With the demise of both the Newcastle 500 and the Mount Panorama 500, Sydney Motorsport Park (SMSP) is the last man standing in New South Wales' bid to retain the Supercars season opener. This marks a return to the past, as the venue last hosted the season kickoff in 2022.
Not known for spectacular racing—aside from the glory days when "Eastern Creek" held the legendary Winfield Triple Challenge—SMSP as it has been known since 2012, has still delivered its share of historic firsts and one very significant ‘last.’ Let’s take a look at the models that celebrate these milestone moments.
It’s no surprise that most come from the COVID-impacted 2020 season, when SMSP hosted an unprecedented six Supercars races over two consective events—yawn.
First Podium (and Pole Position)
Both Andre Heimgartner and Todd Hazelwood claimed their first career podiums during the second of two Sydney SuperSprint events at SMSP in 2020. Andre went a step further, securing his maiden pole position in the same race.
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2020 Andre Heimgartner - Sydney SuperSprint (Race 12), 2nd Place (and Pole Position) - Mustang GT
Production run of 444 by Biante 
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2020 Todd Hazelwood - Sydney SuperSprint (Race 12), 3rd Place - ZB Commodore
Production run of 350 by Biante
First Win
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2005 Craig Lowndes - Team Betta Electrical's Inaugural Round Win - BA Falcon
Production run of 2,200 by Classic Carlectables
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2020 Jack Le Brocq - Sydney SuperSprint Race 12 Winner - Mustang GT
Production run of 348 by Authentic Collectables
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2021 - Will Brown - Sydney SuperSprint Race 28 Winner - ZB Commodore
Production run of 360 by Authentic Collectables
Last Full-Time Solo Drive
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2021 - Jamie Whincup - Sydney SuperNight Race 29 Runner-Up - ZB Commodore
Production run of 480 by Biante
Special Mentions
Ford fans rejoiced on November 30, 2003, as Marcos Ambrose clinched his first championship—and Ford’s first in six years. The damp conditions that day were jokingly mistaken for Holden fans’ tears, but after the VT-VX models had dominated for five straight seasons, a changing of the guard was needed. And that’s exactly what Ambrose delivered when he crossed the finish line on that wet Sunday.
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2003 Marcos Ambrose - Championship Winner - Ford BA Falcon
Production run of 3,500 by Classic Carlectables
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In 2014, Scott McLaughlin joined GRM’s ambitious Volvo program and made an instant impact, winning four championship races—including one at the Sydney Motorsport Park 400. That victory was later immortalized by APEX Replicas.
You can read more about Volvo’s Supercars campaign, along with models like the Sydney race winner, here.
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2014 Scott McLaughlin - Sydney Motorsport Park Race Winner - Volvo S60
Production run of 966 by APEX Replicas