More than 34,000 people came out to Sydney Motorsport Park (SMSP) last night for the inaugural Red Rooster Sydney Supernight 300 event. It’s the largest crowd I have ever seen at SMSP, with the main grandstand and top of the pits packed and people watching all the way around the embankment above turn one and two.
I watched from the top of the hill between turn 2 and 5 with my family and the atmosphere was fantastic! Before the race started children were rolling down the hill and families were having BBQs, you could tell everyone was excited for what was coming up.
There is always a greater thrill watching car racing under lights. The cars appear to be going faster and you can see the brakes glowing as they lunge into a corner.
Much was said before the event about whether or not a single 300km race should be worth as many points as the Bathurst 1000. I think that the success of the event proved that it was worthy of the 300 points given to the winner, the racing was great and the crowd really enjoyed themselves.
Scott McLaughlin was on pole for Race 21 of the Virgin Australian Supercar Championship. Scott held off the faster Red Bull Racing drivers for as long as he could, but was eventually overpowered by Shane van Gisbergen and Jamie Whincup.
Simona De Silvestro during Qualifying for Race 21.
Simona De Silvestro had a strong race going from last place to finish in 14th overall. Her race included many great overtakes and it looked like she was very comfortable in the night racing conditions.
In addition to the Supercars, there was also on track action provided by the Porsche Asia and Porsche Australia championship, plus the Australian GT Championship.
Liam Talbort lights up his tyres as he leaves the pits, but would finish second to Peter Hackett in Race 3 and for the round.
It was a tight battle in the three races of the Australian GT championship between Peter Hackett and Liam Talbort throughout the weekend, but ultimately Peter Hackett took out the round win.
If I were to make any suggestions for future night racing events at SMSP, they would be to start the race a bit earlier and to install a big screen somewhere near turn 2 so that the large crowd on the hill can see the action happening on the rest of the track.
We left before the end of the race as the novelty had worn off for the children, but we got home in time to watch the conclusion of the race on TV.
I was surprised, because the event looked better live than it did on TV. Usually TV enhances low light conditions, but for last night’s event it did the opposite and actually made the track look darker. If you get the chance next year, I recommend that you go and watch the night race live, you won’t be disappointed.
The Virgin Australian Supercars Championship now moves on to another inaugural event, this time at the brand new track in South Australia called The Bend. Scott McLaughlin has a 89 point lead over Shane Van Gisbergen in the championship and the Red Bull Racing team appears to be looking stronger, so it’s game on for the fight until the end of 2018 in Newcastle.
Photographs by Driven Women Magazine.