A decade is a very long time in motor racing however, within the land of Supercars, it’s possibly somewhat bit troublesome to acknowledge that the 2014 Bathurst 1000 didn’t occur simply yesterday. Even for an occasion identified 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, as a consequence of an unprecedented variety of crashes, 10 security automotive appearances and a 63-minute pink flag interval to restore a broken racetrack.
Consider the unlikeliest of ultimate laps storyboards you could have seen in Method 1 historical past. Jenson Button successful from useless 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 automobiles 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 gasoline. 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 crew when the automotive in entrance was going to run dry. And the automotive that finally did come second – which itself was crashed twice – took the flag wanting extra like race tape than car.
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 might be again this yr, with the identical Triple Eight crew of which he’s now a co-owner. The person who snatched the win away from him, Chaz Mostert, might be there too, now in a Walkinshaw Andretti United Ford Mustang. Second on that day, means 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 crew’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 shocking victory at Bathurst a decade in the past
Photograph by: Daniel Kalisz / Motorsport Photos
Errors might 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 properly and good however, generally, there is no such thing as a substitute for a secure pair of palms.
There might be different curveballs. This would be the second Bathurst 1000 for the Gen3 Chevrolets and Fords, launched in the beginning of final season. However at Bathurst a yr in the past the automobiles 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 monitor. This time the automobiles might be on Dunlop’s sturdier management rubber, however there might be one other variable – a brand new, softer moist tyre – so if it rains, the groups might be driving into the unknown.
Most groups should take into consideration new driving mixtures; of the 26 automobiles entered solely seven will characteristic the identical pair of drivers as a yr in the past
Likewise, there’s a new Digital Security Automobile regulation to take care of. Although it has featured extensively in different types of the game, the VSC for Supercars was launched solely at Sandown, and it took a few of the groups time to regulate their race methods; how will they cope on the longest monitor on the calendar?
After which most groups should take into consideration new driving mixtures; of the 26 automobiles entered solely seven will characteristic the identical pair of drivers as a yr in the past. These are simply the identified unknowns, slightly than the unknown unknowns, which Mount Panorama at all times appears to throw up.
Maybe we’ll 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 might be like that – roll on this weekend’s 2024 version.
With no van Gisbergen on the grid, who will strike gold at this yr’s Bathurst 1000?
Photograph by: Edge Photographics