Bathurst 1000 2022 results: Shane van Gisbergen sends Holden out a winner
Shane van Gisbergen and evergreen co-driver Garth Tander were Bathurst’s dream pairing, but conquering the mountain is never that simple and this year’s edition was no exception.
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There’s a simple and enduring reason why every driver desperately wants to win the Bathurst 1000 more than any other event in motorsport.
It’s because the Great Race is the one where legends are made.
Bathurst isn’t just a supreme test for cars; it’s also the ultimate challenge for drivers because it examines their skills behind the wheel as well as their physical stamina and their nerves.
Whether it’s held in rain, hail or shine, the 161-lap endurance race at Mount Panorama never disappoints because it throws up so many variables over the six and half hours it usually takes to reach the finish.
The wildest of all those is that the best drivers don’t always win at Bathurst because any mistake at 300 km/h can ruin everything in a split second. Luck also plays a big role.
But the best drivers definitely won this year — not only Shane van Gisbergen, who steered the last Holden Commodore to the checkered flag, but also his evergreen co-driver, Garth Tander.
They are Bathurst’s dream pairing and they combined to win a nailbiting classic that was decided by a second.
Van Gisbergen is the top dog in Supercars right now, winning a record 19 races this season to be on the verge of retaining his series championship.
He’s already on his way to being an all-time great now that he’s won the sport’s jewel in the crown twice, after also winning at Bathurst in 2020 when he teamed up with Tander for the second time at Mount Panorama.
Quietly spoken, van Gisbergen had to keep himself composed in the closing laps on Sunday as Chaz Mostert tried to chase him down, even though he could see the crowds at the top of the mountain going nuts.
“I could see everyone going crazy. In the last couple of laps I was trying to keep focused but it‘s a pretty big distraction,” he said.
Van Gisbergen was more animated when he paid tribute to Tander for keeping his cool in the opening laps of the race, when cars were spinning off everywhere.
Watching the action unfold from the team garage, van Gisbergen saw Tander ease off the accelerator, giving up early track position but ensuring they lived to fight when the race really got going.
“It was pretty mad. There was a lot of stuff that went on that was crazy stuff,” van Gisbergen said.
“He was just giving these spots away because there was no use batting on with some of the lunacy that was unfolding.”
Tander, 45, may no longer drive fulltime on the Supercars circuit, but his experience shone through as he immediately recognised what was happening.
“It was just out of control so you just have to get through that phase of the race,” he explained.
“We knew the weather was going to get better later in the day but you‘re not going to win the race parked in the fence.
“It‘s a short term future trying to lead the race on lap 10. We wanted to lead it on lap 161, thankyou.”
He may have been the co-driver but Tander is now a bona fide Bathurst legend.
This year was his fifth victory in the Great Race after he previously won in 2000, 2009, 2011 and 2020.
Only six other drivers have won Bathurst five or more times and he may have more to come if the early results from his new pairing continue to bear fruit.
“It‘s going pretty well. I feel really, really comfortable in the car because we could basically drive the exact same set up and get the most out of it,” he said.
“This one feels really special because I feel like I really contributed. It‘s been a great partnership, we’re 50% strike rate so far, two from four at Bathurst is not bad.”
Tander said he was in awe of what van Gisbergen did to seal the win.
“It was just mega to watch. I just enjoyed the show, but then you realise you’ve got a fair bit of investment in the results as well,” he said.
“So Chaz threw everything at him in those last four or five laps. I didn’t know how it’s going to play out, so that’s as nervous as I’ve been outside of a race car.
“I’m an old bastard, but I still get the opportunity to learn a lot and that’s been really enjoyable.
“I have never really been emotional after a race, but that was pretty emotional, just the realisation that five is a pretty serious number to have had success here.
“I knew that the car and Shane and the team were going to be exceptional this week and I was determined not to be the weakest link.”
‘Up the Holden’: SvG’s Bathurst 1000 win the ultimate gift
Shane van Gisbergen became a dual Bathurst 1000 champion and Garth Tander a five-time winner after the Triple Eight pair delivered Holden the ultimate farewell in the famous Red Lion’s final dance around Mount Panorama.
