{{Short description|Supercars Championship event in Australia}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}} {{Use Australian English|date=August 2015}} {{V8 supercar race |flag = South Australia |title = Adelaide 500 |logo = |circuit = Adelaide Street Circuit |track_map = Adelaide (short route).svg |times_held = 25 |first_held = 1999 |race1_laps = 32 |race1_distance = 100 |race2_laps = 78 |race2_distance = 250 |race3_laps = 78 |race3_distance = 250 |last_year = 2025 |last_event_link = 2025 Adelaide Grand Final |overall_winner = {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Chaz Mostert]] |overall_team = [[Walkinshaw Andretti United]] |race1_winner = {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Brodie Kostecki]] |race1_team = [[Dick Johnson Racing]] |race2_winner = {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Broc Feeney]] |race2_team = [[Triple Eight Race Engineering]] |race3_winner = {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Matthew Payne]] |race3_team = [[Grove Racing]]}}
The '''Adelaide 500''', officially the '''BP Adelaide Grand Final''', is an annual motor racing event for [[Supercars Championship|Supercars]] held on the streets of the east end of [[Adelaide]], [[South Australia]] between [[1999 Adelaide 500|1999]] and [[2020 Adelaide 500|2020]] and again from [[2022 Adelaide 500|2022]]. The event uses a shortened form of the [[Adelaide Street Circuit]], the former [[Australian Grand Prix]] track. The event is still colloquially known as the '''[[Clipsal]] 500''' or simply '''"Clipsal"''' after its former longtime sponsor. With attendance at around 250,000 in 2023, the Adelaide 500 is the most attended [[Supercars Championship]] race.
The event previously took place in February and March, contributing to what locals term "mad March", along with the [[Adelaide Festival]], [[Adelaide Fringe]], [[WOMADelaide]] and [[Adelaide Writers' Week]], but after a hiatus in 2021, it returned in 2022 as the season finale in late November or early December.
==Background== [[File:Clipsal 500 - turn 9 in 2008.jpg|thumb|right|Turn 9]] The Adelaide Street Circuit was used for the [[Formula One]] [[Australian Grand Prix]] from [[1985 Australian Grand Prix|1985]] to [[1995 Australian Grand Prix|1995]]. Supercars, then known as [[Group A]] (1985 to 1992) and [[Supercars Championship#Group 3A|Group 3A Touring Cars]] (1993 to 1995), had competed in [[Supercars Challenge (event)|support races]] at each of these Grands Prix although these races did not count towards the annual [[Australian Touring Car Championship]] (ATCC). The state of South Australia had also previously hosted championship rounds of the ATCC at [[Mallala Motor Sport Park]] in 1963 and between 1969 and 1998 and at [[Adelaide International Raceway]] from 1972 to 1988.
On 1 September 1998, the [[Government of South Australia]] announced the conclusion of successful negotiations with the Australian Vee Eight Supercar Company (AVESCO) for the staging of a Supercars race to be known as the Sensational Adelaide 500 on a shortened version of the Grand Prix track. The race effectively replaced the Mallala round on the calendar. The initial contract was for a period of five years with an option for a further five years.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www2.parliament.sa.gov.au/hansard_data%5C1998%5Cha%5Cwh041198.ha.pdf| title = Parliament of South Australia – House of Assembly Hansard, 4 November 1998| access-date = 25 June 2020| archive-date = 10 April 2008| archive-url = https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20080410232535/http://www2.parliament.sa.gov.au/hansard_data%5C1998%5Cha%5Cwh041198.ha.pdf| url-status = dead}}</ref> After the conclusion of the 1999 race, [[Clipsal]] were announced as the event's major sponsor and it became known as the Clipsal 500 Adelaide, a deal which continued until 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://speedcafe.com/clipsal-drop-adelaide-500-event-sponsorship/|title=Clipsal to drop Adelaide 500 event sponsorship|date=28 November 2016|publisher=Speedcafe|access-date=25 February 2017}}</ref> After the 2018 race was held with no major [[naming rights]] sponsor, it was announced that [[broadband]] provider Superloop would take over as title sponsor for the next three years.<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/motor-sport/v8-supercars/adelaide-500-supercar-race-to-become-superloop-500-from-2019/news-story/1a2f53cf708faf4a372a25bdf30277ff| title=New Adelaide 500 name sponsor revealed |date=2018-10-25| website=adelaidenow.com.au |language=en| access-date=2019-02-01}}</ref> The event had an agreement to appear on the calendar until 2021.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://speedcafe.com/clipsal-500-deal-extended-until-2012/|title=Clipsal 500 deal extended until 2021|date=9 November 2012| publisher=Speedcafe| access-date=9 January 2018}}</ref>
==History==
The event originally usually took place in February<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://superloopadl500.com.au/blogs/2019/05/29/media_release_superloop_adelaide_500_claims_pole_position_as_2020_supercars_season_opener|title=MEDIA RELEASE: SUPERLOOP ADELAIDE 500 CLAIMS POLE POSITION AS 2020 SUPERCARS SEASON OPENER|date=29 May 2019|website=Superloop Adelaide 500|access-date=24 November 2019}}</ref> and March, contributing to what locals term "mad March", along with the [[Adelaide Festival]], [[Adelaide Fringe]], [[WOMADelaide]] and [[Adelaide Writers' Week]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lobley |first1=Katrina |title=March madness as Adelaide Fringe, WOMADelaide, Adelaide Festival and Adelaide Writers' Week kick off |url=https://www.traveller.com.au/adelaide-city-of-festivals-adelaide-fringe-womadelaide-adelaide-festival-and-adelaide-writers-week-h0u2to |access-date=7 November 2019 |work=Traveller |date=7 February 2018 |language=en-au}}</ref><ref name="20promoter">{{cite news |last1=Coch |first1=Mat |title=Adelaide 500 promoters keen to understand Supercars' future |url=https://speedcafe.com/adelaide-500-promoters-keen-to-understand-supercars-future/ |access-date=24 February 2020 |work=[[Speedcafe]] |date=24 February 2020}}</ref> In October 2020, it was announced the [[South Australian Tourism Commission]] would withdraw support for the event, putting the event on hiatus.<ref name="cancel">{{Cite news|last=Herrero|first=Daniel|date=29 October 2020|title=SA Tourism Commission confirms Adelaide 500 axing|work=[[Speedcafe]]|url=https://speedcafe.com/sa-tourism-commission-confirms-adelaide-500-axing/}}</ref> It returned from the 2022 season as the season finale in late November or early December.
