Bathurst 1000

Bathurst 1000

The Bathurst 1000 is a 1,000-kilometre touring car race held annually on the Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia. It is currently run as part of the Supercars Championship, the most recent incarnation of the Australian Touring Car Championship. Since 2001, the race is run on the weekend after the long weekend, normally the second weekend in October. Ford and Holden have won all but six of the races at Bathurst.

About Bathurst 1000 in brief

Summary Bathurst 1000The Bathurst 1000 is a 1,000-kilometre touring car race held annually on the Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia. It is currently run as part of the Supercars Championship, the most recent incarnation of the Australian Touring Car Championship. The race concept originated with the 1960 Armstrong 500 at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, before being relocated to Bathurst in 1963. Since 2001, the race is run on the weekend after the long weekend, normally the second weekend in October. The track uses temporarily-closed-public roads and is known for the 174-metre elevation difference between its highest and lowest points. The first turn, Hell Corner, is a ninety-degree left-hander. Mountain Straight, a gentle climb where the cars reach speeds of 255 kmh, leads into Griffin’s Bend, an off-camber right-hander which then leads into The Cutting. The Dipper, one of the most famous corners in Australian motorsport. The Chase is a long sweeping chicane where cars are on the rev limiter turning at 300  kmh before a large braking zone to exit at 130 kmH. Murray’s is the 23rd and final turn, and also the slowest part of The Esses. The start-finish straight features an offset start, with the finish line towards the back of the starting grid closer to Murray’s Corner. Spectator vantage points have become less intimate to the track over recent years, with increased run-off size and debris fencing being installed around the track due to increasing international FIA standards.

Many marques, including Jaguar, Nissan, BMW and Volvo, have competed in the event, including Morris, Jaguar, BMW, Volvo and Volvo. Ford and Holden have won all but six of the races at Bathurst. In 1987 it was a round of the World TouringCar Championship. Until 1995, more than one class competed in each event. In 1996, Fords and Holdens were allowed to compete in the race using their Falcon and Commodore models. In 1997 and 1998, Group 3A and V8 Supercars races were only mandated. In 1999 and 2000, it was the final round of a national series such as the Australian Manufacturers’ Championship, but never part of a touring car series. In 2000, the Bathurst 5001000 was generally a stand-alone event, but it decided the championship winner on each occasion. It was again the final year of the season in 2020, though the re-organised season had already been cut short due to the short-19 pandemic, though once again the race was decided once the season had been on points. It has been conducted for production saloon cars, Group E Series Production Touring Cars, Group C Touringcars, Group A Touring cars, Super Touring and currently Supercars. Since 1999, theRace has been run exclusively for Supercars category, and is run for championship points. In 2006, the trophy was introduced to commemorate the death of Peter Brock.