Past champions reveal why Bathurst 1000 crown is always up for grabs
LAST year’s Bathurst 1000 champion Dave Reynolds says “I don’t plan on giving this trophy back”. But with six different winners in six years, history suggests it will be changing hands.
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IF the storied history of the Bathurst 1000 has taught motorsport fans one thing, it’s to expect the unexpected.
“It is a race where anything can happen,’’ said 2013 Bathurst champion Mark Winterbottom.
“And the race that anyone can win. It is not about who has the fastest car. It is about who
does the best job on the day.’’
This year’s Mount Panorama great race was officially launched on Wednesday with past Bathurst champions Winterbottom, Dave Reynolds, Will Davison, Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes gathering at Circular Quay with the prized Peter Brock Trophy.
And even though all of that group except Whincup are out of the Supercars drivers’ title hunt, each of the Mount Panorama kings have a declared they have a Bathurst 1000 shot.
“I don’t plan on giving this trophy back,’’ said reigning championship Reynolds.
“I am certainly planning on winning it again. This is the race that just means everything. You
don’t really understand what you mean until you win it.
“This is the race that everyone cares about and the race you are remembered for winning. I
want that feeling back.’’
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Even shock 2016 winner Will Davison is confident of repeating the surprise success he
achieved with Tekno Autosport.
“What Bathurst shows is that you should expect the unexpected,’’ Davison said.
“You go to the race expecting it will all go to plan and sure enough it erupts. We kept
ourselves in the hunt all day back in 2016 and sure enough the three cars in front had a big
tangle and I shut my eyes and went through the smoke. We obviously got to the front and
had a massive day.
“Anything can happen if you keep yourself in the race.’’
Winterbottom declared a win at Bathurst would erase the hurt of a horror year for his
Tickford Racing team.
The Ford star is out of the championship battle that has become a three-way fight between
Shane van Gisbergen, Scott McLaughlin and Whincup.
“We need to turn it all around,’’ Winterbottom said.
“And there is no better place to do it then Bathurst. It will be tough to have the out right
speed to win but we have the experience and we have done it before. Anyone can win
Bathurst and that is the mentality we are going up with.
“There is no denying it has been a tough year and a win would go a long way to making up
for the disappointments.’’
Winterbottom said that having six different winners in six years proved the Bathurst 1000
would be up for grabs.
“There are stories every year,’’ Winterbottom said.
“The fast guy doesn’t always win. To have six winners in six years shows just how tough it is
to win. Someone will double up eventually and I am hoping it is us.’’
The Bathurst 1000 begins at Mount Panorama on October 4.
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