It’s that time of year again – the Bathurst 1000 is upon us. Here’s what to keep an eye out for at Australian motorsport’s biggest weekend.

The favourites

Odds-on favourites for this year’s Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000, with 10 wins so far this year, including the last round at the Sandown 500, is Red Bull Racing Australia’s Jamie Whincup and Paul Dumbrell.

Paul Dumbrell (left) and Garth Tander after their Sandown 500 win. Photo: Getty

The partnership, now in its third year, dominated proceedings at Sandown and will be hungry to improve upon their second at last year’s Bathurst 1000.

However, you can never count out five-time Bathurst winner Craig Lowndes, freshly paired with Steven Richards, who has the same class-leading Red Bull as Whincup and Dumbrell – and will be keen to get back on the top step of the podium at Mt Panorama.

Impressive corners

As a challenge to the world’s best drivers, Bathurst is unrivalled: 23 incredible corners, massive elevation changes and a top speed of 300km/h down Conrod Straight. It’s an epic rollercoaster of a lap. However, Skyline is famous as the dramatic corner that leads off the top of the mountain.

“It almost feels like you’re dropping off the edge of the world. I find it’s one of the most challenging parts of the track,” Supercheap Auto Racing’s Tim Slade said.

Look out for the TV helicopter, which has followed the cars over the top of the mountain, peeling off in the background to continue its journey down the mountain.

Pit stops

All cars competing in Australia’s Great Race must make seven compulsory stops – including driver changes.

To ensure that no one attempts the 1000km distance solo, done for the final time by Peter Brock in 1972, the rules now stipulate that all entrants must run a co-driver, and that each driver must not exceed three-and-a-half hours on track, or two-thirds race distance.

The teams use a driver change assistant to help the drivers enter and exit the vehicle. The assistant also helps with changing the driver’s harness, cool suit, drink bottle, radio and window net.

Once the stop is complete, the car controller gives the “go” signal.

The manufacturers

Automotive manufacturers have flocked to V8 Supercars, which is considered the most competitive touring car series in the world.

Scott McLaughlin driving the Valvoline Racing Volvo.

Holden is the undisputed champion at Bathurst, with 29 victories scored at Mt Panorama since its first year of competition in 1963 – and will be on the hunt for a milestone 30th win, having already secured the 2014 manufacturers’ title.

However, the competition up front is fierce. Pepsi Max Crew FPR Ford won the race last year; while Volvo are back at the mountain for the first time since 1998. Nissan, fielding four cars, will be looking to move forward, while Mercedes will be hoping for better luck for Lee Holdsworth and Craig Baird, given their huge crash at Sandown.

Lion to roar

The Holden Racing Team should be another hot contender for victory, with gun pairings James Courtney and Greg Murphy, and Garth Tander and Warren Luff, coming home two-three at Sandown, the traditional curtain-raiser to Bathurst.

2010 V8 champion Courtney would love to secure his maiden win at Mt Panorama, and he and four-time Bathurst winner Murphy are keen to step-up after crashing out of the race last year.

Gone, but never forgotten. – Peter Brock. Photo: Getty

In the #2 HRT Commodore, three-time Bathurst winner Garth Tander and reigning Pirtek Endurance Cup champion Warren Luff hold between them a formidable Bathurst pedigree – and are a potent force on the mountain.

The trophy

Holden legend Peter Brock’s legacy at Mt Panorama will never be forgotten, with his name adorning the trophy after his tragic passing in 2006. Brocky was third on debut at Bathurst in 1969, but went on to win the Great Race a record nine times, all in Holdens.

Brocky’s first win came in 1972, driving his giant-killing Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 to victory from fifth on the grid.

However, his greatest win on the mountain came in 1979 when he and co-driver Jim Richards won by six laps in their HDT Torana A9X, with “Peter Perfect” setting the then-lap record on the final lap.

THE CONTENDERS

Red Bull Racing Australia (Car No.1 Holden Commodore)

JAMIE WHINCUP Age: 31
 Bathurst starts: 12 Best result: First (2006, 2007, 2008, 2012)
PAUL DUMBRELL Age: 32
 Bathurst starts: 13 Best result: First (2012)

Last year’s runners-up will be the team to beat. They eased their way to second straight win at the traditional pre-Bathurst race at Sandown last month. Whincup is running hot after a mid-season slump and is on track for a record sixth championship.

