SVG a chance to win Supercars title at famous Bathurst

Wednesday 05 October, 2022

Photo: Edge Photographics

The Repco Auto Bathurst 1000 returns to Mount Panorama this weekend with 28 crews to battle it out for Australian motorsport's biggest prize.

Serving as the third last round of the Supercars 2022 season, Shane van Gisbergen has the chance to secure his third Supercars title - just 12 months after picking up his second championship title.

Heading into the round holding a convincing 525-point lead over rival Cameron Waters, the 33-year-old will enter the event full of confidence, with he and co-driver Garth Tander having last won the race in 2020.

Should van Gisbergen and Tander win the race, Waters will need to finish no lower than fourth place to delay the Kiwi's celebrations, which will also keep himself in mathematical contention to win the title in the remaining two races of the season.

If the reigning champion doesn't win but still finishes anywhere in the top 10, Waters and co-driver James Moffat will need to make sure the Tickford Ford Mustang either finishes ahead of within four spots.

Will Davison and Anton De Pasquale are sitting 602 and 669 points behind respectively and will need a wave of luck at the mountain if they are to continue to apply the pressure from behind.

The undisputed king of the mountain, Craig Lowndes will return to the Supercars scene for a milestone race which sees the Victorian become the first driver in ATCC/Supercars history to start 300 rounds.
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Photo: Revved Photography

The milestone equates to over 26 years since he made his debut at Eastern Creek Raceway in 1996, a race he managed to win.

Lowndes will have his eyes on history if he were to take victory in the great race, taking his total tally to eight wins – a record that has only been bettered by the great Peter Brock.

However, this is not the only milestone to take place in the race, as David Reynolds becomes the 20th driver to reach 400 ATCC/Supercars race starts, the 2017 race winner will be looking to add to his impressive resume this weekend alongside Team Australia representative at the upcoming FIA Motorsport Games and experienced GT racer, Matt Campbell.

Dick Johnson Racing will also be celebrating a special weekend at the mountain this weekend as they become the first team to reach 1000 ATCC/Supercars race starts.

There will be plenty of circuit debutants to keep an eye out for throughout the weekend as Jaxon Evans, Matt Payne, Cameron Hill, Aaron Seton, Matt Chahda, Jaylyn Robotham and Declan Fraser take to the famous circuit for the first time in their careers.

Each driver will be looking to mirror the efforts of Tickford Racing’s Brodie Kostecki, who impressed in his first full stint at the mountain by storming home to finish in third place in 2021 and will once again take the track in the 2022 edition.

Chahda will be joined by co-driver Robotham as one of the three wildcards, while also competing as the single privateer team in the race, while former Supercars driver Richie Stanaway will be joined by four-time winner Greg Murphy in the #51 Holden Commodore.

Jamie Whincup highlights the list of other notable drivers competing in the event as Zana Goddard, Fabian Coulthard and Michael Caruso return to the sport, with Jaxon Evans and Campbell coming across from the GT class.

Click here to view the entry list.

A range of support categories will join the Supercars on track this weekend, with the likes of the Heritage Touring Cars, Haltech SuperUte Series, Porsche Carrera Cup, Toyota 86 series and the Dunlop Super2 Series keeping fans entertained throughout.

Extreme weather conditions across New South Wales means event organisers and teams will prepare for a wet circuit across the weekend, increasing the risk of the BP Ultimate Safety Car intervening on Sunday’s race.

Since the first edition of the event in 1963, which was then known as the Armstrong 500 before changing to the Bathurst 1000, there have only been two encounters that did not feature a safety car, being 1989 and 1991.

Fans making the trip to Mount Panorama will be able to take in the action with no zone restrictions on top, and on the bottom of the mountain.

There will also be plenty of off-track entertainment on display for all ages.

If you are unable to make the trip to the famous circuit, you will be able to tune in to full coverage on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo, while Channel Seven will also provide selected free-to-air coverage.

The 2022 Repco Auto Bathurst 1000 takes place at Mount Panorama on 6-9 October.

Championship top 10

Shane van Gisbergen – 2782 points
Cameron Waters – 2257 points
Will Davison – 2180 points
Anton De Pasquale – 2113 points
Chaz Mostert – 2004 points
Broc Feeney – 1852 points
David Reynolds – 1742 points
Andre Heimgartner – 1592 points
Brodie Kostecki – 1485 points
Tim Slade – 1435 points

Schedule

Thursday 6 October
11:00am-12:00pm – Practice 1
3:55pm-4:55pm – Practice 2

Friday 7 October
10:10am-11:10am – Practice 3
1:00pm-2:00pm – Practice 4
4:15pm-4:55pm – Qualifying

Saturday 8 October
10:20am-11:20am – Practice 5
1:00pm-2:00pm – Practice 6
5:05pm-5:50pm – Top 10 shootout

Sunday 9 October
8:00am-8:20am - Warm up
11:15am-6:00pm – Race