We've just experienced a thoroughly enjoyable Supercars event at Sydney Motorsport Park (SMSP), the Sydney SuperNight. Supercars racing under lights, ably supported by Porsche Carrera Cup, Touring Car Masters, National Sports Sedans, Super Utes and Toyota 86 GR Cup. A category to appeal to even the most discerning fan. Supercar drivers enjoyed the pyro and light fanfare of driver introductions, as did the junior karters that greeted them, before embarking on a longer race format facilitating differing strategies. The racing was fast and frenetic across all categories. 
    There was however a lull to the jam packed programme. Supercars Top 10 Shootout! The top 10 qualifiers have a one lap qualifying blast with the track to themselves to determine the first 10 grid positions for the race. The shootout was primarily devised to be a television spectacle. We understand it builds the race anticipation with the commentators certainly contributing to the hype with the majority of punters loving the format. The drivers definitely do. What race driver doesn't relish the track to themselves with the car in qualifying trim to see who's the quickest? For us, unfortunately, whether at home on the couch or watching live at the track, there's only one car on track, and we simply struggle to get enthused. 
    The longer race format at SMSP demonstrated to us by adopting opportunistic strategies that grid positions are not the be all and end all in determining final race results. So can the Top 10 Shootout be improved upon?  Could a 5 lap sprint race for the top 10 qualifiers be utilised to determine the grid? Or perhaps a 2 lap sprint for the bottom six, with the top two progressing to a second 2 lap sprint with the remaining top four? Too convoluted you say? Should Supercars make greater use of the knockout qualifying format than what it currently does, culminating with the top 10 on track at the same time? Either way, we find the Top 10 Shootout an advantageous time when at the track to checkout the pits, or when at home to indulge in a coffee or a nice cup of tea. 

    Early morning fog rolls down forming a shroud. As the rising spring sun mercilessly burns off the fog to atmospheric oblivion, something menacing, yet inviting is revealed. The Mountain! This weekend, Supercars marquee event, the Bathurst 1000 is on at Mt Panorama, Bathurst. If the mountain could talk, what tales of triumph and heartache it could regale.
    This year celebrates 60 years of The Great Race with the distance changing from 500 miles to 1000kms in 1973. We always wax lyrically at this time of year, as we love the intrigue of endurance racing, and we make no apologies for that.         
    Remember when Peter Brock and Jim Richards scored pole position, led every lap, fastest lap on the last lap and won by a mammoth 6 laps? What about Allan Moffat and Colin Bond's emphatic formation finish in their Ford XC Falcons? Perhaps you remember Kevin Bartlett's highly fancied Nine's Wide World Of Sports Camaro rolling at Reid Park? Or Tomas Mezera's or Fabian Coulthard's dramatic barrel roles at The Chase? Paul Radisich's violent incident at the exit of The Chase forced a reprofiling of the fence for future races, or John Cleland sliding to a race ending stop on the roof of his Falcon after crashing into a limping Jason Plato at the same spot. The internationals have certainly left an indelible mark.
​    One poignant moment was Jim Richards lambasting booing and baying punters with , "You're all a pack of #@*%" on the podium with a youthful Mark Skaife looking on. This was after the race was red flagged after multiple crashes in atrocious conditions including the Richards/ Skaife car, so the winner was declared from the previous lap, plus they just happened to be in a Nissan GTR, affectionately known as Godzilla. The Ford and Holden fans were unimpressed. This was also the same race we sadly lost 1967 F1 world champ Denny Hulme, of which Richards was only just informed of moments before the podium. What about the bust up between Greg Murphy and Marcus Ambrose after their coming together approaching The Cutting? Jamie Whincup attempting to redress after botching an overtake on Scott McLaughlin at The Chase with Garth Tander sensing an opportunity to pass resulting in a race changing incident that saw McLaughlin and Tander out and Whincup copping a penalty is one moment that stands out. What about Red Bull frantically telling Whincup over the radio to save fuel as he won't finish, only to be passed by Chas Mostert in his Falcon on the last lap to win the race. They started last and only led on the lap that counted. The image of Mostert's co-driver and renown hard charger Paul "The Dude" Morris reduced to tears is still with us. Craig Lowndes' 7 victories including 3 on the trot with Jamie Whincup impresses. Perhaps Peter Brock's record of 9 victories is the only statistic that matters. For us, the most evocative image is a highly emotive Craig Lowndes claiming the inaugural Peter Brock trophy in 2006 shortly after the passing of Peter Brock.
