Bathurst 1000, commonly observed as the pinnacle of Australian motorsport or crown jewel of Australian motorsport. This is one of the thrilling and exciting race from Australia. I hope you all are equally excited to learn about this great race having a great history of many extraordinary vehicles. Today, I have come up with few facts and little information about this most popular Australian motorsport, and Mount Panorama Bathurst 1000 Race Winners.
About the Great Race
Bathurst 1000, a great motorsport and time of the year, where all the Australia roads are busy with the cars leading towards Mount Panorama to participate and witness the Great Race. Basically, Bathurst 1000 is a touring car race for about 1000 kilometres or 620 miles that is held every year on the Mount Panorama Circuit located in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia. It is well regarded as the great championship event for superstars. Informally, Bathurst 1000 is widely and colloquially regarded as The Great Race among all other motor sport events. It is the most favourite motorsport for the fans and media.
History
From where does this great race is originated!? Initially, the concept of Bathurst 1000 is picked up from the event happened in 1960 as Armstrong 500. Armstrong 500 is a 501 mile stretch race, specially designed to celebrate the durability and speed of Australian made cars. This event is also a great event happened at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, later in 1963 the hosting place is relocated to Mount Panorama (also known as Wahluu) Bathurst and the great race, Bathurst 1000 is being continued at Bathurst every year. Earlier the Great Race was happened traditionally every year on Labor Day, during which a long weekend in New South Wales in the month of October. But in 2001, the race is re-planned to run on weekend that comes after the long weekend, which generally falls on second weekend of October. Eventually, in regards to the course of the race, it is changed from 501 miles to 621 miles i.e. 1000 kilometres because of fiercer enthusiasm, new technologies and faster cars.
During 1960’s
Now let us learn how the race was conducted during 1960’s!! In 1960, when it was first time happened to have motor sport race on the Phillip Island, the motor cars were divided into five classes based on the engine capacity. And the first winner to cross the winning line on the course was John Roxburgh and Frank Coad drove the car, a baby blue Vauxhall Cresta in the 2001cc-3500cc category. But here raised a controversy that is some claim that Russell/Anderson/Loxton team covered the ground quicker in their Peugeot 403.
During 1963
When the great race was moved from 1960 to 1963, the first and most familiar winners at the new course were Harry Firth and Bob Jane had taken the honours in ’61 in a Mercedes-Benz 220 SE and ’62 in a Ford Falcon XL.
During 1970’s
The Great Race during early 1970’s came up with a new rule affirming that single-driver teams were eligible to contest the motorsport event. Canadian-Australian driver, Allan Moffat won the ’70 and ’71 contests with the new rule in a Ford XW Falcon GTHO Phase II and Phase III, respectively.
About the Track
The track on which the most cars contest for The Great Race is ‘Mount Panorama Circuit’, a most popular motor racing track with dual official names, Wahluu and Mount Panorama. Mount Panorama is located on the hill in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia. It is well regarded as the home of Bathurst 1000 Motor Car Race held annually in every October as well as the Bathurst 12 Hour event held each February.
Since the great race has been started, the event has stolen the hearts of public and media attention locally and internationally. The dimensions of the track are 6.213km or 3.861mi in length and is used as common public road when there are no racing events happen.
Over the years, progressive changes in automotive engineering has led a few changes in the course and the culture, finally resulting in launching of new classes of vehicles, which eventually got the chance to participate in the great race. Still, Bathurst remains as a people’s race involving everyday powerful motor cars. Since it is the public road when no event runs on the track, you can even drive your own vehicle on the course but you need to make sure that you are maintaining the limit of 37mph or 60km/hour, otherwise you will be caught by the police who watches you closely.
However, the Great Race track was not only hosted the super cars and motor cars but also hosted the 12 and 14 hour endurances races, and the Australian Grand Pix. The course way is a long way to Mount Panorama turning through a number of twists, turns, and blind corners. For a normal person watching the race is an ultimate race car experience but for the racers it is just like a regular game on mobile.
Top Winning Car Brands
The most familiar Australian rivalry between Holden and Ford plays out each year at Mount Panorama’s Bathurst 1000. The top manufacturers include Holden with 29 wins, Ford with 19 wins, Nissan with 2 wins and 1 win each for BMW, Jaguar, Mercedes-Banz, Morris, Vauxhall, and Volvo.