===1999=== The [[1999 Sensational Adelaide 500|1999]] event saw [[Craig Lowndes]] win the Saturday race, only to be disqualified due to his involvement in an accident with Danny Osborne, and made to start from the back of the grid for race two on the Sunday. Lowndes passed every car in the field to also win race two and thus become the first winner of the Adelaide 500, in what remains his only event victory. Lowndes' disqualification from race one was later overturned.<ref name="20poll">{{cite web|url=https://speedcafe.com/poll-favourite-adelaide-500-moment/|title=POLL: Favourite Adelaide 500 moment |last1=Howard| first1=Tom| last2=Herrero| first2=Dan|date=26 February 2018| publisher=Speedcafe| access-date=4 March 2018}}</ref> The 1999 race was also controversial, as the original regulations stated the race was one 500 kilometre race with an overnight break at the 250 km mark. When a significant portion of high-profile cars retired in the first leg, the regulations were changed overnight to allow those cars to start the Sunday race.<ref name="ATCC50">{{cite book | title=The official history: Australian Touring Car Championship - 50 Years | last1=Greenhalgh | first1=David | last2=Howard | first2=Graham | last3=Wilson | first3=Stewart | publisher=Chevron Publishing Group | year=2011 | isbn=978-0-9805912-2-4 | location=[[St Leonards, New South Wales|St Leonards]], [[New South Wales]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hsv.com.au/racing/99results/round2/satcc2_99_summary.htm|title=Legendry [sic] Lowndes Blitzes Adelaide 500|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070829180208/http://www.hsv.com.au/racing/99results/round2/satcc2_99_summary.htm|archive-date=29 August 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> The inaugural event also proved a challenge to the fitness of the drivers, with both [[Paul Radisich]] and [[John Faulkner (racing driver)|John Faulkner]] requiring medical assistance due to dehydration.<ref name="topten">{{cite web|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/motor-sport/v8-supercars/top-10-clipsal-500-magic-moments/news-story/99319a7223499a4e50cf80053c8770fe|title=Top 10 Clipsal 500 magic moments|last=Dale|first=William|date=27 February 2015|publisher=[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)|The Advertiser]]|access-date=8 January 2018}}</ref>
===2000s=== [[File:Clipsal 500 - main straight on friday 2008.jpg|thumb|right|Pit straight during qualifying on Friday 2008]] The [[2000 Clipsal 500|2000 event]] once again saw a last-to-first drive, with [[Mark Skaife]] winning the Sunday race after starting 38th due to a DNF on Saturday.<ref name="20poll"/> Despite this, the event win was awarded to [[Garth Tander]], the only occasion in which the Sunday winner was not awarded the event win.<ref name="gallery">{{cite web|url=https://www.supercars.com/news/championship/gallery-20-years-of-adelaide-500-winners/|title=Gallery: 20 years of Adelaide 500 winners|date=5 March 2018|publisher=Supercars.com|access-date=5 March 2018}}</ref> In [[2001 Clipsal 500]], Craig Lowndes won his first race for [[Ford Australia|Ford]] since his defection from the [[Holden Racing Team]] to a [[Gibson Motorsport]] Ford. After winning the Saturday race, he was again in contention on Sunday until an incident with his former teammate Skaife ended his charge.<ref name="20poll"/> In 2002, the track layout received its only modification to date, with Turn 8 being re-profiled to what became known as 'The Sweeper'. The change followed [[Brad Jones (racing driver)|Brad Jones]]'s roll-over at the previous version of the corner in 2000 among other incidents. The re-profiled corner became one of the most infamous corners in Australian motorsport with several high-profile victims in the first year including Radisich and [[Glenn Seton]].<ref name="ATCC50"/> 2002 also saw a pre-qualifying session held, in the week leading into the event, at Mallala Motor Sport Park due to capacity and scheduling constraints at the Adelaide 500 event.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Craill |first1=Richard |title=Mallala, Smithy and the Old Airport Track |url=https://www.theracetorque.com/2020/08/mallala-smithy-and-the-old-airport-track/ |access-date=7 August 2020 |work=The Race Torque |date=2 August 2020 |language=en-AU}}</ref>
[[Holden]] had dominated the event from 1999 to [[2003 Clipsal 500|2003]], with three wins to Skaife and one each to Bright and Tander following Lowndes' inaugural event victory. It wasn't until [[2004 Clipsal 500|2004]] that a Ford driver won the event, with [[Marcos Ambrose]] winning both races, repeating the feat in 2005. Ford's turn of fate was signified by a sweep of the top four in the Saturday race of the [[2005 Clipsal 500 Adelaide|2005]] event.<ref name="20poll"/> [[Jamie Whincup]] then made it three in a row for Ford in [[2006 Clipsal 500|2006]] with his first event win in Supercars in his first appearance for [[Triple Eight Race Engineering]].<ref name="ATCC50"/> The [[2007 Clipsal 500|2007]] event brought about the first instance of the driver who scored the most weekend points not winning the event. Brothers [[Todd Kelly]] and [[Rick Kelly]] won one race each across the weekend however Rick was credited with the event win for his Sunday race victory despite scoring less points in the other race.<ref name="ATCC50"/> Whincup went on to win again in [[2008 Clipsal 500|2008]], [[2009 Clipsal 500|2009]] and [[2011 Clipsal 500|2011]] to be the most successful driver in the event's history to date. The 2008 event was, however, marred by the death of [[Ashley Cooper (racing driver)|Ashley Cooper]] following a crash in the second-tier [[Fujitsu V8 Supercars Series]] race.
