The Circuit of Sandown, "The Home of Horsepower," is a counterclockwise raceway sitting in the metropolitan area of Melbourne, Australia. The most remarkable features of this road course are its long straights that allow drivers to go wild with the gas pedal, reaching a speed of 200 km/h (124 mph) in the front straightaway and 220 km/h (136 mph) in the back one. The circuit opened its door for motor racing in 1962, on an asphalt track paved around a preceding horse racecourse still in use nowadays. The oceanic climate type of Melbourne allows pleasant temperature and humidity levels year-round, and track surface condition needs to be verified before every race to adjust vehicle preparation accordingly.
The circuit starts near the beginning of the 899-meter (2949-feet) long front straightaway. The exit of this straight comes at turn number one, a 90-degree corner transitioning into the back straightaway. Turns two to four give way to the fastest sector of the track: a short straight that unites to the 910-meters (2985-feet) long back straightaway to create a dragster-type stretch. There are seven turns after corner number 6, all coming to form the most technically challenging sector in Sandown.