The Mountain Beckons.

Shane van Gisbergen, Red Bull Racing, Sydney SuperNight, SMSP. (C)

    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....

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