2025 Race of Champions: First look at Accor Stadium track

From NRL to motorsport? One of Australia’s top stadiums has been transformed into a tarmac racetrack. See the pics.

Sydney’s largest football stadium has been transformed into a racetrack in time for some of the world’s best drivers to contest the Race of Champions on Friday and Saturday nights.

More than 100 people have worked around the clock to build a 1 kilometre asphalt racing circuit inside Accor Stadium, a venue usually used for sporting contests and contests.

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2025 Race of Champions circuit build at Accor Stadium. Picture: David McCowen

The two-lane track will see drivers race head-to-head on a tight and technical track that includes a jump and underpass.

Fredrik Johnsson, Race Of Champions president and co-founder, said “you’ve never seen a stadium like this”.

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2025 Race of Champions circuit build at Accor Stadium. Picture: David McCowen

“It’s a much better experience for the fans, obviously you can see every instant of the action from every seat in the stadium.

“You get closer to the course and the stars than at any traditional motor racing circuit.

“It feels really good to be back in the stadium, especially such a great stadium as Accor Stadium.”

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2025 Race of Champions circuit build at Accor Stadium. Picture: David McCowen

Johnsson praised the stadium’s infrastructure for making it easy to move trucks in and out, delivering more than 4000 tonnes of material needed to build the track. Well-sorted loading areas and a spacious VIP drop-off zone hidden under the stadium give organisers plenty of space to shuffle cars around between races.

2025 Race of Champions circuit build at Accor Stadium. Picture: David McCowen

The ambitious project involves several layers being placed onto the turf playing surface at the arena used for State of Origin and NRL Grand Final clashes.

Contractors applied a Geofabric barrier on top of the grass, before laying down timber panels, crushed gravel road base and two grades of asphalt.

Dakar Rally winner Toby Price is one of four drivers representing Australia. Picture: Supplied.

The crew only had a few days to get the job done in time for competition.

Then they’ll break up the track to recycle various elements before new turf is laid so NRL competition can recommence in late March.

Drivers will fight for two trophies this weekend – the Nations’ Cup on Friday night, and the individual Race of Champions on Saturday.

The first contest sees drivers team up to represent their nations, while the second is a shootout to determine this years’ fastest driver.

Romain Grosjean of France, foreground, competes to win over Michael Schumacher of Germany, driving KTM X-Bow cars in the 2012 Race Of Champions. AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong

The roster includes professional racers from Formula 1, Supercars, NASCAR, Le Mans, rallying and more.

Drivers will strap into a variety of machines including Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ sports cars, the lightweight KTM X-Bow Comp R supercar, Polaris RZR Pro R “side-by-side” racing machine, and the turbocharged FC2 Rallycross car.

Originally published as 2025 Race of Champions: First look at Accor Stadium track