EVs are some of the fastest cars in the world that we often see on race tracks. However, Willowbank Raceway has banned the racing and testing of all road-registered electric cars at the track.

This is not the first time that a track has banned electric vehicles, as Summit Point Raceway in West Virginia did so last year and Anglesey in Wales in early 2024. The only difference is that the ban on these tracks also includes hybrid vehicles.

Willowbank Raceway is a track in Queensland (Australia) built in 1985, and bases its ban on Australian Motorsport Agency (NEDRA) regulations and emergency response protocols. Some of the reasons are that electric vehicles pose a risk because the batteries release toxic and flammable gas after a crash, the inability to confirm that the fire on the car is extinguished, the danger of not being able to unlock the door from the outside after a crash, the danger to rescuers when trying to extract an unconscious driver from the car after a crash , the risk of not being able to push or tow an extinguished vehicle with available equipment, as well as the fact that cars need specific fire extinguishing systems.

The stated reasons may be valid, but some believe that the same reasons can be applied to other vehicles that have e.g. electric locks. Statistics show that electric vehicles are less likely to catch fire than ICE or hybrid cars, but batteries still present a special challenge. They suspect that Willowbank Raceway is not being honest in its claims, as they have allowed supercars with electric modes like the Ferrari SF90 Stradale, McLaren Artura and Lamborghini Revuelto to use the track.

Whether this decision is valid and whether it will be changed in the future remains to be seen.

Source: Drive