A decade is a very long time in motor racing however, within the land of Supercars, it’s perhaps somewhat bit troublesome to acknowledge that the 2014 Bathurst 1000 didn’t occur simply yesterday. Even for an occasion recognized for its nice finishes, the 2014 version was probably the best. At a minute lower than eight hours in size, it was definitely the longest, because of an unprecedented variety of crashes, 10 security automotive appearances and a 63-minute purple flag interval to restore a broken racetrack.
Consider the unlikeliest of ultimate laps storyboards you’ll have seen in Components 1 historical past. Jenson Button successful from lifeless final in Montreal in 2011? Not even shut. Riccardo Patrese spinning away a maiden world championship grand prix win after which reclaiming it in Monaco in 1982? Humbug.
What we noticed a decade in the past was the 2 vehicles that began final and second-last on the grid combating tooth and nail for the win, with simply two of the 1000 kilometres remaining – one of many groups begging, then cajoling, its star driver, after coming from a lap down, to ease off and save gas. Proper behind him, having pushed from final not as soon as however twice after the automotive was crashed by a co-driver twice his age, was a 22-year-old rising star, asking his staff when the automotive in entrance was going to run dry. And the automotive that ultimately did come second – which itself was crashed twice – took the flag wanting extra like race tape than vehicle.
Instances change however most of the gamers haven’t. Jamie Whincup was the person on the level of that race 10 years in the past; he shall be again this 12 months, with the identical Triple Eight staff of which he’s now a co-owner. The person who snatched the win away from him, Chaz Mostert, shall be there too, now in a Walkinshaw Andretti United Ford Mustang. Second on that day, manner again when, was James Moffat, then in a Nissan however now a Tickford Ford co-driver. Third place a decade in the past went to Walkinshaw driver Nick Percat, who will race this time round for Matt Stone Racing.
For all these adjustments, and even when 2023 race winner Shane van Gisbergen has moved on to NASCAR, the secret stays the identical: beat Triple Eight and you’ll seemingly be within the hunt for a win.
That was precisely the case at Sandown final month when the staff’s Chevrolet Camaros dominated the 500km race, Will Brown and new co-driver Scott Pye edging out Broc Feeney and Whincup for a 1-2 end. To rub salt into the injuries of the opposition, T8’s wildcard entry, piloted by the now 50-year-old Craig Lowndes and rising star Cooper Murray, completed fifth.
Mostert led residence to a surprising victory at Bathurst a decade in the past
Photograph by: Daniel Kalisz / Motorsport Photos
Errors shall be essential. Among the fancied runners – Mostert, each Erebus Motorsport and Dick Johnson Racing entries – took themselves out of competition for the win at Sandown with self-inflicted errors or mechanical dramas, whereas the beforehand unfancied PremiAir pair of James Golding/David Russell took third place. Youth is all effectively and good however, typically, there is no such thing as a substitute for a protected pair of fingers.
There shall be different curveballs. This would be the second Bathurst 1000 for the Gen3 Chevrolets and Fords, launched initially of final season. However at Bathurst a 12 months in the past the vehicles raced on the softer of Dunlop’s management tyres, which led to a build-up of marbles from mid-race and a one-line race observe. This time the vehicles shall be on Dunlop’s sturdier management rubber, however there shall be one other variable – a brand new, softer moist tyre – so if it rains, the groups shall be driving into the unknown.
Most groups must take into consideration new driving combos; of the 26 vehicles entered solely seven will characteristic the identical pair of drivers as a 12 months in the past
Likewise, there’s a new Digital Security Automobile regulation to take care of. Though it has featured broadly in different types of the game, the VSC for Supercars was launched solely at Sandown, and it took a number of the groups time to regulate their race methods; how will they cope on the longest observe on the calendar?
After which most groups must take into consideration new driving combos; of the 26 vehicles entered solely seven will characteristic the identical pair of drivers as a 12 months in the past. These are simply the recognized unknowns, relatively than the unknown unknowns, which Mount Panorama all the time appears to throw up.
Maybe we are going to give the final phrase to the co-driver who took third place in 2014. Requested if he had ever seen a race like that one, he replied: “I’ve by no means even heard of a race like that one!” That driver was Oliver Gavin who, in his lengthy profession, had seen nearly the whole lot there’s to see in motor racing. Bathurst may be like that – roll on this weekend’s 2024 version.
With no van Gisbergen on the grid, who will strike gold at this 12 months’s Bathurst 1000?
Photograph by: Edge Photographics