The Repco Supercars Championship heads to the Top End for one of the most unique events on the calendar – the Darwin Triple Crown.
Hidden Valley Raceway combines tropical conditions, long straights and a technical layout that challenges teams throughout the weekend. Here are five things to know before the action gets underway.
The Darwin Triple Crown is typically the hottest round on the Supercars calendar.
While the dry-season weather is usually excellent for racing, the high ambient and track temperatures place extra demands on drivers, tyres and crew members throughout the weekend. Managing tyre temperatures becomes particularly important as conditions change between morning and afternoon sessions.
Hidden Valley’s long front straight is one of the most recognisable features of the circuit.
Cars reach some of their highest speeds of the weekend before braking for Turn 1, creating one of the best overtaking opportunities on the calendar. Strong exits onto the straight and confidence under brakes can make a significant difference during both qualifying and the races.
Darwin is often a race where looking after the tyres pays dividends later in a stint.
The combination of heat and track surface can challenge tyre performance across longer runs, meaning drivers need to balance speed with tyre preservation. Teams that can maintain consistent pace throughout a stint often put themselves in a strong position come race day.
When Supercars arrive at Hidden Valley on Friday, the circuit is usually quite green compared to what drivers experience by Sunday.
As more rubber is laid down and track conditions evolve, grip levels improve, and lap times continue to fall. Teams must adapt throughout the weekend as the circuit changes beneath them.
Hidden Valley holds a special place in PremiAir Racing history.
In 2024, James Golding secured the team’s first Supercars pole position, while Romy Mayer became the first female race engineer to record a pole position in Supercars history.
Darwin also holds personal significance for Team Owner Peter Xiberras, who secured his second consecutive Australian Top Fuel Championship at Hidden Valley in 2022.
As PremiAir Racing returns to the Top End in 2026, the team will be looking to add another memorable chapter to its Darwin story.