After early carnage in a chaotic start to the Great Race, van Gisbergen again underlined his brilliance to hold off a fierce challenge from defending Bathurst 1000 champion Chaz Mostert in a thrilling finish to the endurance classic.
Van Gisbergen continued his season of dominance to claim a record-breaking 19th season win – passing Scott McLaughlin’s 2019 benchmark – to win in the biggest race of the year.
In a race that featured eight safety cars despite conditions clearing for a dry race after days of torrential rain, van Gisbergen overcame an early five-second penalty for an unsafe pit release to hold out Mostert by just one second at the finish.
But the runaway series leader fell just short of securing the 2022 Supercars championship on the same day. He should seal back-to-back crowns in the next round on the Gold Coast.
The Great Race has delivered once again!
— Supercars (@supercars) October 9, 2022
In a perfect farewell to Holden at the Mountain, @shanevg97 and @GarthTander have won the Repco Bathurst 1000 🆠#RepcoSC#Bathurst1000pic.twitter.com/8WYJEQKgR9
Van Gisbergen said it was a special moment to give Holden a winning send-off.
“To send Holden out like this is epic – up the Holden,” van Gisbergen said.
“It’s a special way to send it out, but we’ve got a few more (races) to go so hopefully we can get a few more wins.
“When Chaz got into second I got a bit worried because we know how fast he is here, but once the gap stayed at a second I knew we were OK.”
Tander, paired with the New Zealand ace for the fourth year, hailed van Gisbergen’s focus at the end of the race.
“There are no words right now, I can’t really believe it, to be honest with you,” Tander said.
“The guys did such a great job and Shane at the end of the race, how he can do that and just his focus and his ability to punch out laps like that is seriously impressive to watch.
“It’s such an honour to be a part of this.
“The last ever Commodore here at Bathurst, that will sink in a little bit later, I think. I can’t believe it.”
Van Gisbergen claimed his second win in the Great Race ahead of Mostert and Tickford Racing’s pole sitter Cam Waters, whose bid for a breakthrough Bathurst crown again fell short.
The win gave van Gisbergen and co-driver Tander their second Bathurst 1000 win together after their victory in the 2020 race.
Tander now moves to equal-fourth row on the all-time list of Bathurst winners alongside Steven Richards after claiming his fifth win at Mount Panorama.
Van Gisbergen had been in a commanding position, leading the field by 5.3 seconds, when Will Davison forced a safety car after slamming into the tyre barrier at turn two on lap 141.
It eroded van Gisbergen’s lead and left a 15-lap sprint to the finish when the race resumed three laps later, with van Gisbergen holding off Mostert in a duel to the finish.
The race was the last time Holden-badged cars will race in the Bathurst 1000 before they are replaced by the GM Camaro for the start of the sport’s Gen3 era next year. Tander has won all five of his Bathurst crowns in a Holden.
Runner-up the past two year at Bathurst, Waters claimed his third podium in a row at Mount Panorama.
The Ford star’s Bathurst chances were hurt after his co-driver James Moffat was spun at the Cutting by Brodie Kostecki, losing track position and forced to fight his way back.
While it was a commanding performance from van Gisbergen, there was plenty of drama and heartache for other drivers earlier in the race.
The race lasted barely 15 seconds before the first safety car was deployed after mid-pack chaos erupted on the opening lap.
The field had just started their run up Mountain Straight after tricky track conditions at the first turn when Jamie Whincup and Jack Perkins both spun, causing collateral damage.
Zak Best (Thomas Randle) was forced wide into the concrete barrier and had to be towed back to the pits, while Michael Caruso (Mark Winterbottom) and Jaxon Evans (Jack Smith) also suffered damage in the incident.
The race had barely restarted before another safety car was sent out following a massive shunt on lap six.
Zane Goddard, James Courtney’s co-driver, ran off the track at the bottom of the Chase and when he returned to the track collected Dale Wood (Andre Heimartgner) and David Reynold’s Grove Racing co-driver Matt Campbell, forcing another safety car.
Campbell had nowhere to go when Goddard speared back onto the track and copped the heaviest hit. The incident wiped out three cars from the race.
