Following the disappointment of losing the Australian Grand Prix to Melbourne in 1995, it wasn’t long until motor racing returned to the streets of Adelaide when the V8 Supercars headlined the return.
Just like it was in the Grand Prix world, Adelaide is one of the most popular and well regarded events on the Supercars calendar.
In fact, touring cars had been a feature of the Australian Grand Prix weekends as Dick Johnson enjoyed wins there, as did teammate John Bowe and even the Holden Racing Team in its early guise had an unexpected success.
However, the growing V8 Supercars formula was as popular as ever during the late-1990s with both spectators and competitors alike.
The Adelaide 500 was announced on September 1, 1998 when the Government of South Australia confirmed negotiations had been successful in a deal with Australian Vee Eight Supercar Company (AVESCO) for a race to use a shortened version of the Grand Prix track.
South Australia had been previously represented by Adelaide International Raceway first, then Mallala before the 500 was conceived.
The first 500 was split into two continuous legs, with the results of Race 1 setting the grid for the second. Though, changes were made to smooth the process out during the inaugural event.
Fields of 40 flocked to Adelaide and it fulfilled its role as a marquee event on the Supercars calendar, which continues to this day.
Clipsal became a long-time sponsor in 2000 in a partnership ending after 17 years. In fact, fans still refer to the event as the Clipsal 500 thus how the partnership entered the Australian motorsport vernacular.
After its hiatus following the 2020 event when government funding briefly stopped, a switch to the season finale was made for the return in 2022 and this is where it continues to be.
Adelaide continues to be a highlight on the calendar and long let it continue.