Albert Park, Melbourne Circuit Information

Length: 5.303km
Race distance: 58 laps / 307.574km

Full throttle: 65%
Top speed: 303kph
Longest flat-out section: 10s / 735m
Right/left-hand corner: 10/6

“Melbourne – What a Great Place for the Race”, that is how the Australian Grand Prix was promoted back in 1996, when over 400 000 people turned up. A record that still stands, although the Australian Grand Prix is still an immensely popular event in Melbourne with around 300 000 Formula 1 fans attending in 2008.

The circuit is street-based and one of the few Formula 1 circuits, which are close to a body of water. Most drivers find the circuit easy to drive and do achieve competitive times.

It is recommended for the spectators to buy tickets for the Grandstand in order to secure a good view.

The first Australian Grand Prix was held on the street circuit in Adelaide in 1985. Circuit not as tight as Monaco, but still quite tough on drivers and gearboxes.

Australian Grand Prix 2010 will be the second race of the 2010 F1 Calendar.

Australian Grand Prix Memorable Moments

1996 : Martin Brundle cart-wheeled over two other cars at the start of the 1996 race, braking his Jordan in half. He earned worldwide exposure for running back into the pits to use the spare car for the restart.

1999 : Eddie Irvine took his first victory in a Grand Prix that several drivers could have won. Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello launched strong challenges from the back of the grid, but in the end it was Heinz Harald Frentzen who pushed Irvine hardest for the win.

2002 : Ralf Schumacher triggered an accident that took eight cars out of the race at turn one. Without the use of a crane, marshals dragged Felipe Massa’s Sauber off the circuit so the race wouldn’t have to be stopped, allowing local hero Mark Webber to come home fifth on debut with Minardi.

2004 : Michael Schumacher broke the lap record in practice on only his first flying lap. On his second lap he lowered the benchmark again by over a second, and promptly pulled back into the pits. In the space of just five minutes Ferrari had shown they would be unbeatable all year.

Australian Grand Prix Wiki