After years of anticipation and months of preparation, the Supercheap Auto Bathurst International has finally arrived.
 
An action pack track schedule of more than 20 hours and an exciting list of categories make up this event with plenty of drama likely to unfold over the course of the weekend.
 
A healthy overall entry list of 164 competitors will compete on the iconic roads of Mount Panorama - many of whom will be battling hard for either outright season titles or just weekend bragging rights in their respective categories.
 
The list of categories entered in the event include the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series, Fanatac GT World Challenge Australia, Australian Production Cars, the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia, the Gulf Western Oil Touring Cars Masters, the GC Marine Australian Prototype Series and the Turtle Wax Trans Am Series – the latter of which will celebrate its final race of the year with the Trans Am Bathurst 100 on Sunday afternoon.
 
Fans planning to attend the event, or at least tune into via the Stan Sport coverage on Saturday and Sunday, will have plenty of notable storylines within each category to keep an eye on.
 
Of course, the most obvious narratives for the event are those categories with titles on the line, such as TCR, GT and the Australian Production Cars .
 
Looking at the broader scheme of things though, there are a number of stats that make this a very interesting weekend.
 
Heralded as an International event, there will be a collection of different nationalities represented within the categories.
 
Be it Kiwis from across the pond, American-made drivers, Malaysians, Germans and even one high profile Frenchman – there are a number of individuals hoping to make their country proud.

 
That one Frenchman in particular is one who will be throwing a spanner in the works when it comes to an outright title.
 
With a number of drivers in contention for the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series, Teddy Clariet enters the event as one of the favourites to win the round and could have a say in who is ultimately crowned champion of the season.
 
“It’s a great place. I’m enjoying being here. I love the atmosphere and I’m looking forward to the weekend,” Clariet said.
 
“It’s an impressive track. Lots of blind corners. It seems fast and really tricky. I have a lot of respect for this track and I will try and do the best for myself.
 
“The TCR World Tour is coming next year. It’s a great idea, and this is certainly a place that this championship has to go. This is a wonderful place.
 
“It will be important for the World Tour to come to this track. Everyone knows Bathurst, and if you are doing an international touring cars race, you have to do it here.”
 
In addition to the drivers themselves, a strong representation of international machinery will be represented throughout the weekend, with 29 different brands from 11 different countries to hit the track.
 
Click here to read the program.
 
Adding to the specialness that is the Supercheap Auto Bathurst International is the fact this weekend also serves as FIA Volunteers Weekend – a worldwide event that celebrates the thousands of officials who make this sport what it is.
 
Officials, drivers and fans are encouraged to promote the ever-important volunteers this weekend by sharing Volunteer content via the hashtag, @FIAVolunteersWeekend.
 
Tickets for the Supercheap Auto Bathurst International are still available and can be purchased at the gate or online here. 
 
For those who can’t make it to Mount Panorama this weekend, you can tune into the broadcast live and ad-break free on Saturday and Sunday via Stan Sport.
 
Click here to sign up for a free 7-day trial.
 
Saturday afternoon’s action of the event will be broadcast via 9Gem from 3pm-5pm AEDT, while international viewers can watch on here.

The Supercheap Auto Bathurst International takes place at Mount Panorama on 11-13 November.