    This year sees the first race for the new Gen 3 supercar at Mt Panorama. 161 laps. Camaro vs Mustang. What's interesting is there are no compulsory pit stops, thus freeing up strategies. The tyre on offer is the soft compound. With the larger fuel tank capacity, tyre management is paramount as the soft compound won't last a full fuel tank. Championship leader, Erebus' Brodie Kostecki would love to open his Bathurst account. Plus it's Mt Panorama! You race the track as much as the other cars. It's a challenge all Supercar drivers can't resist. Come Sunday night, The Mountain would have revealed more and undoubtedly added more mountain moments. Settle in and enjoy The Great Race.
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    Much fanfare surrounded the launch of the new Gen 3 Supercars for the 2023 Supercars Championship. The current iteration of Australia's premier category sees General Motors introduce the Chevrolet Camaro after the demise of Holden, and Ford competing with a new Mustang, both with the aim of resembling increased road relevance. With 3 rounds done and seeing them first hand at the Australian Grand Prix, they certainly look and sound the part. We found ourselves however contemplating Supercars medium to long term future.
    The world is proactive in reducing its carbon footprint and motorsport is expected to do its part by competing in a sustainable fashion. Numerous touring car championships around the world have changed or adapted their car specifications from big thirsty gas guzzlers to either GT3 format or the smaller, popular more efficient TCR format utilising sustainable fuels and introducing hybrid technology. Take German DTM, World Touring Cars and British Touring Cars for example. 
    So where does this leave Supercars? With the launch of Gen 3, Supercars took the opportunity to introduce a new sustainable fuel with greatly reduced emissions. The exclusive E75 racing fuel is comprised of in excess of 80% second generation fuel derived from renewable feedstocks mixed with premium 98. But how many are aware of this? Car manufacturers involvement in motorsport has always been sporadic. They traditionally come and go as they economically please. Now with climate change part of everyone's agenda, the manufacturers don't want to be perceived to be associated with the aforementioned gas guzzlers. Is there still a perception that because Supercars are V8's, that they conform to that negative connotation? General Motors have announced that they are ceasing production of the Camaro next year. However Supercars have committed to running the Gen 3 Camaro until 2026 with assurances from General Motors that they will continue to support Supercars onwards. Ford have announced that they wish to develop a GT3 spec Mustang and expand their rally division, with both marques continuing to collaborate with NASCAR  to develop a more sustainable future. So will we see a continuing General Motors versus Ford battle beyond 2026? Or, is this akin to the board of a football team offering 100% support for the coach only to unceremoniously inform the coach shortly after that their services are no longer required? 
    Supercars are uniquely Australian and the punters love them. Despite the fact that the category is highly professional, still Australia's premier category, produces intense racing, there's no doubt that GT3 and TCR is on the rise worldwide. The Bathurst 12 Hour continues to grow with the infiltration of international GT3 teams and the TCR World Tour are making a stop Down Under for two rounds at Sydney Motorsport Park and Mt Panorama for the Bathurst International later this year. Therefore, are Supercars running the risk of racing down a proverbial one way street only to find it's a cul-de-sac? 

    Early morning fog shrouds The Mountain. The appetising aroma of bacon and eggs from early rising campers' BBQ's cuts through the clean crisp air. That's right. It's the beginning of October and that only means one thing. Supercars' premier event, the Bathurst 1000 at iconic Mt Panorama is the sole focus. 
    Supercars only true endurance race for the season gives little credence to current form guides. There's the uncertain ingredient of co-drivers, the demanding track itself and the unpredictable weather. 161 laps of intrigue. What drama and surprises will The Mountain reveal in 2022? Can anyone reign in championship heavy hitter Shane Van Gisbergen? Will Chaz Mostert achieve back to back victories? What of returning Kiwi legend and four time winner Greg Murphy who's come out of retirement and competing as a wildcard entry? Or evergreen Craig Lowndes who's also entered as a wildcard? Can he add to his already impressive seven victories in his 300th start?
