As the Repco Supercars Championship approaches the Penrite Oils Sandown 500, the traditional pre-Bathurst event has not always been held at the historic Victorian circuit as 25 years ago it headed to the Sunshine State.
The ‘paperclip’ as its been affectionately nicknamed was opened in 1999 near Ipswich and during this season it held two rounds, a sprint event in July won by Garth Tander and the 500km enduro in September.
It was a unique occasion as not only was it the maiden 500km event to be held away from Sandown, but for the first time it was part of the championship.
The move to Queensland Raceway was welcomed by drivers as many described the event as one of the toughest, but it was reigning winners from the previous year’s Sandown 500 winners Castrol Racing’s Larry Perkins and Russell Ingall taking the inaugural victory in Ipswich.
The event proved decisive in the championship as Holden Racing Team duo Craig Lowndes and Mark Skaife were split, but it was the latter finishing 22nd after an early collision effectively being put out of contention.
In 2000, Lowndes and Skaife paired up to take victory as the latter secured his third touring car title.
Torrential rain highlighted the closing stages of 2001 as Paul Radisich and Steven Johnson took victory, despite being bogged in the sand trap preventing another Perkins/Ingall victory. It is most memorable due to a fan running out to pat Radisich on the back barely wearing a pair of shorts.
A surprise victory completed Queensland Raceway’s stint as the pre-Bathurst endurance race in 2002 as David Besnard and Simon Wills took the win after snatching the lead from Greg Murphy on the penultimate lap due to low fuel.
Although Queensland Raceway remained on the Supercars calendar until 2019, the endurance component was moved back to Sandown in 2003 when new owners took on the Ipswich site.
Sandown continued to hold the 500km enduro until 2008 when a change of promoter led to Phillip Island taking it on.
It returned again to Sandown in 2012 where it has continued ever since, including as a ‘retro round’ at various stages.