Bathurst 1000: Drivers to Watch, Viewing Options and Race Details

Australian motorsport enthusiasts are gearing up for a thrilling weekend as the Bathurst 1000 takes place in the scenic Mount Panorama circuit located in New South Wales. This prestigious event, set for Sunday, October 13, will showcase the finest talent in the Supercars series. The race is slated to begin at 11:30 AM AEDT, marking one of the most significant events in the Supercars calendar.

The preparation begins earlier, with cars hitting the track on Thursday as drivers acclimate to the challenging 6.231km circuit. Qualifying sessions commence on Friday, October 11, at 4:15 PM AEDT. Drivers positioned 11th and below will begin the race from those respective grid slots, while the top 10 drivers will advance to a critical shootout on Saturday at 5:05 PM AEDT. This one-lap shootout determines the pole position and the grid order of the foremost competitors.

This year’s edition features prominent drivers and co-drivers from various teams, such as Brodie Kostecki and Todd Hazelwood representing Erebus Motorsport in a Chevrolet Camaro, and Ryan Wood paired with Fabian Coulthard for Walkinshaw Andretti United driving a Ford Mustang. Notable teams like Triple Eight Race Engineering, Blanchard Racing Team, and Tickford Racing will compete with a mix of Chevrolet Camaros and Ford Mustangs.

The Bathurst 1000 is a grueling 1,000 km race, comprising 161 laps, and typically lasts between six to seven hours, dependent on safety car interventions. Last year’s race concluded in 6 hours and 7 minutes, with the Triple Eight Race Engineering team securing victory. At the helm were New Zealand’s Shane van Gisbergen and Richie Stanaway, adding another triumph to the team’s storied history.

Mediatic coverage of the event is comprehensive, with Channel Seven and 7plus app providing free-to-air broadcasts. Foxtel also holds broadcasting rights on channel 506, and the event will be streamed on Kayo. ABC Sport will offer live blogging of the race, ensuring fans remain attuned to all critical developments.

The current Supercars season standings are led by Will Brown from Triple Eight Race Engineering, who has amassed four victories and 2,280 points. Chaz Mostert, 189 points shy of the leader and driving for Walkinshaw Andretti United, follows closely. Broc Feeney, another top contender from Triple Eight Race Engineering, rounds out the top three.

With great anticipation, experts have weighed in on potential winners for this year’s race. Mark Skaife favors Chaz Mostert and co-driver Lee Holdsworth, while Jess Yates of Fox Sports backs Broc Feeney and Jamie Whincup. “The T8 cars are very strong, and Broc is motivated after last year,” Yates commented.

The Bathurst 1000 is a pivotal race that offers 300 points to the winner—the maximum available in the Supercars series during a single event. This contrasts with the upcoming Surfers Paradise round, where two separate races will offer 150 points each to their respective winners.