===2010s=== [[File:Holden VF Commodore of Shane van Gisbergen 2013.JPG|thumb|right|The [[Holden VF Commodore]] of [[Shane van Gisbergen]] at the [[2013 Clipsal 500 Adelaide]]]] From [[2002 Clipsal 500|2002]] to 2009, the Adelaide 500 was the opening round of the championship. It lost this position in [[2010 Clipsal 500|2010]] and 2011, with the [[Yas V8 400]] in the [[United Arab Emirates]] opening the series. From [[2012 Clipsal 500|2012]], Adelaide returned to being the opening round.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://speedcafe.com/v8-supercars-announces-2012-calendar/|title=V8 Supercars announces 2012 calendar|date=8 October 2011|publisher=Speedcafe|access-date=25 February 2017}}</ref> The 2012 Clipsal 500 provided one of the event's most memorable finishes when Whincup chased down and overtook [[Will Davison]] on the final lap of the Saturday race. Whincup had made an additional pitstop and gained enough ground to take advantage when Davison's car began to run out of fuel. Davison went on to win the event with a win on Sunday, his first since joining [[Ford Performance Racing]]. The [[2013 Clipsal 500|2013]] event was the first of the Car of the Future regulations, which saw [[Nissan]] and [[Mercedes-Benz]] join the series as the first manufacturers outside [[Ford Australia|Ford]] and [[Holden]] since [[1993 Australian Touring Car Championship|1993]]. The Sunday race was won by [[Shane van Gisbergen]] in the aftermath of his controversial decision to announce his retirement during the [[2012 International V8 Supercars Championship|2012 season]] before switching teams to [[Tekno Autosports]] over the off-season.<ref name="topten"/>
In [[2014 Clipsal 500|2014]], [[Volvo Cars|Volvo]] rejoined the series and made an immediate impact with [[Scott McLaughlin]] fighting off Whincup on the final lap to finish second in the newly introduced second 125 km race on Saturday.<ref name="topten"/> On the Sunday, Jason Bright rolled his [[Brad Jones Racing]] car at the Senna Chicane, thirteen years after team boss [[Brad Jones (racing driver)|Brad Jones]] rolled his car at Turn 8. [[James Courtney]] won the event and in [[2015 Clipsal 500 Adelaide|2015]] became the fourth driver to win the Clipsal 500 back-to-back, after Skaife, Ambrose and Whincup. In doing so he also provided the Holden Racing Team with a record sixth and seventh event wins, two ahead of Triple Eight, who scored their fifth victory in [[2017 Clipsal 500|2017]] with van Gisbergen. The intervening event in [[2016 Clipsal 500|2016]] was disrupted by thunderstorms and heavy rain on the Sunday with [[Nick Percat]] eventually taking his first solo win and the only for [[Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport]] amidst a delayed start, confusion surrounding the fuel drop regulations and a red flag.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://speedcafe.com/percat-wins-chaotic-rain-hit-clipsal-500/|title=Percat wins chaotic rain hit Clipsal 500|last=Bartholomaeus|first=Stefan|date=6 March 2016|publisher=Speedcafe|access-date=8 January 2018}}</ref>
Van Gisbergen swept the [[2017 Clipsal 500 Adelaide|2017]] and [[2018 Adelaide 500|2018]] editions of the event, taking four poles and four race victories in a return to the two by 250 km format.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.supercars.com/news/championship/adelaide-double-for-van-gisbergen-whincup-dnfs/|title=Adelaide double for van Gisbergen, Whincup DNFs|last=Adam|first=Mitchell|date=4 March 2018|publisher=Supercars.com|access-date=4 March 2018}}</ref> The 2018 victory, in the twentieth running of the event, was the first victory for the [[Holden ZB Commodore]] in its debut appearance.