BATHURST 1000 TOP TEN
1. VAN GISBERGEN
2. MOSTERT
3. WATERS
4. KOSTECKI
5. FEENEY
6. HOLDSWORTH
7. DE PASQUALE
8. LOWNDES
9. FULLWOOD
10. BROWN
11 LAPS TO GO – SvG FLEXING MUSCLES
Former teammates Cam Waters and Chaz Mostert come together after Waters passes Kostecki after the safey car restart.
Shane van Gisbergen pulling away from Mostert. Waters, whose car appears to be the only one that can match the Red Bull, is desperate to pass Mostert.
SvG hits fastest lap of the race with 11 to go.
18 LAPS TO GO – EIGHTH SAFETY CAR LEVELS FIELD
Hold the phone - Shane van Gisbergen isn’t out of the woods yet!
Ford star Will Davison slams into a barrier which has sparked the eighth safety car of the day.
“Will Davison parked up in the wall at turn 2,” Channel 7’s commentary team tells us. “And he looks to be getting out of this car. I think he just pitted.
“Maybe there is a brake drama for Will, and especially that he is getting out.This is the first part of the puzzle. He arrives. And it has got all rear brakes. That was all rear brakes then. As soon as he put his foot on then.”
The drama didn’t end there, with Mostert flying past Kostecki to jump behind SvG.
Mostert used the recovery vehicle to block Kostecki - who was coming out of the pits - to pass his rival.
“The recovery vehicle plays a role in there. They are getting to the second safety line, here it is, and effectively, Kostecki is baulked by the truck.”
The Davison brothers are out of the race 😢#RepcoSC#Bathurst1000pic.twitter.com/sHiM1Stnrl
— Supercars (@supercars) October 9, 2022
LAP 137 SVG EXPLODES AFTER SAFETY CAR
Shane van Gisbergen is the Supercars’ Superman. After having his lead cut by a safety car, the Red Bull pilot exploded to put over four seconds on his nearest rival with just over 20 laps to go.
Jamie Whincup was confident SvG could get the job done but did specify Chaz Mostert remains a real threat.
That threat appears to be over for van Gisbergen.
TOP 10
VAN GISBERGEN
B KOSTECKI
MOSTERT
WATERS
HOLDSWORTH
FEENEY
W DAVISON
DE PASQUALE
LOWNDES
FULLWOOD
LAP 120/161 BATHURST SET FOR THRILLING FINISH
Buckle-up racing fans, things got very interesting!
As Shane van Gisbergen looked set to run away with the race with 41 laps to go, a safety levels the playing field.
Todd Hazelwood slammed into the barrier on turn 2 as leader van Gisbergen whizzed past.
“We have got trouble!” yelled the Channel 7 commentary team. “Is he going to be able to get out here at Turn 2? Do we have another Safety Car? This is the change that we needed to make things liven up at the back... Hazelwood is in the wall.
It’s a huge blow for van Gisbergen who had 17sec and 25sec leads on his nearest rivals.
“This is going to be out of control. Shane van Gisbergen will be going, “Oh, my God.”! I had 17 seconds to Kostecki. 25 seconds to Mostert. Very good for Waters, this ... absolutely got them out of jail. The rest of them are all pit because they are in them are all pit because they are in the window.”
The field has been compressed. Let's do this!#RepcoSC#Bathurst1000pic.twitter.com/zOu5qU2KfG
— Supercars (@supercars) October 9, 2022
LAP 103/161 MURPHY’S LAST DRIVE?
Kiwi supercars legend Greg Murphy may have just stepped out of V8 Supercar for the final time after main driver and fellow New Zealander Richie Stanaway for the final push at Bathurst.
“I don’t really know (if it’s his last time),” Murphy said.
Unfortunately Murphy’s final spin round ended with a spin of his own when locking up while sandwiched between two rivals at turn 2.
“I think old mate was pretty desperate, personally. But I don’t know. I haven’t seen the replay. I thought like it was pretty much in the rear corner but I’m not sure.”
JAPAN GP LIVE: CAN VERSTAPPEN SEAL THE F1 CHAMPIONSHIP?
