Tassie at 100: What makes it Supercars' pint-sized thrill ride

For a lap time of barely more than 50 seconds, and just 2.4km in length, Symmons Plains Raceway throws just about every conceivable challenge to Supercars drivers and teams.

With a complex sequence of corners to start the lap, two big braking zones, and the slowest corner on the calendar, there are an awful lot of considerations on one of Supercars' most historic venues.

And yet, it always seems to deliver wild moments, and brilliant racing, especially in an era where the stars of the sport are getting younger and braver.

Opened in 1960, and built on a sheep paddock just outside Launceston, Symmons Plains has remained largely unchanged since opening, save for the relocation of pit lane from the inside of Turn 2 to it's current location at the exit of Turn 7.

Turn 1

It might look almost non-descript on a track map, however what an aerial view doesn't show is the elevation change. The track sharply dips immediately after the start-finish line, before then rising back again to the apex. The sudden elevation changes comes as drivers are braking and turning, with cars extremely unsettled as they prepare for Turn 2. Locking front tyres and losing the rear end are both commonplace. With gravel waiting on the inside of the course, and further beyond the outside of Turn 2, there is no room for error.

Turn 2

The run through Turn 1 is immediately followed by a 90 degree left at Turn 2, with deep gravel waiting on the outside should anyone get it wrong. Turn 2 is also a notorious bottleneck in the early laps, with cars often finding themselves facing the wrong way in the opening laps. Pit exit also funnels right onto the racing line at corner exit, making for awkward rejoins in the middle of pit stop cycle and qualifying runs alike.

Turn 3

Another corner that looks innocuous from the outside, Turn 3 funnels into a narrow run down towards what is the most important corner on the circuit. A corner that is all but flat out in the dry, in the wet it becomes a delicate balancing act on the throttle, with an armco wall waiting on the outside, and concrete on the inside if you make the slightest mis-step. The bridge that crosses the track is the sight of where the start finish/line used to be, before relocating to it's current location in the 1990s.

Turn 4

The signature corner of Symmons Plains is also the slowest on the calendar. The Turn 4 hairpin is one of two primary passing opportunities, and sets up the second half of the lap. Braking is king in the second half of the lap, and the hairpin presents several opportunities for moves to be made in different ways. Diving up the inside is commonplace, with drivers sometimes moving to the outside line to block any potential switchback. However, even if drivers don't complete a move at the hairpin, even just drawing alongside at corner exit can be beneficial.

Turn 5

Whilst nothing more than a flat out sweeping right hander, Turn 5 is where you'll see the most side-by-side action at Symmons Plains. Often beginning all the way back at Turn 4, cars can remain two abreast just centimetres apart at the fastest place on the circuit. The side draft is commonplace through Turn 5, where one car will push dirty air off it's nose onto an opponent's rear wing, effectively acting as an invisible parachute. However, with dust and debris gathering off-line, we have also seen attempted side drafting have spectacular consequences, with cars sometimes thrown off the road at speeds approach 260km/h.

Turn 6

The second big test of braking performance in the space of 15 seconds represents the second big overtaking zone of the lap. Often, moves will be completed for the most part by virtue of the side draft through Turn 5, however it's another key opportunity for out-braking. Drive traction on fresher tyres can also set up a switchback move at the final corner in Turn 7. Arguably the most forgiving corner on the track with plenty of run off.

Turn 7

The 50-second thrill ride comes to an end at Turn 7, with drivers delicately balancing on the throttle and accelerating through the corner. Cars can run through here side-by-side if plenty of respect and room is given, however contact can lead to a heavy impact with the pit wall. However, the track is a one line groove through the final corner, and anyone who ends up high and wide runs the risk of having a train of cars roar by. In qualifying there's a double jeopardy to running wide at the final corner, with a short run to not only the finish line but Turn 1, it can easily ruin two qualifying laps.