Top Winning Drivers
2 Wins – Russell Ingall, Tony Longurst, Rick Kelly, Allan Grice, John Goss, and John Bowe
3 Wins – Dick Johnson, Steven Richards, Garth Tander,
In the 1980 race, Johnson had an accident and destroyed his car by hitting a rock on the track. The public and Ford offered donations, which collected over $70,000, allowed him to rebuild and finally win the following 1981 race.
4 Wins – Harry Firth, Bob Jane, Greg Murphy, Allan Moffat, Jamie Whincup
Bob Jane’s–Publicity and fame earned from his multiple wins helped to create his car dealerships and later a national chain of tyre retailers.
5 Wins – Craig Lowndes
Also competed off-road in the Australasian Safari with a Holden Colorado and won the Rally Raid in his first attempt.
6 Wins – Larry Perkins and Mark Skaife
Skaife had wins with both a Nissan Skyline GT-R and a Holden Commodore.
7 Wins – Jim Richard
Also holds the record for the most starts (35) at this event.
9 Wins – Peter Brock
He was such a successful a driver at Bathurst that he earned the nickname “King of the Mountain”. Peter Brock had nine victories (1972, 1975, 1978–80, 1982–84 and 1987). After his death, the Peter Brock Trophy was created in 2006 in his honour and is given to the race winners each year.
About the Trophy
Peter Brock, a successful, fan-friendly, and most popular driver at Bathurst 1000. He had a very long history of winning Bathurst 1000 nine times during his long career. All these accomplishments and achievements earned him a nickname or title, “King of the Mountain”. But why are we talking about Peter Brock instead the trophy!!? Because at Bathurst 1000 the race winners are presented with Peter Brock Trophy, which is introduced at 2006 Race in order to commemorate the death of successful driver, Peter Brock.
The trophy is manufactured by Hardy Brothers and is marked with characters referring the long-time nick name of Brock’s, “King of the Mountain”. And the trophy weighs 2.5kg or 6lb and twenty inches or fifty centimeters in height.
List of Winners
Year |
Event Name |
Car |
Drivers |
Race average speed |
Laps Elapsed Time |
Track |
2019 |
Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 |
Ford Mustang GT |
Scott McLaughlin/Alexandre Premat |
154.7408 km/h & 96.1515 mph |
161 laps/6h 27m 51.5260s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
2018 |
Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 |
Holden ZB Commodore |
Craig Lowndes/Steven Richards |
165.9100 km/h & 103.0917 mph9 |
161 laps/6h 01m 44.8637s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
2017 |
Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 |
Holden ZB Commodore |
David Renolds/Luke Youlden |
139.0071 km/h & 86.3844 mph |
161 laps/7h 11m 45.5456s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
2016 |
Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 |
Holden ZB Commodore |
Will Davidon/Jonathan Webb |
158.1816 km/h & 98.3105 mph |
161 laps/6h 19m 25.3237s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
2015 |
Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 |
Holden ZB Commodore |
Craig Lowndes/Stephen Richards |
159.5667 km/h & 99.1714 mph |
161 laps/6h 16m 07.7064s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
2014 |
Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 |
Ford FG Falcon |
Chaz Mostert/Paul Morris |
125.3273 km/h & 77.8914 mph |
161 laps/7h 58m 53.2052s6 |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
2013 |
Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 |
Ford FG Falcon |
Mark Winterbottom/Steven Richards |
161.5697 km/h & 100.3948 mph |
161 laps/6h 11m 27.9315s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
2012 |
Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 |
Holden VE Commodore |
Jamie Whincup/Paul Dumbrell |
159.6118 km/h & 99.1782 mph |
161 laps/6h 16m 01.3304s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
2011 |
Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 |
Holden VE Commodore |
Garth Tander/Nick Percat |