LAP 92/161 PERCAT PISSED - TANDER LEADS
Nick Percat unable to hide his frustrations in the garage. Here’s what he had to say about the latest incident on his car.
“It’s a real kick in the guts to the team, it’s the best car I have ever had here,” he said.
“When I went back to second at Forrest’s Elbow it mistimed the gear change. From then on I’m trying to recover it and keep it off the wall but not to be today.
“But yeah, filthy with myself, because it’s...I’ve come here a lot and it’s the second time I’ve had a car in the fence, in 11 years. So not happy.”
ROOKIES CAUSING MAYHEM
Two-time Bathurst winner Russell Ingall says inexperience in the face of the biggest race of the year is what caused the carnage in the opening stanza of this year’s Great Race.
“I said the co-drivers would make a big play in this and they did. That was co-driver mania,” Ingall told News Corp.
“It really emphasised the strategy of the race, because you almost have to put your co-drivers in at the start … but the risk is, in the biggest race of the year, half the co-drivers are rookies and in their heads I think some of them were deadest scared.
“Lo and behold, it was bloody mayhem. It’s taken a lot of the potential podium getters out of the race before 20 laps (completed). Some of the stuff going on was just bad. There’s no other word for it.
“A lot of it was dumb driving to be honest. That’s the problem when you’ve got relatively inexperienced drivers in with good drivers. That’s the downfall. That’s why the bigger teams snap up the Garth Tanders and the Fabian Coulthards of the world.”
LAP 81/161 COULTHARD LEADS
It’s all gone a little tame at Mount Panorama after the carnage of the first third of the race.
1-10
COULTHARD
TANDER
RUSSELL
WHINCUP
MOFFAT
PAYNE
CARUSO
FRASER
FIORE
A.DAVISON
RUSSELL INGALL’S TAKE
With the sun now shining down on Mount Panorama Ingall says the race is set up for the Walkinshaw Andretti United combination to make the race their own.
“Now that the lunacy has stopped it’s going to come down to the second factor, which is who has the best dry setup,” Ingall said.
“During the week because of the rain, no car, team or driver got laps in the dry so what we’ll see now is who has guessed the best dry setup.
“From what I’ve seen so far, the Mostert car I reckon has speed to burn. They’ve bolted on the setup from last year (which won) and that was a smart move because that car was a jet last year.
“It looks to me like Mostert is doing it easy at the moment. He’s cruising, not taking any risks. He knows if he gets in front he’ll sprint away.”
Ingall feels Shane van Gisbergen and Garth Tander may not have the pace in the car required to see off the Walkinshaw Andretti United combinations, with Nick Percat also looking strong in the sister setup.
“The Mostert-Coulthard car is number one by a longshot. If they don’t have any dramas, if they don’t do something dumb and crash it, if they get in front no one will see them,” he said.
“Shane – the car doesn’t look quick. It looks like he’s battling with it a bit. I think no dry running has hurt the Triple Eight cars. They just don’t look speedy and you’ve got to have speed. That’s been a bit of a surprise.
“Just looking at the cars there’s so many wrecked cars with tape hanging off of them, it looks like a demolition derby and we’re only 60 laps in.”
100 LAPS TO GO - TANDER LEADS
It's Lap 62 ... look how many cars have had an issue so far 😅😅😅#7Motorsport | #Bathurst1000pic.twitter.com/Sx7TDESZjH
— 7Sport (@7Sport) October 9, 2022
A Channel Seven graphic revealed well over half the Bathurst 1000 grid has had some form of issue with their cars.
By lap 62 only seven cars that started the race were unscathed.
Incredible, by lap 103 that number had whittled down to just three cars.
Horrible weather conditions played a major part, while Supercars great Russell Ingall pointed the finger at inexperienced drivers who were “dead-set scared”.
“A lot of it was dumb driving to be honest,” Ingall said. “That’s the problem when you’ve got relatively inexperienced drivers in with good drivers. That’s the downfall. That’s why the bigger teams snap up the Garth Tanders and the Fabian Coulthards of the world.”
