Mar 272020

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 WinsDick 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 WinsPeter 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


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