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Adam |first1=Mitchell |title=Van Gisbergen wins in one-two for new ZB |url=https://www.supercars.com/news/championship/van-gisbergen-wins-in-one-two-for-new-zb/ |access-date=3 March 2019 |work=Supercars |date=3 March 2018 |language=en}}</ref> 2018 also saw the state of South Australia hosting two championship rounds for the first time since 1977 with [[The Bend Motorsport Park]] in [[Tailem Bend, South Australia|Tailem Bend]] joining the calendar. In the return of the [[Ford Mustang]] nameplate to the championship in [[2019 Supercars Championship|2019]], [[Scott McLaughlin]] achieved the same feat as van Gisbergen, winning the first championship race and [[2019 Adelaide 500|round]] for the [[Ford Mustang (sixth generation)|new car]] on debut. It was also the first race and round win for the Mustang nameplate since [[Allan Moffat]] at [[Oran Park V8 Supercar round|Oran Park]] in [[1972 Australian Touring Car Championship|1972]], while McLaughlin's [[Dick Johnson Racing|team]]'s co-owner [[Dick Johnson (racing driver)|Dick Johnson]] had also won a [[1985 Australian Touring Car season#Australian Grand Prix support race|non-championship race]] at the Adelaide Street Circuit in a [[Ford Mustang (third generation)|Ford Mustang GT]] in 1985.<ref>{{cite news |title=McLaughlin, Mustang sweep Supercars opener |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/mclaughlin-mustang-sweep-supercars-opener |access-date=3 March 2019 |work=[[Special Broadcasting Service|SBS News]] |date=3 March 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
===2020s=== In the week leading into the [[2020 Adelaide 500]], [[General Motors]] announced that the Holden brand, which was founded in Adelaide and has competed in every edition of the championship since its inception, would be retired by the end of the year.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Keane |first1=Daniel |title='It didn't have to be this way': Holden's heartland reacts to brand's axing after 164 years |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-17/holden-heartland-mourns-loss-of-164-year-old-brand/11972384 |access-date=24 February 2020 |publisher =[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |website =ABC News |date=17 February 2020 |language=en-AU}}</ref> The factory Holden team, run by Triple Eight Race Engineering, won the first race of the weekend with winner Jamie Whincup dedicating the win to Holden.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Caffrey |first1=Oliver |title=Whincup dedicates Supercars win to Holden |url=https://www.espn.com.au/v8-supercars/story/_/id/28755446/whincup-dedicates-supercars-win-holden |access-date=24 February 2020 |work=[[ESPN]] |date=22 February 2020 |language=en}}</ref> Whincup's team-mate van Gisbergen was leading the Sunday race until he was forced to make an additional pitstop for fuel due to a team error and then later suffered a mechanical failure and did not finish. This granted 2019 winner McLaughlin with a back to back event win.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pavey |first1=James |title=Supercars 2020, Adelaide 500, Race 2, live blog, updates, video, race report |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsport/supercars/supercars-2020-adelaide-500-race-2-live-blog-updates-video-race-report/news-story/571c21362808602fdaf3fd536be559b6 |access-date=24 February 2020 |work=[[Fox Sports (Australia)|Fox Sports]] |date=23 February 2020 |language=en-AU}}</ref>
====Hiatus (2020–2021)==== In October 2020, the event was cancelled, with the [[South Australian Tourism Commission]] announcing that the contract would be terminated one-year early and no renewal will be sought.<ref name="cancel"/> The [[COVID-19 pandemic in Australia|COVID-19 pandemic]], increased costs and declining public interest due to the discontinuation of Australian-manufactured Ford Falcons or Holden Commodores in the competition<ref>{{cite news| url = https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-18/holden-ford-rivalry-at-adelaide-500-supercars-for-last-time/11975278| title = Holden vs Ford rivalry delivered a 'death' blow at Supercars Adelaide 500 after Holden exit - ABC News| newspaper = ABC News| date = 18 February 2020}}</ref> were cited by [[Premier of South Australia]] [[Steven Marshall]] as reasons for the event's demise.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Coch |first1=Mat |title=South Australian Premier brands Adelaide 500 'unviable' |url=https://speedcafe.com/south-australian-premier-brands-adelaide-500-unviable/ |access-date=30 October 2020 |work=Speedcafe |date=29 October 2020}}</ref> The Supercars category released a statement shortly after the announcement stating its regret at the decision and willingness to return to Adelaide should the government decide to hold the event again.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Supercars issue statement on Adelaide 500|url=https://www.supercars.com/news/championship/supercars-issue-statement-on-adelaide-500/|access-date=2020-11-01|website=Supercars|language=en}}</ref>