LAP 57/161 KOSTECKI LEADS
Some significant damage to cars so far this afternoon and what would we do without duct tape?
Check out the state of these cars - Jack Smith’s and Todd Hazlewood’s - and just how much tape is involved.
And just for good measure we have a 6th safety car with Jones beached at pit entry.
Go go gadget race tape again pic.twitter.com/9oSYk8psiP
— T000MANY🇦🇺 (Bathurst Day) (@T00000MANY) October 9, 2022
LAP 49/161 VAN GISBERGEN LEADS
There was a heart-in-the mouth moment for Ford star and pole sitter Cameron Waters after his co-driver James Moffat got spun at the Cutting.
Erebus Motorsport’s Brodie Kostecki tagged Moffat on the inside going around the corner, forcing Moffat’s car to turn.
But, luckily, Moffat was able to avoid hitting the outside wall and was able to continue, but has been pushed back in the field.
Waters held his breath as he watched from the Tickford Racing garage.
Race control deemed there was no case to answer for the incident.
LAP 42/161 - HAZELWOOD LEADS
Percat into Blanchard and we have another safety car with the latter firmly embedded into the wall after the blind approach at the Dipper.
Tim Slade’s co-driver ran off into the tyre barrier on the outside after getting a nudge from Nick Percat turning around the corner.
It prompted the fifth safety car of the day so far and a flurry of pit stops for driver changes.
Race control confirmed shortly afterwards there would be no further action.
Strategies starting to be split with a handful of cars missing the opportunity to go into the pits under SC.
As an aside how’s this move from Van Gisbergen. NUTS
Yeah nah, this was proper crazy stuff#RepcoSC#Bathurst1000pic.twitter.com/eOnutegJaZ
— Supercars (@supercars) October 9, 2022
34/161 ANOTHER SAFETY CAR - WATERS LEADS
A fourth safety car was deployed at the Bathurst 1000 after Dick Johnson Racing’s Alex Davison ran off the track and slammed into a tyre barrier.
Davison, co-driving for brother Will, ran off the track at the Chase and skidded across the mud at speed before crashing into the tyre wall.
He tried to drive his car towards the track, but became stuck in the mud.
He had to be helped out of the muddy trap and back onto the track.
Davison’s car was left covered in mud after the incident.
2019 had the most safety cars on record with eight sent out I believe.
LAP 31/161
Heartbreaking scenes from inside the garages at Bathurst with veteran driver Dale Wood in tears after his dream of winning ended prematurely.
Wood (co-driver for Andre Heimgartner) was one of two cars taken out by Zane Goddard in a bad re-join to the track.
“This whole build-up is about this one moment, going racing,” Wood said.
“I felt like we had a very good opportunity with this team and for it to be over so soon, it’s gutting.
“This is what you wait all year for, this is what you work towards, for it to be over so soon, I’m absolutely spewing.”
Goddard was later seen in the garage apologising to Wood.
THE ACCIDENTS UNTIL NOW
The Supercars field had just started their run up Mountain Straight after the first turn on the opening lap when a mid-pack tangle saw Triple Eight’s Jamie Whincup and Erebus Motorsport’s Jack Perkins both spin dramatically, causing plenty of collateral damage.
Perkins, co-driving for Will Brown, was sent back to the pits to repair damage, while Whincup was able to continue.
But there were plenty of others caught up in the drama.
Race officials deemed the incident to be a racing incident and said there would be no further action taken.
As soon as the race resumed on lap four there was another massive incident.
Zan Goddard (James Courtney’s co-driver ran off the track at the bottom of the Chase and when he returned to the track collected David Reynold’s Grove Racing co-driver Matt Campbell, forcing another safety car.
Campbell had nowhere to go when Goddard speared back onto the track.
LAP 22/161 VETERAN LASHES OUT
Four-time Bathurst champion Greg Murphy described the chaos at the start of the race as madness after he handed the car over to Richie Stanaway.
Out of retirement to driver an Erebus Motorsport wildcard at Bathurst, Murphy said
“No one has learned,” Murphy said.
“It’s just madness, complete madness.
“You need to have eyes in the back of your head.”
