stand, which was heritage-listed in 2019.
New tyre bundles readied for action, the old tote building, and the somewhat inaccessible accessible parking spot at the north end of the circuit.
Relics
More from the old international infield loop which was constructed in 1984 for use by the World Sportscar Championship.
Elsewhere around the grounds, there are plenty of reminders of battles lost…
Mark Walker (administrator)
A vastly experienced Motorsport Public Relations operator, journalist, commentator and photographer, Mark brings his unique angle to The Race Torque in both words and imagery. As well as serving as our key photographer on the ground at major events around Australia (and overseas), Walker will often chime in with his unique and pin-point sharp viewpoint of the racing world via the keyboard too.
