Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix

Higgins Coatings - Preparing the Circuit for Race Week

Project Overview

When the engines roar and the lights go out at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, every detail of the circuit needs to be ready for the world stage.

Behind the scenes, the team from Higgins Coatings Melbourne has been working hard to ensure key areas of the track infrastructure are prepared, protected and looking their best before the first car hits the circuit at Albert Park.

Services Delivered

Our Melbourne team was engaged to complete a range of specialised coating works across critical track infrastructure.
 
  • Debris fence panels: Approximately 108 debris fence panels were taken from bare substrate through to a finished black protective coating system. These fences play an important role in track safety, helping contain debris from cars travelling at speeds of over 300 km/h during Formula 1 racing.
  • Territory fencing: Selected territory fencing across designated areas of the circuit was fully prepared and repainted to ensure a clean, uniform appearance while maintaining durability for the high-traffic race environment.
  • Overpasses & pedestrian access: All overpass stair treads were repainted and upgraded with a yellow nose strip on the leading edge, providing improved visibility and achieving a P5 slip rating. An essential safety requirement for the thousands of spectators moving through the circuit during the event.

Challenges

Just like the teams on the track, timing is everything. The biggest challenge for this project was the tight delivery window ahead of race preparations. Completing the works required precise coordination of labour, preparation and coating application to ensure everything was ready before the global spotlight turned to Melbourne.

Results and Impact

To ensure long-lasting protection in an outdoor, high-exposure environment, a specialised coating system was applied across the works:
 
  • Acryloc Primer for strong adhesion to prepared substrates 
  • Haymes Solashield Topcoats delivering durability, UV resistance and a consistent finish 

Every surface underwent thorough washing and preparation prior to coating to ensure optimal adhesion and longevity of the system. Through careful planning and efficient execution, our Melbourne team delivered the works within the required timeframe, ensuring the circuit infrastructure is ready for race week.

 

  
2-Mar-06-2026-05-49-44-7133-AM 4-4 



 

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