1-10
D’Alberto
Payne
Coulthard
Kostecki
Waters
Tander
A.Davison
O’Keeffe
Fraser
Pye
LAP 20/161
Happy to report Matt Campbell is out of the medical tent and has spoken to the media after that early shunt.
“Little bit sore,” he said. “A shame to in our day like that. Never had an impact that big before either so feel for all the guys. Luckily we’ve got car 10 up the front. I think I will be pretty sore tomorrow morning.
“Obviously coming out of The Chase I saw Goddard going off but when you see a car going off you expect him to rejoin a lot later closer to the wall but he’s come straight across.
“I couldn’t see anything being close to the cars in front. He’s clipped Woody and I have had nowhere to go. I have been hard on the brake.
“You can’t do anything in that situation. Big shame.”
LAP 18/161
Another safety car and a plethora of driver changes in the pits.
So truly questionable exits in the pitlan too. Really average driving.
Car 97 - Tander - under investigation for an unsafe release.
Greg Murphy is leading the race.
5-second time penalty for Car 97 for an unsafe release on the previous stop#RepcoSC#Bathurst1000
— Supercars (@supercars) October 9, 2022
Lap 14/161 STANDINGS 1-10
Holdsworth
Moffat
Coulthard
Luff
Tander
Russell
Golding
A.Davison
Lowndes
Slade
In all, there are now four cars - Wood/Heimgartner, Goddard/Courtney, Campbell/Reynolds and Best/Randle - in the garages with damage.
To add to the drama rain has started falling in sections of the track.
Lap 11/161
The Supercars doctor reported Campbell had suffered a sore ankle, groin, neck and wrist in the incident but was otherwise not seriously injured.
The medical team said Goddard and Wood were unhurt in the incident.
Wood was seen in tears in the garage after the incident.
The incident forced a warning from race control to “re-enter the circuit in a safe manner”.
The race resumed again on lap 11 and stewards confirmed the incident would be investigated at the conclusion.
It’s raining.
We are green again and there are reports of light rain falling at The Cutting#RepcoSC#Bathurst1000
— Supercars (@supercars) October 9, 2022
LAP 8/161 ANDRE HEIMGARTNER LETS RIP
Frustration and anger from the Kiwi driver who hasn’t even stepped foot in a car.
“As most said through these interviews it is like these people don’t realise it is 161 laps and they are driving like losers,” he said.
“Hopefully they get their shit together and we don’t have more Safety Cars and ruin more cars.
“Tickford, everyone puts in so much effort and for everyone to take everyone out like that, and especially the last one, it is wild.
“I will be surprised if my car isn’t seriously damaged and will need to be rebuilt on the G. That is not what everyone needs.”
Winterbottom also struggled to contain his anger.
“There is always something, isn’t there?” he said.
“I can’t believe there are so many crashes at this time of the morning.
“Anyway, you keep going. We will keep trying to fix it on the run.
“We will charge on through and still unbelievable how many cars are written off with 155 laps to go. We might win. We might be the only one left on the track at the end.”
LAP 5/161 SAFETY CAR IS IN
Holdsworth leads and there will be no further action on any of the cars caught up in the first lap carnage....in fairness there is not one single culprit.
AND MORE CARNAGE! Collision on the exits of The Chase. Zane Goddard has driven back out on the road with dirty tyres and clean bowled a heap of cars including Winterbottom and Campbell.
Goddard is to blame for this one an that is particularly ordinary driving.
I tell you James Courtney’s face right now. Shattered,
“Maybe a little bit too eager too early, it’s disappointing. I’m sure Zane didn’t mean any of that,” Courtney said.
“We’ve spent millions of dolalrs to get to this point and put in so many hours. Crashes happen, we press on.”
Safety car.
That is a heavy hit!
— Supercars (@supercars) October 9, 2022
We are under bp ultimate Safety Car again at the Repco Bathurst 1000 #RepcoSC#Bathurst1000pic.twitter.com/jYBjf7OVNP
FIRST LAP CARNAGE:
All cars came through the first turn but carnage folowed and Jack Perkins looks to be the main casualty and after 10 seconds into the race we have a safety car.