====Return (2022)==== [[File:Adelaide Street Circuit.jpg|thumb|right|The street circuit as seen from a helicopter in November 2024.]] South Australian Opposition Leader [[Peter Malinauskas]] launched a campaign via a South Australian Labor Party petition platform to restore the event,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Peter Malinauskas|url=https://twitter.com/pmalinauskasmp/status/1321983595620175872|access-date=2020-11-01|website=Twitter|language=en}}</ref> and indicated an intent to return the Adelaide 500 should his party win government.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Adelaidenow.com.au|url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=AAWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.adelaidenow.com.au%2Fnews%2Fsouth-australia%2Flabor-leader-peter-malinauskas-flies-to-sydney-to-fight-for-superloop-500%2Fnews-story%2F49154b66bc46504eeec3a7905b61e2dd&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&nk=c073c7d87583df4f2b87fadb9b3d0260-1604226766|access-date=2020-11-01|website=adelaidenow.com.au}}</ref> Malinauskas committed to reinstate the race in the leadup to the [[2022 South Australian state election]] at which he was elected premier. The Adelaide 500 returned as the final round of the [[2022 Supercars Championship|2022 series]], taking place late November or early December.<ref>[https://autoaction.com.au/2022/03/19/the-adelaide-500-is-officially-back The Adelaide 500 is officially back] ''[[Auto Action]]'' 19 March 2022</ref> South Australian-based manufacturer of [[LED lighting]] and [[digital display]]s for sports, then known as VALO,<ref name=valovailo>{{cite web |last=Roberts |first=Peter |title=VALO rebrands as VAILO to penetrate global markets |website=Australian Manufacturing Forum |date=11 May 2023 |url=https://www.aumanufacturing.com.au/valo-rebrands-as-vailo-to-penetrate-global-markets |access-date=9 October 2024}}</ref> acquired naming rights for three years, as chief commercial sponsor.<ref name=vailoname>{{cite web |title=VAILO Adelaide 500 |website=VAILO |date=22 June 2023 |url=https://vailo.com/vailo-adelaide-500/ |access-date=9 October 2024| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241009074123/https://vailo.com/vailo-adelaide-500/| archive-date= 9 Oct 2024| url-status=live}}</ref> After changing its name to VAILO in May 2023,<ref name=valovailo/> the event was branded VAILO Adelaide 500 in 2023.<ref name="auto">{{cite web | title=Partners | website=VAILO | date=9 October 2020 | url=https://vailo.com/partners/ | access-date=12 May 2023}}</ref><ref name=vailoname/>
==Format== The event is held over a four-day weekend, from Thursday to Sunday. A thirty-minute practice session is held on Thursday, then another thirty-minute practice session is held on Friday. Friday features a fifteen-minute qualifying session succeeded by a top ten shootout a day later, with a fifteen-minute practice session is held between them on Saturday. The combined results of which decide the grid for the following {{convert |250|km|adj=on}} race. Sunday features another fifteen-minute qualifying session succeeded by a top ten shootout, the combined results of which decide the grid for the following 250 km race.<ref>[https://www.supercars.com/news/2023-vailo-adelaide-500-track-schedule-revealed VAILO Adelaide 500 track schedule revealed] [[Supercars Championship|Supercars]] 13 October 2023</ref>
Between 2014 and 2016 the event consisted of two 125 km races on the Saturday and one 250 km race on Sunday. In [[2017 Clipsal 500 Adelaide|2017]] the organisers switched back to the original format due to the low popularity of the 125 km races from both fans and drivers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://speedcafe.com/format-change-clipsal-500-adelaide/|title=Format change for Clipsal 500 Adelaide|last=Bartholomaeus|first=Stefan|date=8 October 2016|publisher=Speedcafe|access-date=25 February 2017}}</ref>
Although the results of all races counted towards the Supercars Championship, the winner of the final race was normally declared the winner of the event, regardless of the results of the first race. The rest of the four days were filled with practice, qualifying, and support races for a number of other racing categories, which over the history of the event included the [[Super2 Series]], [[Formula 5000|Super5000]], [[SuperUtes Series]], [[Touring Car Masters]], [[Australian GT]], and [[Australian Carrera Cup Championship|Australian Carrera Cup]] amongst others.{{cn|date=October 2024}}
==Concerts== The event also includes evening concerts featuring big international and local names. Past performers have included [[Kiss (band)|Kiss]], [[Mötley Crüe]], [[Santana (band)|Santana]], [[The Doobie Brothers]], [[Rob Thomas (musician)|Rob Thomas]], [[Hilltop Hoods]], [[Keith Urban]], and [[Robbie Williams]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.supercars.com/news/championship/robbie-williams-to-headline-adelaide-500-concert/|title=Robbie Williams to headline Adelaide 500 concert|date=4 August 2017|publisher=Supercars.com|access-date=4 March 2018}}</ref><ref name=abc2018/>
