Australian motorsport resort secures $150 million investment
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A motorsport development in northern New South Wales has received a significant funding boost ahead of its initial opening scheduled for mid-2026.
A substantial $150 million in funding has been secured for Black Rock Motor Resort, a planned racing and enthusiast facility in the Lake Macquarie region of New South Wales that’s set to open in 2026.
Self-described as ‘Australia's first greenfield motorsport facility’, the 650-acre venue will host a 5.4-kilometre FIA Grade 2 circuit – the same grading as Le Mans in France and the Indianapolis Speedway in the United States (US) – allowing everything short of F1 to be raced there.
Uniquely for an Australian venue, planned facilities will extend beyond a typical race circuit and pit area to include fine dining, wellness experiences and premium accommodation.
The $150 million funding from a 'Sydney-based capital firm' will enable Stage 1 to open in mid 2026, with the second and final Stage 2 planned for completion in 2027.
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"Black Rock Motor Resort is an ambitious project, but our funding partner got the vision, understood the long-term potential and realised that what we were proposing wasn't just another racetrack," said Tony Palmer, CEO of Black Rock Motor resort said in a statement.
Built on the site of the former Rhonda Colliery, Black Rock is set to replicate concepts seen overseas, such as Ascari in Spain or the Monticello Motor Club in the US.
It provides paid members the ability to store their vehicle on site, and includes 64 luxury villas, a 40-room hotel and 500-seat function centre, as well as a café, dining bistro and "premium onsite hospitality".
The track is the work of renowned circuit designer Hermann Tilke, the man behind countless venues including the Shanghai Circuit in China and the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.
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The 23-turn Black Rock layout includes 165 metres of elevation changes and an 800-metre long main straight – around 300m longer than the front straight at Albert Park used for this weekend's Australian F1 Grand Prix.
Black Rock's first sod was turned in February 2024 when a ceremonial first lap of the unsealed layout was completed by off-road legend and Dakar winner, Toby Price.
In addition to the main circuit, there's also a skid pan as part of a 'handling centre' as well as go-kart track, off-road arena and driving simulators.
Wellness facilities will include a 25-metre heated infinity pool overlooking the track, as well as a gym, sauna, steam room and ice bath.
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Pricing for Founding Club Membership – limited to 100 applicants – has not been revealed but includes circuit and broader facility access as well as the opportunity to purchase one of the track side villas.
The closest any existing venue offers to Black Rock is The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia, which goes by its commercial 'Shell V-Power Motorsport Park' and offers multiple layouts, off-road, karting and drag racing facilities.
The Bend – also an FIA Grade 2 circuit – incorporated accommodation into its facilities when it opened in 2018 and will host its first V8 Supercars Championship endurance race on 12-14 September 2025.
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