The car is in all kinds of trouble.
“They have made it 10 seconds into the race before we had trauma,” Neil Crompton said on commentary.
“This is going to be one of the storylines of the day. The minute you are off the asphalt here there will be absolutely in grip. For Jack Perkins, what a disaster.
“They have deployed the Safety Car already on lap 1. No surprise. We had 10 of them in 2006 and a pile of Safety Car laps. I am betting we will see a lot of them today.”
Mark Winterbottom was also caught up in the mess with the nose of his vehicle totalled.
Will Brown in the Boost Mobile garage said: “Bathurst hasn’t been kind to us over the last few years. It is obviously wet out there and they are all racing.
“Who knows whose fault it was. Everyone was crossing the water and a few tagged together. I think we will be out for a couple more laps from what the boys have been saying.”
The 2022 Repco Bathurst 1000 is away and there is massive drama in the mid-pack!#RepcoSC#Bathurst1000pic.twitter.com/Kyimp36BCU
— Supercars (@supercars) October 9, 2022
11:17 LAST MINUTE WARNING
Warning from race control as the drivers take to the line - beware turn one.
“Important note to all teams, the circuit is wet on driver’s right through the exit off turn 1. Please advise your drivers, please.”
Two-time Bathurst 1000 winner Russell Ingall says the unpredictable wild weather that’s forecast for Mount Panorama could persuade some teams to flip their strategies and consider start the Great Race with their co-drivers.
While teams normally prefer to start and finish the 161-lap with their main drivers, Ingall said the changing conditions will make some teams re-think their plans.
With the race expected to start in relatively fine conditions before the thunderstorms rumble in later in the day, Ingall believes the smart teams could switch the order so the senior drivers are behind the wheel doof their drivers around depending on the conditions at the time.
“The best strategy you can have is to actually let your co-driver start because you want your main driver to finish,” he said.
“Those sorts of guys don’t get phased too much about the inclement weather, whether it’s wet, dry or anything in between.
“So that’s why I always lean towards the co driver side. There might be some teams that start their main driver.”
But Ingall, who teamed up with Larry Perkins to win the Bathurst 1000 in 1995 and again 1997, said there was also a risk attached to switching drivers because the senior racers would try to put any less experienced rivals under pressure.
“They won’t hesitate in boxing up any newcomers because they know they can intimidate them,” Ingall said.
“They’ll be on the radio saying the car in front of you has got so and so in front of you.”
11:10AM RAIN DROPS ARE FALLING
Reigning champion for a few more hours Chaz Mostert expecting the otughtest of tests today.
“Look, it will be a tough day.
“It will be tough for all teams, drivers, even the fans. It depends what the clouds do throughout the day.
“It has been a rough week for our fans in the mud out there. I want to thank them all for coming out and making them all for coming out and making the show as fun as it is.”
10:30AM
Former North Melbourne coach and “long-time race-head” David Noble is an interested observer in the Dick Johnson Racing garage for the Bathurst 1000.
Describing himself as a long-time race fan with a Mustang parked in his garage, Noble is a guest of the Ford squad for the race.
Noble has connections with the DJR commercial team from his time at the Brisbane Lions.
DJR is celebrating its 1000th race in Supercars this weekend.
Decked out in the DJR red, The ex-Kangaroos coach said he was excited to experience the Great Race for the first time.
“I know a couple of the guys in the commercial space, I worked with them at the Lions,” Noble said.
“I’ve never been to a Bathurst before and I spoke to (them) 12 months ago and they said you should come up, so here I am.
“I’ve been very privileged to be able to have access here and just have a look at what goes on … I’m extremely lucky to be here.
“(It would) be nice to see a dry race. Everyone likes it a little bit damp because it just brings so much difference into it with safety cars.”
Noble described himself as as long-time race and Ford fan.
“I’m a long-time race head. I remember the old days when the races started at 8am; jarmies, ugg boots. The race took so long to get done,” Noble said.
“I’ve always loved cars, I’ve got a couple of oldies myself. I have got a Ford Mustang, I have got a ‘65 in the garage.