Now known as the After Race Concert series,<ref>{{cite web |last=Wilson |first=Emily |title=J-MILLA & TONIX To Rock Out At Vailo Adelaide 500 After-Race Concerts |website=[[The Music (magazine)|The Music]] |date=9 October 2024 |url=https://themusic.com.au/news/j-milla-and-tonix-vailo-adelaide-500-the-after-race-concerts/oqIYtLe2ubg/09-10-24 |access-date=9 October 2024}}</ref> the November 2024 event featured headline acts [[Cold Chisel]], [[The Cruel Sea (band)|The Cruel Sea]], [[The Superjesus]], [[Crowded House]], [[Ocean Alley]], and [[Meg Mac]], along with local South Australian acts including hip hop artist [[J-MILLA]] and electronic/[[Indie rock|indie]]/pop group TONIX.<ref>{{cite web |last=Oates |first=Tayla |title=MusicSA Acts gear up for an unforgettable VAILO Adelaide 500 after-race concert |website=Glam Adelaide |date=8 October 2024 |url=https://glamadelaide.com.au/musicsa-acts-gear-up-for-an-unforgettable-vailo-adelaide-500-after-race-concert/ |access-date=9 October 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Dare |first=Laura |title=Burning rubber, breaking beats: J-MILLA drives hip-hop to new heights at VAILO Adelaide 500 |website=The Post |date=4 October 2024 |url=https://thepostsa.au/events/2024/10/04/burning-rubber-breaking-beats-j-milla-drives-hip-hop-to-new-heights-at-vailo-adelaide-500/ |access-date=9 October 2024}}</ref>
==Recognition == The Adelaide 500 was recognised on several occasions as the winner of the "Major Festivals & Events" category at the Australian Tourism Awards in 2003/04, 2005, 2007 and 2008. The event won best event of the series every year from 1999 to 2004. In 2005 it was inducted into the [[Supercars Hall of Fame]] and it has also been inducted into the SA Tourism Hall of Fame.<ref name="V8SA award">{{cite web|url=http://www.v8supercar.com.au/content/latest_news/32678140-Clipsal-500-Adelaide-named-as-nations-best-major-festival-or-event-for-third-time-/|url-status=dead|date=2007|title= Clipsal 500 Adelaide named as nation's best major festival or event for third time|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080504032506/http://www.v8supercar.com.au/content/latest_news/32678140-Clipsal-500-Adelaide-named-as-nations-best-major-festival-or-event-for-third-time-/ |archive-date=4 May 2008 }}</ref><ref name=awards>{{cite web |title=History |website=VAILO Adelaide 500 |date=14 April 2024 |url=https://adelaide500.com.au/about-us/history/ |access-date=9 October 2024}}</ref>
In 2011 the Clipsal 500 was named Best Event of the Year (of 14) at the V8 Supercars annual awards, after an hiatus, for the 8th time. (After being put into the sport's Hall of Fame in 2005, it was ineligible for the best event award for some years). It was also South Australia's biggest ticketed sports event for the 13th year, and by that year had won four Australian Tourism Awards and seven SA Tourism Awards for best major festival or event.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=The Advertiser|website=Adelaide Now|url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/sas-clipsal-king-of-v8s-events/news-story/50706846f5af65f9b75a66521c04d920|title=SA's Clipsal king of V8s events|date=6 Dec 2011|first= Stuart|last=Innes|access-date=8 September 2019}}</ref>
== Attendance and economic impact == [[File:HRT Clipsal March 2010 33 (4434632311).jpg|thumb|right|Crowd on the circuit after a race in 2010]] In 2008 the Clipsal 500 was attended by 291,400 people,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southaustralia.com/9002347.aspx|website= South Australia|title= Clipsal 500 Adelaide|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080402111838/http://www.southaustralia.com/9002347.aspx |archive-date=2 April 2008 }}</ref> the largest crowd for a domestic motorsport event in Australia,<ref name="V8SA award" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nzmotorsport.co.nz/content/newsarticle.cfm?id=13602 |title=Clipsal 500 Adelaide named as nation's best festival or event|date=2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160327120041/http://www.nzmotorsport.co.nz/content/newsarticle.cfm?id=13602 |archive-date=27 March 2016 }}</ref> and ({{as of|lc=y|2019}}) the record for attendance at the event.<ref name=attendance>{{cite web|url=https://superloopadl500.com.au/event_info/history/attendance_figures|title=Attendance Figures|publisher=Superloop ADL 500|access-date=24 February 2020}}</ref>
By 2017, attendance had been dropping at the event (244,350 in 2017), although television viewing figures remained strong. [[Robbie Williams]] played at the 2018 event concert,<ref name=abc2018>{{cite news|publisher =Australian Broadcasting Corporation |website =[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-01/sa-govt-hopes-robbie-williams-will-drag-spectators-to-v8-race/9485118|title =SA Government hopes Robbie Williams will drag spectators to V8 race |date=1 March 2018|first=Neil |last=Cross|access-date =7 September 2019}}</ref> with attendance reaching attendance 273,500 that year. Attendances in 2017 and 2019 (254,000) were the lowest since 2004 (237,400), and dropped significantly further in 2020 (206,000).<ref name=attendance/><ref name="20promoter"/>
Despite declining local attendance, figures in 2020 showed a record economic impact for South Australia and high rates of interstate visitors continuing to attend.<ref name=superloop>{{Cite web|date=2020-08-21|title=Superloop Adelaide 500 generates record $45.9m economic impact| url=https://tourism.sa.gov.au/news-articles/superloop-adelaide-500-generates-record-45-9m-economic-impact|access-date=2020-11-01|website=tourism.sa.gov.au|publisher=South Australian Tourism Commission|language=en}}</ref>