Red Bull Racing Australia (Car No.888 Holden Commodore)

CRAIG LOWNDES Age: 40
 Bathurst starts: 20 Best result: First (1996, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010)
STEVEN RICHARDS Age: 42
 Bathurst starts: 21 Best result: First wins (1998, 1999, 2013)

A dream new pairing that looms as a major threat. Between them, they’ve conquered the mountain eight times – including Richards’ win with Ford’s Mark Winterbottom last year. Fourth at Sandown, but a podium at Bathurst is likely.

Can Craig Lowndes add to his tally of five Bathurst 1000 wins. Photo: Getty

Holden Racing Team (Car No.22 Holden Commodore)

JAMES COURTNEY Age: 34
 Bathurst starts: 9 Best result: Second (2007)
GREG MURPHY Age: 42
 Bathurst starts: 20 Best result: First (1996, 1999, 2003, 2004)

This high-profile duo will be out to make amends after last year’s enduro disaster. The pair crashed out of both the Bathurst and Gold Coast events but Murphy retained his co-driving gig and fired back with a second- place at Sandown.

Holden Racing Team (Car No.2 Holden Commodore)

GARTH TANDER Age: 37
 Bathurst starts: 16 Best result: First (2000, 2009, 2011)
WARREN LUFF Age: 38
 Bathurst starts: 13 Best result: Third (2012, 2013)

A new partnership that could go either way. Tander scored his first podium at Sandown last month, but will his inconsistency stand in the way of a fourth Bathurst crown? The plus: Luff helped Lowndes to podium finishes in all three enduros last year.

Pepsi Max Crew FPR (Car No.5 Ford Falcon)

MARK WINTERBOTTOM Age: 33
 Bathurst starts: 10 Best result: First (2013)
STEVE OWEN
 Age: 39
 Bathurst starts: 15 Best result: Second (2010)

If form is anything to go by, Winterbottom’s Bathurst defence is
 on shaky ground. The one-time series leader has been without a top-five result the past 10 races and has lost his 2013-winning partner Richards. The new duo finished 10th at Sandown.

Valvoline Racing GRM (Car No.33 Volvo S60)

SCOTT McLAUGHLIN Age: 21
 Bathurst starts: 2 Best result: Sixth (2012)
ALEXANDRE PREMAT
 Age: 32
 Bathurst starts: 2 Best result: 16th (2012)

Volvo have got the pace, but have they got the distance? McLaughlin guided the S60 to two wins this year but the blue beast remains untested over 1000km. An early pit stop incident cost them time and positions at Sandown.

Tekno Autosports (Car No.97 Holden Commodore)

SHANE VAN GISBERGEN Age: 25
 Bathurst starts: 7 Best result: Sixth (2011)
JONATHON WEBB Age: 30 
Bathurst starts: 8 Best result: Sixth (2012)

A strong new pairing despite less-than-impressive results around Mount Panorama. Van Gisbergen’s had 10 podiums – including three wins – this season and is joined by Webb who only stopped driving full-time last year. Finished sixth at Sandown.

Lockwood Racing (Car No.14 Holden Commodore)

FABIAN COULTHARD Age: 32 
Bathurst starts: 10 Best result: 10th (2008)
LUKE YOULDEN Age: 36
 Bathurst starts: 14 Best result: Third (2003)

After years of trying, Brad Jones Racing is still without a Bathurst win. Coulthard and Youlden are an outside chance of breaking that duck in their second season together, although victory might be a step too far given their 11th at Sandown.

Chaz Mostert set the early pace in Thursday practice. Photo: Getty

Pepsi Max Crew FPR (Car No.6 Ford Falcon)

CHAZ MOSTERT Age: 22
 Bathurst starts: 1 Best result: 21st (2013)
PAUL MORRIS Age: 46
 Bathurst starts: 21 Best result: Third (1999)

The master and apprentice. Mostert wasn’t even born when Morris made his mountain debut in 1991, but has been FPR’s form driver of late. Morris guided rookie Scott Pye to a career-best sixth at Bathurst last year but has the potential to do better this time.

Team BOC (Car No.8 Holden Commodore)

JASON BRIGHT Age: 41
 Bathurst starts: 17 Best result: First (1998)
ANDREW JONES Age: 34
 Bathurst starts: 12 Best result: Fourth (2005)

No doubt these two are hoping Lady Luck is on their side in season No.4 together. Bright was unlucky to miss a podium last year after being passed with three laps to go for fifth place. A lost door panel ended their Sandown campaign early last month.