    One glaring element that would not be lost on almost all fans. This is the last true Holden vs Ford battle for Bathurst glory. As you are no doubt aware, parent company General Motors have ceased production of Holdens some time ago and this is the last campaign at Bathurst for the renown brand in Supercars. In fact, next season's Gen 3 Supercars are doing demonstration runs at Mt Panorama. GM have replaced Holden with the Chevrolet Camaro, and Ford have a new Mustang. Both purpose built and aggressive looking, but will Supercars' new race cars be seamlessly adopted by the fans? There will be punters that embrace the next generation of Supercar and renew the rivalry. Conversely there will be punters that lament a long standing traditional rivalry that's involuntarily run its course.
    There is however this weekend's Bathurst 1000 to contend first with bragging rights on offer that potentially could take on extra significance. If a Holden team win, they will go in the history books as the last Holden team to win at Mt Panorama. Oh, and that fog we mentioned, might just be rain clouds the way the weather is shaping up. Bring it on....

    All 6.213kms of bumps and turns watched menacing by the encroaching walls pose a challenge. Associate this with 161 laps of intrigue and you have the Bathurst 1000. Supercars' marquee event, the Bathurst 1000 at Mt Panorama is fast approaching. 
    The Mt Panorama circuit started as a tourist scenic drive, but its potential as a racing circuit was soon recognised by local authorities. Racing commenced in 1938 with the Australian Tourist Trophy. The Armstrong 500 (miles) moved from Philip Island to Mt Panorama in 1963. The distance increased to 1000kms in 1973, and thus became known as the Bathurst 1000 and been contested every year since. Now the 23 turns with a 174m elevation disparity between Murray's Corner at the start of pit straight and Skyline at the top of the mountain present the ultimate challenge for Australia's top Supercar drivers. Whether it be the fast evolving weather, the invasive kangaroos, mechanical gremlins, the teams and drivers race the circuit as much as each other, and when the Mountain bites, it bites hard. 
    The Bathurst 1000 presents itself as the only true endurance race for the 2021 Supercars' Championship. All entrants are utilising the services of a co-driver, with teamwork the key for unlocking success in the Great Race. As mentioned, 161 laps with 7 compulsory pit stops and driver changes provide the perfect ingredients for the toughest race to win in Australian motorsport. This year the Bathurst 1000 is being run much later than ever in December. It is also starting at the latest time ever at 12.15pm. Will fading light be an issue if the weather is questionable? Since the Great Race is the culmination of a mammoth 6 day event, will the increased amount of rubber laid down on the circuit translate to quicker lap times? Will the vastly different ambient conditions present new challenges for the teams to negotiate? Already the apprehensive excitement is palpable.
    The 2021 Supercars' Championship has already been decided. Red Bull Racing's Shane van Gisbergen has attained an unassailable lead in the drivers', and Red Bull have done likewise in the teams'. Red Bull's other driver, the 7 time champ Jamie Whincup is retiring from full time competition after Bathurst. We've already seen at the recent Sydney Cup at Sydney Motorsport Park that he is unwilling to acquiesce to team orders and has clearly stated he's out to win. Is there a chance of more paint swapping between the two Red Bull drivers at Bathurst? Perhaps we'll see a complete surprise prevail at the Great Race. We'll know in a week....

    There's a freshness of all things new in the air. The season's changing. The flowers are blooming. The birds are chirping. Spring has sprung Down Under. The September winds herald another new season. Endurance Season and The Mountain looms large at this time of year. Bathurst's imposing Mt Panorama summons the Supercar fraternity to its fabled circuit for the start of this year's Pirtek Endurance Cup. 161 laps of the toughest assignment for Australia's premier "tin-top" category. 
    This year's Bathurst 1000 starts 20 minutes later than last year's race at 11.30am, but never fear. As you are probably aware, the race is not time certain and even if it runs a record length, last light is after 7.30pm. So who will conquer The Mountain? A previous winner or perhaps a fresh face? Who's your tip?