155.0904 km/h & 96.3294 mph |
161 laps/6h 26m 52.2691s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
2010 |
Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 |
Holden VE Commodore |
Craig Lowndes/Mark Skaife |
160.9668 km/h & 100.0201 mph |
161 laps/6h 12m 51.4153s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
2009 |
Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 |
Holden VE Commodore |
Will Davison/Garth Tander |
150.0284 km/h & 93.2233 mph |
161 laps/6h 40m 02.4884s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
2008 |
Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 |
Ford BF Falcon |
Craig Lowndes/Jamie Whincup |
155.4831 km/h & 96.6127 mph |
161 laps/6h 26m 00.4291s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
2007 |
Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 |
Ford BF Falcon |
Craig Lowndes/Jamie Whincup |
154.2195 km/h & 95.8275 mph |
161 laps/6h 29m 10.1985s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
2006 |
Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 |
Ford BF Falcon |
Craig Lowndes/Jamie Whincup |
142.9354 km/h & 88.8159 mph |
161 laps/6h 59m 53.5852s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
2005 |
Bob Jane T-Marts 1000 |
Holden VZ Commodore |
Mark Skaife/Todd Kelly |
151.0700 km/h & 93.8705 mph |
161 laps/6h 29m 36.2055s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
2004 |
Bob Jane T-Marts 1000 |
Holden VZ Commodore |
Greg Murphy/Rick Kelly |
154.0479 km/h & 95.7209 mph |
161 laps/6h 29m 36.2055s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
2003 |
Bob Jane T-Marts 1000 |
Holden VZ Commodore |
Greg Murphy/Rick Kelly |
152.7463 km/h & 94.9121 mph |
161 laps/6h 32m 55.4044s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
2002 |
Bob Jane T-Marts 1000 |
Holden VZ Commodore |
Mark Skaife/Jim Richards |
143.3482 km/h & 89.0724 mph |
161 laps/6h 58m 41.0260s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
2001 |
V8 Supercar 1000 |
Holden VZ Commodore |
Mark Skaife/Tony Longhurst |
146.1872 km/h & 90.8365 mph |
161 laps/6h 50m 33.1789s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
2000 |
FAI 1000 |
Holden VZ Commodore |
Garth Tander/Jason Bargwanna |
135.3259 km/h & 84.0876 mph |
161 laps/7h 23m 30.2348s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
1999 |
FAI 1000 |
Holden VZ Commodore |
Steven Richards/Greg Murphy |
145.6969 km/h & 90.5318 mph |
161 laps/6h 51m 48.8354s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
1998 |
FAI 10005 |
Ford EL Falcon |
Jason Bright/Steven Richards |
149.1060 km/h & 92.6501 mph |
161 laps/6h 42m 23.9039s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
1998 |
AMP Bathurst 1000 |
Volvo S40 |
Rickard Rydell/Jim Ruchards |
144.7907 km/h & 89.9688 mph |
161 laps/6h 54m 23.4756 |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
1997 |
Primus 1000 Classic5 |
Holden VS Commodore |
Larry Perkins/Russell Ingall |
157.0986 km/h & 97.6165 mph |
161 laps/6h 21m 55.5483s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
1997 |
AMP Bathurst 1000 |
BMW 320i |
Geoff Brabham/David Brabham |
149.4681 km/h & 92.8752 mph |
161 laps4/6h 41m 25.4072s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
1996 |
AMP Bathurst 1000 |
Holden VR Commodore |
Craig Lowndes/Greg Murphy |
139.7062 km/h & 86.8094 mph |
161 laps/7h 9m 28.3584s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
1995 |
Tooheys 1000 |
Holden VR Commodore |
Larry Perkins/Russell Ingall |
157.6701 km/h & 97.9717 mph |
161 laps/6h 20m 32.4766s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
1994 |
Tooheys 1000 |
Ford EB Falcon |
Dick Johnson/John Bowe |
141.5882 km/h & 87.9788 mph |
161 laps/7h 3m 45.8425s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
1993 |
Tooheys 1000 |
Holden VP Commodore |
Larry Perkins/Gregg Hansford |
154.19 km/h & 95.81 mph |
161 laps/6h 29m 6.69s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
1992 |
Tooheys 1000 |
Nissan Skyline BNR32 GT-R |
Mark Skaife/Jim Richards |
137.61 km/h & 85.51 mph |