With over 250,000 in attendance in 2023, the Adelaide 500 became the most attended [[Supercars Championship|Supercars]] race in Australia.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 19, 2023 |title=VAILO Adelaide 500 Prepares for More Grandstand Shade |url=https://www.miragenews.com/vailo-adelaide-500-prepares-for-more-grandstand-1106723/ |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=Mirage News |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Herrero |first=Daniel |date=2022-12-05 |title=Comeback Adelaide 500 beats crowd target |url=https://speedcafe.com/comeback-adelaide-500-beats-crowd-target/ |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=Speedcafe.com |language=en-US |archive-date=27 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231127000621/https://www.speedcafe.com/2022/12/05/comeback-adelaide-500-beats-crowd-target/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Event names and sponsors== * 1999: Sensational Adelaide 500 * 2000–17: [[Clipsal]] 500 Adelaide * 2018: Adelaide 500 * 2019–20: Superloop Adelaide 500<ref name=superloop/> * 2022: VALO Adelaide 500<ref>{{cite web | title=New naming rights partner for Adelaide 500 | website=V8 Sleuth | date=2 August 2022 | url=https://www.v8sleuth.com.au/new-naming-rights-partner-for-adelaide-500/ | access-date=12 May 2023}}</ref> * 2023–2024: VAILO Adelaide 500<ref name="auto"/><ref name=vailoname/> * 2025: [[BP]] Adelaide Grand Final<ref>[https://speedcafe.com/supercars-news-2025-adelaide-grand-final-bp-naming-rights-sponsorship-announcement-details-peter-malinauskas-comments/ Adelaide Grand Final scores new title sponsor] ''Speedcafe'' 16 April 2025</ref>
==Winners== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" |- ! Year ! Driver ! Team ! Car ! Report |- ! [[1999 Shell Championship Series|1999]] | {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Craig Lowndes]] | [[Holden Racing Team]] | [[Holden VT Commodore]] | [[1999 Sensational Adelaide 500|Report]] |- ! [[2000 Shell Championship Series|2000]] | {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Garth Tander]]{{ref|1|1}} | [[Garry Rogers Motorsport]] | [[Holden VT Commodore]] | [[2000 Clipsal 500|Report]] |- ! [[2001 Shell Championship Series|2001]] | {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Jason Bright]] | [[Holden Racing Team]] | [[Holden VX Commodore]] | [[2001 Clipsal 500|Report]] |- ! [[2002 V8 Supercar Championship Series|2002]] | {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Mark Skaife]] | [[Holden Racing Team]] | [[Holden VX Commodore]] | [[2002 Clipsal 500|Report]] |- ! [[2003 V8 Supercar Championship Series|2003]] | {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Mark Skaife]] | [[Holden Racing Team]] | [[Holden VY Commodore]] | [[2003 Clipsal 500|Report]] |- ! [[2004 V8 Supercar Championship Series|2004]] | {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Marcos Ambrose]] | [[Stone Brothers Racing]] | [[Ford BA Falcon]] | [[2004 Clipsal 500|Report]] |- ! [[2005 V8 Supercar Championship Series|2005]] | {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Marcos Ambrose]] | [[Stone Brothers Racing]] | [[Ford BA Falcon]] | [[2005 Clipsal 500|Report]] |- ! [[2006 V8 Supercar Championship Series|2006]] | {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Jamie Whincup]] | [[Triple Eight Race Engineering]] | [[Ford BA Falcon]] | [[2006 Clipsal 500 Adelaide|Report]] |- ! [[2007 V8 Supercar Championship Series|2007]] | {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Rick Kelly]]{{ref|2|2}} | [[HSV Dealer Team]] | [[Holden VE Commodore]] | [[2007 Clipsal 500|Report]] |- ! [[2008 V8 Supercar Championship Series|2008]] | {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Jamie Whincup]] | [[Triple Eight Race Engineering]] | [[Ford BF Falcon]] | [[2008 Clipsal 500|Report]] |- ! [[2009 V8 Supercar Championship Series|2009]] | {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Jamie Whincup]] | [[Triple Eight Race Engineering]] | [[Ford FG Falcon]] | [[2009 Clipsal 500|Report]] |- ! [[2010 V8 Supercar Championship Series|2010]] | {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Garth Tander]] | [[Holden Racing Team]] | [[Holden VE Commodore]] | [[2010 Clipsal 500|Report]] |- ! [[2011 International V8 Supercars Championship|2011]] | {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Jamie Whincup]] | [[Triple Eight Race Engineering]] | [[Holden VE Commodore]] | [[2011 Clipsal 500|Report]] |- ! [[2012 International V8 Supercars Championship|2012]] | {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Will Davison]] | [[Ford Performance Racing]] | [[Ford FG Falcon]] | [[2012 Clipsal 500|Report]] |- ! [[2013 International V8 Supercars Championship|2013]] | {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Shane van Gisbergen]]{{ref|2|2}} | [[Tekno