Bathurst 1000 2021: Greg Evans reveals abuse over race start date drama

Greg Evans has been accused of being an “Australian villain” due to the drama which has engulfed this year’s Bathurst 1000 and threatened the iconic race.

BATHURST, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 18: In this handout photo provided by Edge Photographics Mark Winterbottom drives the #18 Irwin Racing Holden Commodore ZB during the Bathurst 1000 which is part of the 2020 Supercars Championship, at Mount Panorama on October 18, 2020 in Bathurst, Australia. (Photo by Handout/Mark Horsburgh/Edge Photographics via Getty Images)

This is the man that has been accused of holding the Bathurst 1000 to ransom.

In an exclusive interview with News Corp Australia, Greg Evans has revealed that he has been accused of being an “Australian villain” for seeking assurances that his “Challenge Bathurst” event would not be affected by a Covid forced Bathurst 1000 date change.

A race car enthusiast and the owner of Fastrack V8 Race Experience, Evans also said he was never going to be the man that caused the first ever cancellation of the “great race”.

“We were never going to stop the Bathurst 1000 from being staged,” Evans said.

“It is the great race and has a wonderful history. And is the one event that transcends motorsport.”

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But the valid concerns raised by Evans after Supercars moved the Bathurst 1000 to the weekend before his events have cast him as a V8 villain.

Evans revealed he had received abuse even after saving the event by relinquishing his exclusive right to Mount Panorama in the two weeks preceding his event.

News Corp Australia has obtained details of an email that claimed he had threatened an Australian icon.

Greg Evans has hit back at claims he’s an Australian villain for his Bathurst 1000 stance.

“How dare you hold the Australian Motorsport fraternity as hostiges (sic) to your ego,” the email with the subject line ‘the new Aussie villain’ read.

“Your arrogance has put your business in jeopardy as your (sic) are now synonymous with threatening an Ozzie icon. Best of luck!”

In his first interview, Evans has declared he was not motivated by money and revealed the valid concerns that led to the event clash dispute.

“The November 4-7 Supercars date is a challenge,” Evans said.

“The new date means there will be three back to back events with the Bathurst International to follow the Challenge Bathurst. So with three events (at Mount Panorama) in 24 days there was the problem of getting officials to staff our event. No event can run without officials and a very large number of officials are needed for a track like Mount Panorama. I was told I would struggle to get officials (if Bathurst was on) because the officials would have to choose between the three events.”

Greg Evans.

Greg Evans, the man at the centre of the Bathurst circuit contractual stoush.

Evans also told the council that he was concerned a huge event like the Bathurst 1000 could cause a Covid outbreak.

“Secondly there is an increased Covid risk and threat of a shutdown,” Evans said.

“There is a huge risk if they end up getting 100,000 people coming from all over Australia. We could have our event shutdown should there be a Covid case. Bathurst could be sent into lockdown.”

Evans also said the new Bathurst 1000 date would give him just one day to set up for his event.

“There is an operational concern,” Evans said.

“There is a lot to set up and we are now in a position where Supercars have just one day to pack everything up and move and we have just one day to bring everything in. We have to set-up our entire event on Tuesday because we have 120 drivers due to arrive at 7am on Wednesday for check in and scrutineering.”

Shane van Gisbergen and Garth Tander celebrate their Bathurst 1000 win.

Evans said he released the date after Bathurst council agreed to provide financial support should his event be cancelled.

“The council were great through all of this,” Evans said.

“I was never going to stop the 1000 but I was hoping they would take the weekend before to give us a little more time to prepare. But in the end the council just said they would help me with whatever resources they had to make it work.”

An Aussie success story, Evans set up a V8 thrill ride business 17-years ago and has gone onto to become the No. 1 gift experience on Red Balloon through his Fastrack V8 Race Experience business.

Evans owns a fleet of race ready Holdens and Fords that race fans can drive on Australian race tracks.

Originally published as Bathurst 1000 2021: Greg Evans reveals abuse over race start date drama