The only Australian driver in the field, 1980 World Drivers' Champion Alan Jones who was driving the Haas Lola team's Lola THL1-Hart, was given the honour of driving the first Formula One car out onto the new circuit when first practice opened at 10am on the Friday morning.
O único piloto australiano na pista, o campión do mundo de 1980 Alan Jones que pilotaba o Lola THL1 - Hart do equipo Haas Lola, tivo a honra de pilotar o primeiro coche de Fórmula Un no novo circuíto cando abriuse a primeira práctica ás 10 a.m. na mañá do venres.