Autosports]] | [[Holden VF Commodore]] | [[2013 Clipsal 500 Adelaide|Report]] |- ! [[2014 International V8 Supercars Championship|2014]] | {{flagicon|AUS}} [[James Courtney]]{{ref|2|2}} | [[Holden Racing Team]] | [[Holden VF Commodore]] | [[2014 Clipsal 500|Report]] |- ! [[2015 International V8 Supercars Championship|2015]] | {{flagicon|AUS}} [[James Courtney]] | [[Holden Racing Team]] | [[Holden VF Commodore]] | [[2015 Clipsal 500|Report]] |- ! [[2016 International V8 Supercars Championship|2016]] | {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Nick Percat]]{{ref|2|2}} | [[Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport]] | [[Holden VF Commodore]] | [[2016 Clipsal 500|Report]] |- ! [[2017 Supercars Championship|2017]] | {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Shane van Gisbergen]] | [[Triple Eight Race Engineering]] | [[Holden VF Commodore]] | [[2017 Clipsal 500 Adelaide|Report]] |- ! [[2018 Supercars Championship|2018]] | {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Shane van Gisbergen]] | [[Triple Eight Race Engineering]] | [[Holden ZB Commodore]] | [[2018 Adelaide 500|Report]] |- ! [[2019 Supercars Championship|2019]] | {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Scott McLaughlin]] | [[DJR Team Penske]] | [[Ford Mustang (sixth generation)|Ford Mustang GT]] | [[2019 Adelaide 500|Report]] |- ! [[2020 Supercars Championship|2020]] | {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Scott McLaughlin]] | [[DJR Team Penske]] | [[Ford Mustang (sixth generation)|Ford Mustang GT]] | [[2020 Adelaide 500|Report]] |- |- style="background: #dddddd" ! 2021 | align="center" colspan="4" |''not held'' |- ! [[2022 Supercars Championship|2022]] | {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Broc Feeney]] | [[Triple Eight Race Engineering]] | [[Holden ZB Commodore]] | [[2022 Adelaide 500|Report]] |- ! [[2023 Supercars Championship|2023]] | {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Matthew Payne]]{{ref|2|2}} | [[Grove Racing]] | [[Ford Mustang (seventh generation)|Ford Mustang GT]] |- ! [[2024 Supercars Championship|2024]] | {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Will Brown (racing driver)|Will Brown]] | [[Triple Eight Race Engineering]] | [[Chevrolet Camaro (sixth generation)#ZL1|Chevrolet Camaro ZL1]] | |- ! [[2025 Supercars Championship|2025]] | {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Matthew Payne]]{{ref|2|2}} | [[Grove Racing]] | [[Ford Mustang (seventh generation)|Ford Mustang GT]] |}
'''Notes:''' * {{note|1|1}} The winner of the Sunday race is regarded as the Adelaide 500 winner, regardless of total points scored over the weekend. The 2000 event saw an exception to this rule, when Garth Tander was credited with the win despite Mark Skaife winning the Sunday race.<ref name="gallery"/> * {{note|2|2}} In all but seven events, the Sunday race winner was also the highest points scorer for the weekend ([[Todd Kelly]] scored the most points in 2007; Craig Lowndes in 2013 and 2014, [[Michael Caruso (racing driver)|Michael Caruso]] in 2016, [[Chaz Mostert]] in 2022 and 2025, and [[Cameron Waters]] in 2023.{{cn|date=October 2024}}
==Multiple winners==
===By driver===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" ! Wins ! Driver ! Years |- ! 4 | {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Jamie Whincup]] | 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011 |- ! 3 | {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Shane van Gisbergen]] | 2013, 2017, 2018 |- ! rowspan="6" | 2 | {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Mark Skaife]] | 2002, 2003 |- | {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Marcos Ambrose]] | 2004, 2005 |- | {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Garth Tander]] | 2000, 2010 |- | {{flagicon|AUS}} [[James Courtney]] | 2014, 2015 |- | {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Scott McLaughlin]] | 2019, 2020 |- | {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Matthew Payne]] | 2023, 2025 |}
===By team===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" ! Wins ! Team |- ! rowspan="2" | 7 | [[Holden Racing Team]] |- | [[Triple Eight Race Engineering]] |- ! rowspan="3" | 2 | [[Stone Brothers Racing]] |- | [[DJR Team Penske]] |- | [[Grove Racing]] |}
===By manufacturer===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" ! Wins ! Manufacturer |- ! 15 | [[Holden]] |- ! 10 | [[Ford Australia|Ford]] |}
==See also== * [[List of Australian Touring Car Championship races]]
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{official website|https://adelaide500.com.au/}}
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{{Australian Touring Car Racing}} {{Supercars Championship circuits}} {{V8 Supercar Teams}}
[[Category:Adelaide 500]] [[Category:Motorsport in Adelaide]] [[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1999]] [[Category:Sports competitions in Adelaide]] [[Category:Supercars Championship races]] [[Category:1999 establishments in Australia]]