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Phakisa Freeway

Grand Prix Circuit (1999–present) Speedway (1999–present)
Location	Odendaalsrus, Free State, South Africa
Time zone	SAST (UTC+02:00)
Coordinates	27°54′18″S 26°42′43.2″E / 27.90500°S 26.712000°E / -27.90500; 26.712000
Broke ground	September 1998; 26 years ago (1998-09)
Opened	1970 Re-opened: May 1999; 25 years ago (1999-05)
Closed	1997
Former names	Goldfields Raceway (1970–1997)
Major events	Former: Grand Prix motorcycle racing South African motorcycle Grand Prix (1999–2004) Free State 500 (2010) South African Formula One Championship (1971–1975) South African Springbok Championship Series (1971–1972)
Website	www.phakisa.co.za
Grand Prix Circuit (1999–present)
Length	4.242 km (2.636 miles)
Turns	14
Race lap record	1:33.208 ( Max Biaggi, Honda RC211V, 2004, MotoGP)
Speedway (1999–present)
Length	2.414 km (1.500 miles)
Turns	4
Banking	3 – 12º
Short Circuit (1999–present)
Length	3.199 km (1.988 miles)
Turns	10
Goldfields Raceway (1970–1997)
Length	4.168 km (2.590 miles)
Turns	10
Race lap record	1:23.000 ( Dave Charlton, McLaren M23, 1975, F1)

Phakisa Freeway is a motor racing circuit located between Welkom and Odendaalsrus, South Africa. It is one of the few oval speedways outside of the United States and the only one in Africa.

History

Phakisa Freeway was built on the same site as the former Goldfields Raceway, which closed in 1997.

The current track opened in 1999. It consists of a 4.242 km (2.636 mi) road course and a 2.414-kilometre (1.500 mi) oval course. The road course uses the oval's pit lane as its backstraight and crosses the oval's backstretch on two times.

The oval track is similar to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in its 1997 configuration: 12 degree banking in the turns, nine degrees on the tri-oval and three degrees on the back stretch. It was built to attract American oval racing like NASCAR or IndyCar.

Events

From 1999 to 2004, the venue hosted the South African motorcycle Grand Prix of the MotoGP championship.

The Superbike World Championship announced their intention to run at Phakisa Freeway from 2014 onwards. Due to homologation issues the series never raced at the circuit.

Since 2014, Phakisa Freeway has only hosted national events.

The only event held on the oval was the Free State 500 in 2010. The American Speed Association imported stock cars to South Africa for the race. Various drivers from South Africa, Europe and the US competed – including former NASCAR driver Geoff Bodine.

Lap records

As of April 2004, the fastest official race lap records at the Phakisa Freeway are listed as:

See also

• Calder Park Raceway
• EuroSpeedway Lausitz
• Rockingham Motor Speedway
• Twin Ring Motegi

References

1. "Phakisa | Welcome to Lejweleputswa District Municipality". Lejweleputswa.co.za. 10 October 1999. Archived from the original on 13 April 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
2. ^ "Phakisa Freeway". RacingCircuits.info. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
3. "Phakisa Race Track". Race Track World.
4. "Events at Phakisa Freeway in 2014". Retrieved 1 July 2019.
5. "Events at Phakisa Freeway in 2015". Retrieved 1 July 2019.
6. "Events at Phakisa Freeway in 2016". Retrieved 1 July 2019.
7. "Events at Phakisa Freeway in 2017". Retrieved 1 July 2019.
8. "Events at Phakisa Freeway in 2018". Retrieved 1 July 2019.
9. "Events at Phakisa Freeway in 2019". Retrieved 1 July 2019.
10. "Stock Cars In South Africa: The 2010 Free State 500". 10 December 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
11. "VI Welkom 100". Retrieved 6 August 2023.
12. "1971 South African Springbok Die Volksblad 3 hours". Retrieved 6 August 2023.
13. "1972 South African Springbok Trophy Goldfields 3 hours". Retrieved 6 August 2023.

External links

• Map and circuit information at RacingCircuits.info

• South African motorcycle Grand Prix
• Motorsport venues in South Africa
• Grand Prix motorcycle circuits
• Matjhabeng Local Municipality