Hill blown away by ‘incredible’ ONE Raceway
The new-look ONE Raceway is well on the comeback trail with Supercars driver Cameron Hill delighted by the “incredible” circuit.
Alongside double World Superbike champion, Troy Corser, Matt Stone Racing’s Hill was the first racing driver invited to cut laps at the revived and redesigned circuit in Goulburn, NSW.
Formally known as Wakefield Park when it was established in 1993, the 2.2km circuit was closed in August 2022.
However, it has been brought back to life by new owner Steve Shelley, who has installed a new layouts that can be used in both directions in an Australian first, plus profiled banked corners, new pit facilities and viewing mounds.
The new look ONE Raceway. Image: Supplied
Hill is no stranger to the circuit, having raced and won at the venue in the Australian Formula Ford Series in 2015.
This is why he was thrilled to cut the historic laps in a current-spec 911 GT3 Cup type 992 Porsche.
“It’s just incredible the work that has been done by Steve and his team here at ONE Raceway,” Hill reflected.
“It was such a shame when we lost this track. But it’s back and it’s really unreal. I can’t wait to sort of see the full finished product.
“There’s a whole range of work that’s gone down here. In some parts, it still looks like the old Wakefield Park, but there’s so much work that’s happened.
“The pit facilities have been completely transformed. All the surroundings have been given a huge facelift – there’s been so much work done – obviously, to combat some of the issues that they’ve faced in the past.”
Hill said the new surface and especially the final corner caught his attention.
“The track surface is all brand-new, and it’s that nice, grippy tarmac that we all love,” he said.
“The last corner, I think it would get a lot of people’s attention as well. There’s some serious banking on it.
The last corner that has caught Cameron Hill’s attention. Image: Supplied
“It’s a great initiative that the track actually runs the opposite direction also. This will really give drivers, teams and spectators a totally different experience each time they come here.
“The corners are coming up really quick. You know, you really have to sort of hustle the car, and, yeah, it was quite enjoyable.”
Hill believes ONE Raceway will become a hit in the national racing landscape.
“For a professional driver, ONE Raceway is at a high standard,” he said.
“It is great that it’s pretty close to my home town, but I’m just as interested in our amateur drivers, or drive days, or ride day type people too.
Work is nearly complete at ONE Raceway. Image: Supplied
“It’s really going to suit the way they go about their motorsport.
“I think this track is definitely going to cater to everyone from high-level and state and national level events, all the way down to your track day enthusiast – both cars and bikes.”
The work at ONE Raceway is almost crossing the finish line with just some earth moving, landscaping and ripple strips to be added in the coming months.
The first race meeting at the revived circuit will be the Australian Superbike Championship on October 4-6.
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