The History of Supercars Racing at Albert Park
For more than 30 years, Albert Park has been one of the most iconic stops on the Supercars calendar. Set against the backdrop of Melbourne's skyline and Albert Park Lake, the temporary street circuit has delivered countless memorable races, legendary winners and some of the biggest crowds in Australian motorsport.
Every season, the Melbourne SuperSprint brings the Repco Supercars Championship to the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix weekend, creating a unique atmosphere unlike any other event on the calendar.
A Spectacular Side Show
The story began in 1996, when the Australian Grand Prix moved from Adelaide to Melbourne and Supercars joined the event as the premier support category. From the very first race, Albert Park proved to be a fan favourite. The tight concrete walls, fast sweeping corners and heavy braking zones created exciting sprint racing, while the Formula 1 stage introduced Supercars to hundreds of thousands of spectators across the weekend.
Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, Albert Park became a stronghold for Holden. The Holden versus Ford rivalry produced some unforgettable battles around the lakeside circuit, with Holden enjoying an incredible run of victories during the event's early years. Some of the biggest names in the sport, including Craig Lowndes, Mark Skaife, Glenn Seton and Garth Tander, all added their names to the Albert Park honour roll during this era.
Change to Championship Round
A major milestone arrived in 2018 when the Melbourne SuperSprint officially became a championship round for the first time. Instead of racing purely for trophies and bragging rights, drivers were now competing for valuable championship points across four sprint races.
The weekend also introduced the Larry Perkins Trophy, awarded to the driver who scores the most points across the Albert Park event, honouring one of Australian motorsport's greatest names.
Change of Pace
Albert Park entered another new era with the arrival of the Gen3 cars. A resurfaced and reprofiled circuit made the track faster and more flowing, rewarding commitment through the high-speed middle sector while creating new overtaking opportunities into Turn 3 and Turn 11. The result has been some of the closest and fastest Supercars racing ever seen around Albert Park.
Albert Park Standouts
The circuit has also produced plenty of standout performances in recent seasons. Shane van Gisbergen became the most successful driver at Albert Park with a remarkable record around the Melbourne streets, while Chaz Mostert and Brodie Kostecki have both enjoyed dominant weekends in the Gen3 era. Every year, the Melbourne SuperSprint seems to deliver another memorable battle, dramatic safety cars or photo-finish sprint race.
Experience It With APGC Travel
What makes Albert Park so special is that it offers fans something no other Supercars round can. Four days of racing, the excitement of Formula 1 weekend, packed grandstands and one of Australia's most recognisable sporting venues combine to create an atmosphere that's impossible to replicate anywhere else on the calendar.
The next chapter continues in 2027, with the Melbourne SuperSprint returning to Albert Park from 2–4 April 2027. As Supercars once again takes to the streets alongside the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, fans can experience another weekend of high-speed racing at one of the championship's most iconic circuits.
Book Now