FULL SCHEDULE

Friday, October 10

07:30 Aussie Racing Cars qualifying

08:00 Touring Car Masters qualifying

08:30 V8 Ute Series qualifying

09:00 Carrera Cup qualifying

09:30 V8 Supercars practice

10:25 Dunlop Series practice

11:15 Aussie Racing Cars race 1

13:10 V8 Supercars practice

14:25 Carrera Cup race 1

15:00 V8 Supercars qualifying

Mark Winterbottom and co-driver Steve Owen. Photo: Getty

15:55 Dunlop Series qualifying 16:35 Touring Car Masters race 1

Saturday, October 11

07:45 V8 Ute Series race 1

08:15 Aussie Racing Cars race 2

09:55 Dunlop Series warm up

10:20 V8 Supercars practice

13:00 Dunlop Series race 1

14:55 Touring Car Masters race 2

15:25 Carrera Cup race 2

16:00 Aussie Racing Cars race 3

16:30 V8 Ute Series race 2

17:10 V8 Supercars Top 10 Shootout

Sunday, October 12

07:20 Touring Car Masters race 3

07:50 V8 Supercars warm-up

08:20 V8 Ute Series race 3

08:50 Carrera Cup race 3

10:30 V8 Supercars
Bathurst 1000 (161 laps) 

On the box:

Friday, 10 October 1pm-4pm – Qualifying – Seven, 6:30pm-8:30pm – Friday night live – 7Mate

Saturday, 11 October 12pm-6pm – Top 10 Shootout – Seven

Sunday, 12 October 7am-6pm – Bathurst 1000 – Seven 

LATEST NEWS

Reynolds sets new lap record

Ford driver David Reynolds has set a new lap record in a V8 Supercar around Mount Panorama.

Reynolds was one of three cars that broke Craig Lowndes’ four-year-old time during the final practice session on Thursday for the Bathurst 1000.

His lap of 2:06.3714 was nearly half-a-second clear of Lowndes’ 2:06.8012, set during practice in 2010. More…

Lowndes not worried by faster track

Mount Panorama has drawn plenty of blood over the years, but V8 Supercars veteran Craig Lowndes doesn’t feel it’ll be any more dangerous with a shiny new surface despite anticipated higher speeds.

The famed public road circuit recently underwent a $2 million facelift that has most tipping track records to fall in the lead up to Sunday’s Bathurst 1000.

Lowndes currently holds the fastest lap time around the mountain in a V8 of two minutes 6.8012 seconds, set during practice in 2010. More…

Dick Johnson tipping outsiders to trouble Holden

V8 Supercars icon Dick Johnson has boldly predicted that Nissan or Mercedes-Benz could be the ones to cause an upset in Sunday’s race.

Motorsport legend Dick Johnson with son Steve. Photo: Getty

The two manufacturers entered the series last year, and had a combined seven cars contend the 2013 Great Race.

Only one of those finished inside the top 15 – Erebus Motorsport’s Lee Holdsworth and Craig Baird in a Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG.

While they’ve made considerable improvements in their second season, only once this year have either won a race – again, via Holdsworth at Winton. More…

Tander predicting motivated Warren Luff

Garth Tander hopes his new co-driver Warren Luff is still filthy about being dropped by Red Bull Racing for this year’s V8 Supercars endurance series.

Not because he likes to see him hurt, but because it could help their chances of a top finish in Sunday’s Bathurst 1000.

Luff drove with veteran Craig Lowndes at the frontrunning Holden outfit the past two endurance campaigns, scoring three podiums from four races last year to win the inaugural Enduro Cup.

Despite their success, he was shown the door in December. More…

Ford the early pacesetters

The gods have kept Greg Murphy’s lap safe – for now – as V8 Supercars’ frontrunners struggled to come to grips with the new track surface at Mount Panorama.

Ford Performance Racing (FPR) youngster Chaz Mostert was fastest in the opening practice session for this weekend’s Bathurst 1000, clocking a time of two minutes, 8.0736 seconds on Thursday.

Nissan’s James Moffat was second on the timesheets, followed by Holden Racing Team’s Garth Tander and James Courtney, and Ford driver David Reynolds in fifth. More…