Bathurst 1000: American Indy Car stars James Hinchcliffe, Alexander Rossi to create global interest in mountain race
The Bathurst 1000 is set to join the Monaco GP and the Indy 500 as a televised world racing great, with a record-breaking international audience predicted for the V8 Supercars showpiece.
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More than a million Americans are expected to tune into this year’s Bathurst 1000 to watch as the first all-North American team attempt to conquer Mount Panorama.
In a global coup that will confirm the Bathurst 1000 as one of the world’s greatest races, a record-breaking international audience has been predicted for the Supercars showpiece with the addition of American Indy Car stars James Hinchcliffe and Alexander Rossi.
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Putting global glitz and glamour into what began as a rural event, Hinchcliffe and Rossi will drive against homegrown stars like Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes in a wildcard entry put together by US motoring icon Michael Andretti.
Household names in the US, the addition of former Indianapolis 500 winner Rossi and Indy Car race winner Hinchcliffe has created an unprecedented global interest in Australia’s No. 1 motorsport.
“Bathurst is one of the greatest races in the world which connects Supercars with an international audience of more than 232 million homes in 97 countries,’’ Supercars general manager of TV Nathan Prendergast said.
“The US market is particularly strong and on a big growth curve, particularly since Roger Penske, Michael Andretti and Ford US have become involved.
The North American stars have been brought to Australia by US racing legend Andretti to race for the team he part owns, Walkinshaw Andretti United.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal this year’s Bathurst 1000 will be broadcast into 65 million homes in North America through US TV giant CBS.
“Our broadcaster CBS is expecting a big audience in the US along with those who will be streaming the race on Superview and Motortrend On Demand,’’ Prendergast said.
“With Alex and James becoming the first full US pairing this weekend that number will grow even further.”
Swapping his open-wheeled Indy Car for a Holden Commodore, Rossi is hoping to become the first man to win both the Indy 500 and the Bathurst 1000.
“The car is very different to an IndyCar,’’ Rossi said.
“And the challenge of going to Bathurst and Mount Panorama is huge. It is something we are going to have to adapt o very quickly. It is a big track to learn and it doesn’t forgive mistakes.
We have our work cut out but we are very optimistic.
“A Supercar is different but at the end of the day a race car is a race car. You are still trying to go around the track as fast as everyone else. The biggest thing will be the weight of the car. An Indy car, things happen a lot faster and it is probably half the weight.
“The Supercar, even though you are going 300km/h, you have to be patient with it. Things take more time. The braking approach and technique will be quite different.’’
Rossi is also hoping to put Australian V8s on the US racing map.
“Everyone know about V8s in the racing world and the racing community,’’ Rossi said.
“In America there are a lot of different sports that attract a lot of attention. I think that once people that are fans of Indy car tune in to this race and see the competitiveness and the uniqueness of this track, of just our cool the series is, I think there will be a lot more eyeballs on this. I think it will open a lot of doors for all of us.’’
Rossi, a former IndyCar rookie of the year, declared the Bathurst 1000 was one of the world’s top-six car racing events.
“It is just a hell of an opportunity to be out here,’’ Rossi said.
“I can’t wait to get out there.’’
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Hinchcliffe said he jumped at the chance to drive a Supercar at Bathurst when invited by his IndyCar team owner Andretti.
“I have heard this is one of the best sporting event on the Australian calendar,’’
“So this is one I have wanted to come to even just as a spectator. Hopefully we can join the party and put on a good show.’’