    As we get revved up for Bathurst, we noticed Supercars recently released the calendar for 2020. 14 events down from 15. As per usual, the championship kicks off around the streets of Adelaide followed by an event every 3 weeks to maintain uniformity for the fans with the exception of the penultimate round at Sandown and the finale at Newcastle which is separated by 2 weeks. Speaking of Sandown, it now becomes a SuperSprint round with The Bend opening The Pirtek Endurance Cup. The notable absentees off the calendar are Phillip Island and Queensland Raceway. There's a winter break in July and August which coincides with the Tokyo Olympics. 3 night events adorn the calendar with the Perth SuperNight, Sydney Motorsport Park returning to its traditional date in late August racing under their new permanent lighting, and the Gold Coast 600 Saturday enduro. The Auckland SuperSprint fittingly moves to the Anzac weekend in April. Supporting Formula One on the world stage at Melbourne's Albert Park, Supercars will utilise both hard and soft compound tyres in their 4 x 100km races. Fan favourite Stadium Super Trucks return and Australian Superbikes join the support cast at selected events.
    Recognising that not all fans can attend events on Sunday, the big news is that all SuperSprint rounds are now 400 km events (up from 300km). This brings Saturday in line with Sunday with both days featuring 200km sprints.
    We'll definitely be at the Australian F1GP at Melbourne and Sydney Motorsport Park. So charge up your camera and we hope to see you there. Chao....

    Australians are well versed in colloquialisms and are renown for it. Down Under we have a saying, "Shut the gate. The horse has bolted." Translation. It's too late to stop something that has already happened.
    The first four rounds of Supercars for 2019 have been run and won. Ford's new Mustang has claimed the victory spoils in dominant fashion. 9 wins out of 10 races with 8 pole positions. Defending Supercars champion, DJR Team Penske's Scott McLaughlin has 7 of those wins coupled with 6 pole positions. With Supercars being a parity category, after further testing through Computational Fluid Dynamics, this has prompted Supercars to decree some aerodynamic tweaks to the Mustangs ahead of this weekend's round at Barbagallo Raceway, Perth. After ballast adjustments at the start of the season to both the Mustang and ZB Commodore to bring them into line with the Nissan Altimas, now the Mustangs have to sport smaller rear wing endplates and a lower rear wing Gurney flap plus a reduced undertray extension. 
    Whenever a new make enters competition, there's quite often a perception of some sort of advantage. Whether it be mechanical or aerodynamic, the teams running the established makes nearly always cry unfair. Remember last season when the new ZB Commodore came fresh out of the blocks and won? But how much of it can be contributed to the car and how much of it is down to the driver and team? Maybe the Mustangs need to be reined in. Pardon the pun. We also think that we can all come to the same consensus when we say what a massive boost it was to Dick Johnson Racing when they orchestrated a collaboration with Team Penske a couple of seasons ago. Every category of motorsport always has a dominant team, and right now in Supercars, DJR Team Penske are reaping the rewards of that partnership. With Scott McLaughlin at the top of his game, who's to say the parity adjustments to the Mustangs will stop their winning momentum? Are DJR Team Penske and Scott McLaughlin simply in a class of their own at present? If not, how come Tickford Racing who are also running Mustangs, not on the same level?
    So, to translate. Is it too late to shut the Supercars paddock gate because the McLaughlin Mustang has bolted?

    Word association test. Bathurst.....Mt Panorama....Bathurst 1000....The Great Race. That's right. Simply mention Bathurst and images of Australia's Great Race naturally materialise in people's minds. This year's Bathurst 1000 was run in, to say the least, testing conditions. Congratulations to David Reynolds, Luke Youlden and Erebus Motorsport for winning all the chocolates. In fact, kudos to all drivers as the Safety Car was not called upon until the halfway mark of the race. Determining the winner was as unpredictable as the weather that day. Also, how amazing was Scott McLaughlin's record breaking pole lap in the shootout on Saturday? Mt Panorama never disappoints.
    The 2018 Supercars draft calendar has been released. For us Sydneysiders the date that stands out is August 4th. The event is called Sydney SuperNight 300. Under lights at Sydney Motorsport Park on a Saturday night. Awesome! Teams and drivers will have a whole new set of challenges to negotiate. Will the cold ambient temperatures have an adverse effect on the cars? The event is smack bang in the middle of winter. Surely bringing the tyres up into some sort of operating window will be a monumental task. What about the fans? Sydney folk are spoiled for entertainment choices on a Saturday evening. Will the fans embrace the event and arrive en mass to Sydney Motorsport Park? Let's hope so.
    Nikons at the ready....