Doonside V8 Supercars gun Mark Winterbottom’s advice - don’t let a postcode dictate your future
Mark Winterbottom maintains lessons learned growing up in Doonside are what he will call on when the going gets tough at the Bathurst 1000 this weekend.
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Mark Winterbottom wouldn’t be the man - or the driver - he is today if he hadn’t been born and bred in Doonside.
The V8 Supercars driver said lessons learned in the Western Sydney suburb he called home for 21 years and is still closely associated with, have made him the athlete he is today and a driver with his sights on winning the Bathurst 1000 again.
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“It made me the fighter I am today,” Winterbottom, who still visits the area to see family, told the Blacktown Advocate.
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“It was a tough area, not the most wealthy. There’s a fair bit of struggle. It teaches you about life skills.
“I am still involved with a charity out there, Eagles Raps, they do schooling, education through it. I do chats there about not giving up and don’t let a postcode dictates your future, be hungry and strong in what ever you do.”
You don’t forget the struggles you go through. I appreciate the things I get now. It helped me make a fighter
Hunger and strength are two attributes Winterbottom said are requirements to dominate Bathurst - a race he rates as one of the hardest on the calendar to win.
“You have to be a fighter to come from those areas sometimes but it was a great place to live and grow up,” said Winterbottom who went to school at Westmead.
“You weren’t given anything. You have to fight for everything.
“And this category we are in (at Bathurst) it’s the same, you have to fight for everything. There is no free pass.”
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Winterbottom, now one of the most recognisable and popular V8 Supercar drivers and in his first year at IRWIN Racing, got his career kickstart when he won a pee wee bike in a raffle.
“I traded it for a go kart,” said Winterbottom who went to school in Westmead.
To have six winners in six years shows just how tough it is to win
“It was always hard work. You don’t forget the struggles you go through. I appreciate the things I get now. It helped me make a fighter.
“I never let any challenge be too high. I’ve learned getting here was harder that staying here.”
Winterbottom said that having six different winners in six years proved the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 on Sunday will again be up for grabs this year.
“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.’’
This year Steve Richards reunites with Winterbottom as his co-driver in the Charlie Schwerkolt Commodore.
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Before racing, the pop-up Bathurst channel will feature new entertainment programs, classic Bathurst 1000 races, and behind-the-scenes access and insight available nowhere else.
Originally published as Doonside V8 Supercars gun Mark Winterbottom’s advice - don’t let a postcode dictate your future