“I just loved Dick’s story, the whole journey of what he has done and the investment that he has made in the fans. It’s great.”
Noble said he was hoping to see the DJR drivers get up at Mount Panorama.
Will Davison will start from fifth for the 1000km race, while his teammate Anton De Pasquale will start from 11th on the grid.
“It seems like they’ve had great pace all year, Will has had quite a few poles through the year so that has been really impressive,” he said.
“A bit of luck in the first part and the still be there with 20 or 20 laps to go, who knows?”
9.00am - SUN’S OUT, SPEEDS HEAT UP
Supercars drivers have been met with improving track conditions for their final warm-up ahead of the Bathurst 1000.
Dick Johnson Racing star Will Davison emerged on top of the timesheet for the 20-minute session as the team’s made their final preparations for the 1000km race.
Davison was fastest ahead of last year’s winner Lee Holdsworth (Grove Racing), who will line-up at the front of the grid alongside pole sitter Cameron Waters for his final Bathurst as a full-time Supercars driver.
In an indication of the improving condition of the track, Davison’s warm-up time (2:22.45) was faster than what Waters produced in the wet qualifying on Friday, which delivered him pole after the shootout was cancelled.
But pace was not a focus for the teams in the warm-up as they focused on getting the cars race ready with pit stop practice and driver changes ahead of the race.
Davison, driving with brother Alex, will start Sunday’s race from fifth.
The drivers then made their way around the track for the drivers’ parade.
8.15am - RAIN EASES, CARS HIT TRACK FOR FINAL WARM-UP
Supercars have hit the track for their final warm-up ahead of today’s Bathurst 1000 after the dramatic call to cancel the top-10 shootout due to extreme weather on Saturday.
Heavy rain continued to fall overnight in Bathurst but it has cleared to a lighter drizzle this morning.
Sunday’s 1000km race is due to start at 11.15am as scheduled.
Organisers assessed the track overnight to clear debris from drains where they could to help improve drainage after the torrential rain that has hit Bathurst over the past two days.
The Superutes support category has already been on track on Sunday morning and finished under the safety car after Craig Dontas put his ute into the wall at Reid Park.
The warm-up will run for 20 minutes.
FROSTY’S BIZARRE GIFT FOR SUPER FAN
Sport stars, they’re asked to do all kinds of things for the fans.
Mark Winterbottom is the clubhouse leader at this year’s Bathurst for the wackiest request after a supporter presented him with his prosthetic leg at a signing.
Incredibly, thousands of Supercars fans have braved incredibly wild weather to stick around at Mount Panorama for the Great Race.
Torrential downpours caused havoc on Saturday with Super2 race cancelled due to the condition of the track.
Praising the resilience of the fans Winterbottom said: “The fan base we have for our support is unbelievable.
“The rain would send most people home from most sports. They’re not just watching in the rain, they’re camping, living through this.
“So when we’re saying it’s hard work, we’re in this driver’s room and people out there are getting soaked.”
Winterbottom was then pushed for a wacky fan story which is when he shared the fake leg anecdote.
“We have all signed something out there,” he said.
“I’ve signed a leg — prosthetic leg before, which the guy gave it to me and I was like are you sure you wanted it signed?
“It was his pride and joy. That didn’t sound right.
“It meant a lot because he’s gone through the disability but that was his pride and joy.
“These guys have signed eye balls and all sorts of stuff.”
Away from the wacky fan requests, the weather forecast for Bathurst race day is looking significantly better than Saturday when rain was so heavy the track was deemed unsafe and forced the cancellation of the top 10 shootout.
While rain is expected on Sunday the volume will be nowhere near the deluge of Saturday.
Cameron Waters will start from pole position after he set the fastest time the previous day.
“I’m disappointed to be honest, I really love the shootout around here, it’s pretty special to get the place to yourself for a lap,” Waters said.
“But the rain was crazy and you saw the rivers and everything going on, it was going to be a bit of a safety thing.
“I’m disappointed, but awesome to be starting on pole. It’s cool to be starting on pole again around here.
“I was ready to go, I put my suit on and I was listening to music and I saw the lap that the guys did around the track and I thought we were going to get going.”
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