143 laps2/6h 27m 16.22s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
1991 |
Tooheys 1000 |
Nissan Skyline BNR32 GT-R |
Jim Richards/Mark Skaife |
158.21 km/h & 98.31 mph |
161 laps/6h 19m 14.80s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
1990 |
Tooheys 1000 |
Holden VL Commodore SS Group A SV |
Win Percy/Allan Grice |
149.67 km/h & 93.00 mph |
161 laps/6h 40m 52.64s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
1989 |
Tooheys 1000 |
Ford Sierra RS500 |
Dick Johnson/John Bowe |
153.50 km/h & 95.38 mph |
161 laps/6h 30m 53.44s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
1988 |
Tooheys 1000 |
Ford Sierra RS500 |
Tony Longhurst/Tomas Meera |
142.12 km/h & 88.31 mph |
161 laps/7h 2m 10.28s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
1987 |
James Hardie 1000 |
Holden VL Commodore SS Group A |
Peter McLeod/Peter Brock/David Parsons |
139.82 km/h8 & 86.88 mph |
158 laps3/7h 1m 8.4s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
1986 |
James Hardie 1000 |
Holden VL Commodore SS Group A |
Allan Grice/Graeme Bailey |
153.61 km/h & 95.45 mph |
163 laps/6h 30m 35.68s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
1985 |
James Hardie 1000 |
Jaguar XJ-S |
John Goss/Armin Hahne |
149.44 km/h & 92.86 mph |
163 laps/6h 41m 30.19s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
1984 |
James Hardie 1000 |
Holden VK Commodore |
Peter Brock/Larry Perkins |
156.57 km/h & 97.29 mph |
163 laps/6h 23m 13.6s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
1983 |
James Hardie 1000 |
Holden VH Commodore SS |
John HarveyPeter Brock/Larry Perkins |
154.43 km/h & 95.96 mph |
163 laps/6h 28m 31.6s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
1982 |
James Hardie 1000 |
Holden VH Commodore SS |
Peter Brock/Larry Perkins |
153.04 km/h & 95.09 mph |
163 laps/6h 32m 3.2s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
1981 |
James Hardie 1000 |
Ford XD Falcon |
Dick Johnson/John French |
150.31 km/h & 93.40 mph |
120 laps2/4h 53m 52.7s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
1980 |
Hardie-Ferodo 500 |
Holden VC Commodore |
Peter Brock/Jim Richards |
147.10 km/h & 91.41 mph |
163 laps/6h 47m 52.7s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
1979 |
Hardie-Ferodo 500 |
Holden LX Torana A9X SS Hatchback |
Peter Brock/Jim Richards |
150.65 km/h & 93.61 mph |
163 laps/6h 38m 15.8s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
1978 |
Hardie-Ferodo 500 |
Holden LX Torana A9X SS Hatchback |
Peter Brock/Jim Richards |
147.82 km/h & 91.85 mph |
163 laps/6h 45m 53.9s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
1977 |
Hardie-Ferodo 500 |
Ford XC Falcon GS500 Hardtop |
Allan Moffat/Jocky Ickx |
143.15 km/h & 88.95 mph |
163 laps/6h 59m 7.8s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
1976 |
Hardie-Ferodo 500 |
Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 |
Bob Morris/John Fitzpatrick |
140.45 km/h & 87.27 mph |
163 laps/7h 7m 12.0s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
1975 |
Hardie-Ferodo 500 |
Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 |
Peter Brock/Brain Sampson |
136.62 km/h & 84.89 mph |
163 laps/7h 19m 11.3s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
1974 |
Hardie-Ferodo 500 |
Ford XA Falcon GT Hardtop |
John Goss/Kevin Bartlett |
127.39 km/h & 79.16 mph |
163 laps/7h 50m 59.1s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
1973 |
Hardie-Ferodo 500 |
Ford XA Falcon GT Hardtop |
Allan Moffat/Ian Geoghegan |
136.33 km/h & 84.71 mph |
163 laps/7h 20m 6.8s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
1972 |
Hardie-Ferodo 500 |
Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 |
Peter Brock |
133.74 km/h & 83.10 mph |
130 laps/6h 0m 59.1s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
1971 |
Hardie-Ferodo 500 |
Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III |
Allan Moffat |
130.55 km/h & 81.12 mph |
130 laps/6h 9m 49.5s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
1970 |
