Australia’s greatest motorsport race is here with the 2017 Bathurst 1000 set to roar to life. Scott McLaughlin is favourite after shattering the lap record to take pole, but can he win the race? 161 laps are ahead, so join The Roar for live coverage from 11am (AEDT) to find out.
It’s been a stellar week for McLaughlin and his co-driver, Alexandre Premat, and the pace of the DJR Ford has been second to none. Freakish almost, as he shattered the lap record in practice, again in qualifying and then began the first man to conquer the mountain in under two minutes and four seconds during the top-ten shootout.
Putting the car on pole and having it stay reliable for 161 laps are two very different things though. Nothing is a formality on the mountain, and there are plenty of others to talk about, despite the pace and talent of McLaughlin and his team.
Joining McLaughlin on the front row of the grid is David Reynolds. Paired with veteran Luke Youlden, the pair have improved all weekend.
Speaking of veterans, and it’ll be Mark Winterbottom out of third spot. He and Dean Canto are a formidable combination, with Winterbottom a former champion both on the mountain and in the championship.
While Winterbottom has struggled for pace at times in 2017, but the blue oval have been reliable this year and in a race that’s all about reliability, the pairings don’t get a great deal better than that.
Chaz Mostert (with Steve Owen) and Shane Van Gisbergen (with Matt Campbell) round out the top five on the grid. While Mostert is a solid chance, it’s been a difficult weekend for the Triple Eight stable, with Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes both missing the shootout.
While a team of their quality can never be totally counted out, they have struggled with braking all weekend, suffering multiple runoffs through the chase, Murray’s corner and Hell corner. If they can’t get that worked out under a heavy fuel load, then it’s going to be a long day.
Sandown winner Cameron Waters (with Richie Stanaway) comes from sixth on the grid, while the back end of the top ten has plenty of strength with Fabian Coulthard, Jason Bright, Garth Tander and James Courtney all positioned there.
If last year proved anything though, it’s that qualifying means nothing. Will Davison and Jonathon Webb came from the back of the grid to win the race after not leading any laps.
With rain forecast for most of the race, the scene is set for one crazy Bathurst 1000 where anything could happen.
Prediction
McLaughlin has the pace, but in Australia’s most unpredictable race, Mark Winterbottom is due for a win, and coming from the second row of the grid, I think he can get it done.
If it rains, watch for Van Gisbergen, despite the noted issues for Triple Eight. He is superb in wet weather.
Mark Winterbottom and Dean Canto to win Bathurst.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the Bathurst 1000 from 11am (AEDT) and don’t forget to add your own comments throughout the course of the coverage.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Great job with the coverage Scotty all weekend! Such an intense race, which didn't disappoint.
Scott Pryde
Expert
The full results and race report will follow shortly, so be sure to check back for that. In terms of our live coverage of the Bathurst 1000, that'll do it here on The Roar. It's been a marathon, so I thank you all for joining me today as David Reynolds and Luke Youlden pulled off a memorable victory on the mountain after a crazy race, taking over seven hours. I hope you enjoyed the coverage. I'll be back at 6am (AEDT) tomorrow morning for some Basketball action as Melbourne United travel to America for a match against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Yep. What an effort. What a result.
Scott Pryde
Expert
The worst interview in history was just carried out on the bonnet of David Reynolds car. Ignored the question, then got off the car. Anyway, now he comes back to the interview. "I've got nothing left to give. I'm absolutely spent. This bloke (Luke Youlden) drove absolutely brilliantly, and the crew were faultless."
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
What a win for Erebus! You sense that all year they were building towards Bathurst and in the end they've bagged a most deserving result.
Scott Pryde
Expert
7 hours and 12 minutes. What an incredible 1000 kilometres we have just witnessed. 100+ laps in the rain, six safety cars, up's, down's. It's been another amazing Bathurst 1000. Luke Youlden is also a Bathurst 1000 champion. It's taken him 17 years, but he is finally a champion on the mountain.
Scott Pryde
Expert
DAVID REYNOLDS AND LUKE YOULDEN WIN THE BATHURST 1000 The Erebus team have won a crazy Bathurst 1000. One of the smallest teams on the grid, and David Reynolds was in the right spot at the right time to come away with a victory. The biggest of his life. What an incredible race. Scott Pye comes through in second, Coulthard third and Dale Wood in fourth. Van Gisbergen got himself back up to fifth, but he will feel that's one that got away.
Scott Pryde
Expert
161/161 Reynolds now goes down the mountain, makes it past Winterbottom and he is going to win the Bathurst 1000. He has 4 seconds. Pye comfortably in second ahead of Coulthard.
Scott Pryde
Expert
161/161 Reynolds has a 4.2 second lead as he comes over skyline.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FINAL LAP Reynolds has gone past the pit lane, so it will be a sectional yellow, rather than a safety car to finish the lap. Winterbottom in an awkward spot here. Get it fractionally long and you'll hit him. Reynolds onto the final lap.
Scott Pryde
Expert
160/161 WINTERBOTTOM! Winterbottom is in the fence at Forrest Elbow. Is the race about to finish under safety car?
Scott Pryde
Expert
160/161 David Reynolds will not be caught if he doesn't make a mistake.
Scott Pryde
Expert
160/161 2 laps to go, and Reynolds has just done the fastest lap of the race with a 2.07.5013. The lead is almost four seconds, and there are no worries with fuel conservation at this point.
Scott Pryde
Expert
159/161 Back down the field, Van Gibsergen goes past Caruso for P6.
Scott Pryde
Expert
159/161 Reynolds lead heading out towards four seconds now. Surely the team now tell him to start taking it easy. Fuel conservation isn't needed, but make a mistake and hit the fence and it's day over.
Scott Pryde
Expert
159/161 Reynolds is well and truly on the way to winning the Bathurst 1000 now. Unless he makes a mistake, he won't be caught, but the battle for second is back on. Whincup is out of the pits on a faulty engine, trying to get two laps done for 75% race distance and some vital championship points.
Scott Pryde
Expert
158/161 Nick Percat into the lane now so he can get home and grab some championship points. Reynolds lead continuing to go out, but Pye is holding Coulthard nicely at bay for second spot on the road.
Scott Pryde
Expert
157/161 There are only 12 cars on the lead lap as we come to the end of this race. Scott Pye really struggling to keep Reynolds in his sights here.
Scott Pryde
Expert
157/161 Reynolds gets his lead over two seconds up Conrod Straight now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
157/161 With Percat off the road and out of the race, struggling to hold off the pack now on a flat tyre, it's Coulthard who moves up into third position. Reynolds has almost two seconds to Pye now, with Coulthard in right behind. He has then opened up a gap to Wood and Winterbottom.