Hardie-Ferodo 500 |
Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase II |
Allan Moffat |
122.85 km/h & 76.34 mph |
130 laps/6h 34m 26s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
1969 |
Hardie-Ferodo 500 |
Holden HT Monaro GTS350 |
Colin Bond/Tony Roberts |
123.16 km/h & 76.53 mph |
130 laps/6h 32m 25s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
1968 |
Hardie-Ferodo 500 |
Holden HK Monaro GTS327 |
Bruce McPhee/Barry Mulholland |
119.51 km/h & 74.26 mph |
130 laps/6h 44m 7.9s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
1967 |
Gallaher 500 |
Ford XR Falcon GT |
Harry Firth/Fred Gibson |
116.34 km/h & 72.29 mph |
130 laps/6h 54m 59.1s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
1966 |
Gallaher 500 |
Morris Cooper S |
Rauno Aaltonen/Bob Holden |
111.89 km/h & 69.53 mph |
130 laps/7h 11m 29.1s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
1965 |
Armstrong 500 |
Ford Cortina Mk.I GT500 |
Barry Seton/Midge Bosworth |
110.54 km/h & 68.69 mph |
130 laps/7h 16m 45.1s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
1964 |
Armstrong 5001 |
Ford Cortina Mk.I GT |
Bob Jane/George Renolds |
N/A |
130 laps/130 laps |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
1963 |
Armstrong 5001 |
Ford Cortina Mk.I GT |
Harry Firth/Bob Jane |
103.39 km/h & 64.24 mph |
130 laps/7h 46m 59.1s |
Mount Panorama (500 Miles) |
1962 |
Armstrong 5001 |
Ford XL Falcon |
Harry Firth/Bob Jane |
97.48 km/h & 60.57 mph |
167 laps/8h 15m 16.0s |
Phillip Island (500 Miles) |
1961 |
Armstrong 5001 |
Mercedes-Benz 220SE |
Bob Jane/Harry Firth |
96.95 km/h & 60.24 mph |
167 laps/8h 18m 0.0s |
Phillip Island (500 Miles) |
1960 |
Armstrong 5001 |
Vauxhall Cresta |
John Roxburgh/Frank Coad |
96.56 km/h & 60.00 mph |
167 laps/8h 19m 59.1s |
Phillip Island (500 Miles) |
By entrant
Entrant |
Wins |
Holden Dealer Team |
9 |
Ford Works Team |
7 |
Holden Racing Team |
7 |
Triple Eight Race Engineering |
7 |
Dick Johnson Racing |
4 |
Perkins Engineering |
3 |
Gibson Motorsport |
3 |
K-Mart Racing Team |
2 |
Ford Performance Racing |
2 |
By Manufacturer
Wins Manufacturer
33 Holden
21 Ford
2 Nissan
Most Pole Positions
By driver
Rank |
Driver |
Years |
Poles |
1 |
Australia Peter Brock |
1974–1989 |
6 |
2 |
Australia Mark Skaife |
1991–2006 |
5 |
3 |
Canada Allan Moffat |
1970–1976 |
4 |
By Manufacturer
Rank |
Driver |
Years |
Poles |
1 |
Ford |
1967–2019 |
24 |
2 |
Holden |
1968–2018 |
23 |
3 |
Nissan |
1984–1991 |
3 |
Most starts
Rank |
Driver |
Years |
Starts |
1 |
New Zealand Jim Richards |
1974–2006 |
35 |
2 |
Australia Peter Brock |
1969–2004 |
32 |
3 |
Australia Bob Holden |
1960–1998 |
30 |
Most Podiums
Rank |
Driver |
Years |
Starts |
1 |
Craig Lowndes |
14 |
1994–2018 |
2 |
Peter Brock |
12 |
1969–1987 |
2 |
Larry Perkins |
12 |
1977–1998 |
2 |
Jim Richards |
12 |
1974–2002 |
Race Records
Description |
Record |
Driver/s |
Car |
Year |
Race record |
01:44.9 |
(Australia) Craig Lowndes |
Holden ZB Commodore |
2018 |
(161 laps) |
(New Zealand) Steven Richards |
|||
Lap record |
02:04.8 |
(Australia) Chaz Mostert |
Ford Mustang GT |
2019 |
Largest winning margin |
6 laps |
(Australia) Peter Brock |
Holden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback |
1979 |
(New Zealand) Jim Richards |
||||
Smallest winning margin |
0.1434s |
(Australia) Will Davison |
Holden VF Commodore |
2016 |
(Australia) Jonathon Webb |
Driver Records
Description |
Record |
Driver |
Car |
Year |
Youngest race winner |
20y 268d |
Australia Rick Kelly |
Holden VY Commodore |
2003 |
Oldest race winner |
55y 41d |
New Zealand Jim Richards |
Holden VX Commodore |
2002 |
Qualifying Records
Description |
Record |
Car |
Driver |
Year |
Qualifying Record |
2:03.7897 to the power 10 |
Ford Mustang GT |
(Australia) Chaz Mostert |
2019 |
Event Sponsors
1) 1960–65: Armstrong
2) 1966–67: Gallaher
3) 1968–80: Hardie-Ferodo
4) 1981–87: James Hardie
5) 1988–95: Tooheys
6) 1996–98: AMP
7) 1997: Primus
8) 1998–2000: FAI
9) 2002–04: Bob Jane T-Marts
10) 2005–present: Supercheap Auto