The biggest day on the Supercars calendar is nearly here, with revheads around the country gearing up for an epic four days of racing.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, things will look slightly different this year, but there’s still plenty of opportunities to bask in the glory that is Bathurst 1000.
Here’s everything you need to know before the big day.
WHEN IS THE 2020 BATHURST 1000?
Bathurst takes place THIS WEEKEND, kicking off on Thursday, October 15. There’ll be three days of qualifying, practice races and historic events before the big dance begins on Sunday, October 18.
ARE TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR THE 2020 BATHURST 1000?
In keeping with coronavirus-imposed restrictions, only 4,000 spectators will be allowed at Bathurst each day this year.
Camping on the mountain, a staple of each year’s festivities, is banned in 2020. There will also be no access to the top of the mountain.
Seating on the bottom of the mountain will be reserved, and tickets in this section are now completely sold out.
If you’re looking to nab tickets , there are still a handful of options available. All tickets that remain sit along the track’s main straight, directly opposite pit lane. A 4-day admit ticket will set you back $248.
MORE: Todd Hazelwood reflects on sensational crash at 2017 Sandown 500
HOW TO WATCH BATHURST
All four days of Bathurst will screen live on Foxtel . You can also live-stream the event through Kayo .
Fox Sports are running a dedicated Bathurst channel from October 7, so this will be the most comprehensive source of info for diehard revheads. The coverage will also be available through Kayo.
Selections from days 2-4 of Bathurst will also be broadcast on Channel 10 and 10 Play . You’ll miss some of the earlier action, but will still be able to catch the entire Supercars race on October 18.
Channel 10 will broadcast the races from 12-5pm on the 16th, 11:30am-6pm on the 17th and 8am-6:30pm on the final day of proceedings.
BATHURST WEATHER
As always, the weather will be a huge factor come race day. Here’s how the forecast is looking.
Thursday, October 15 – Sunny with a high of 24. Only a 20% chance of rain.
Friday, October 16 – Cloudy, low of 10 and high of 23. 40% chance of rain in the afternoon.
Saturday, October 17 – Cloudy with rain developing in the afternoon. Low of 9, high of 25.
Sunday, October 18 – Rain. It will be wet, with 15-20m forecast to fall, and possible late thunderstorms.
WHAT TIME DOES BATHURST START?
Each day of Bathurst starts at a different time, usually between 8:30am and 9am. The big race on October 18 commences at 11:30am.
HOW LONG IS BATHURST 1000?
Bathurst is a 161-lap race which features the best racers in Australia. As its name suggests, the 161 laps total 1000km.
In recent years, a finishing time of just over six hours has won the race, but this number can balloon out to as long as seven and a half or eight if conditions are more challenging.
2019 BATHURST WINNER
Scott McLaughlin and Alexandre Premat won last year’s edition of the race driving for DJR Team Penske.
It was a controversial win, with McLaughlin and Prémat’s teammate, Fabian Coulthard, employing some questionable tactics in order to claim victory. The team won the race with a time of 6:27:51.5260.
WHO IS THE FAVOURITE TO WIN IN 2020?
| Car Number | Drivers | Odds |
| 17 | Scott McLaughlin, Tim Slade | $3.60 |
| 88 | Jamie Whincup, Craig Lowndes | $4.33 |
| 6 | Cameron Waters, Will Davison | $5.00 |
| 97 | Shane van Gisbergen, Garth Tander | $5.00 |
| 25 | Chaz Mostert, Warren Luff | $10.00 |
Odds courtesy of Sportsbet, correct as at October 17th
2020 BATHURST 1000 FULL FIELD
#2 Mobil 1 Middy’s Racing: Bryce Fullwood/Kurt Kostecki, Holden Commodore ZB
#3 Team CoolDrive: Macauley Jones/Tim Blanchard, Holden Commodore ZB
#4 SCT Motorsports: Jack Smith/Jack Perkins, Holden Commodore ZB
#5 Truck Assist Racing: Lee Holdsworth/Michael Caruso, Ford Mustang GT
#6 Monster Energy Racing: Cameron Waters/Will Davison, Ford Mustang GT
#7 NED Whisky Racing : Andre Heimgartner/Dylan O’Keeffe, Ford Mustang GT
#8 R&J Batteries Racing: Nick Percat/Thomas Randle, Holden Commodore ZB
#9 Penrite Racing: David Reynolds/Will Brown, Holden Commodore ZB
#12 Shell V-Power Racing: Fabian Coulthard/Tony D’Alberto, Ford Mustang GT
#14 Cub Cadet Mowers: Todd Hazelwood/Jordan Boys, Holden Commodore ZB
#15 Castrol Racing: Rick Kelly/Dale Wood, Ford Mustang GT
#17 Shell V-Power Racing: Scott McLaughlin/Tim Slade, Ford Mustang GT
#18 IRWIN Racing: Mark Winterbottom/James Golding, Holden Commodore ZB
#19 Local Legends Racing: Alex Davison/Jonathon Webb, Holden Commodore ZB
#20 DEWALT Racing: Scott Pye/Dean Fiore, Holden Commodore ZB
#22 Team Sydney: Chris Pither/Steve Owen, Holden Commodore ZB
#25 Mobil 1 Appliances Online Racing: Chaz Mostert/Warren Luff, Holden Commodore ZB
#34 UNIT Racing: Jake Kostecki/Zane Goddard, Holden Commodore ZB
#35 Yellow Cover Racing: Garry Jacobson/David Russell, Holden Commodore ZB
#40 Team Valvoline GRM: Tyler Everingham/Jayden Ojeda, Holden Commodore ZB
#44 Boost Mobile Racing: James Courtney/Broc Feeney, Ford Mustang GT
#55 Supercheap Auto Racing: Jack Le Brocq/James Moffat, Ford Mustang GT
#97 Red Bull Holden Racing Team: Shane van Gisbergen/Garth Tander, Holden Commodore ZB
#99 Penrite Racing: Anton De Pasquale/Brodie Kostecki, Holden Commodore ZB
#888 Red Bull Holden Racing Team: Jamie Whincup/Craig Lowndes, Holden Commodore ZB
BATHURST 1000 SCHEDULE
Thursday, October 15
8:55-9:15 – Combined Historics – Practice 1
9:30-10:30 – Supercars – Practice 1 (all drivers)
10:45-11:05 – TGRA 86 Series – Practice 1
11:20-12:00 – Dunlop Super2/Super3 – Practice 1
12:10-12:30 – Aussie Tin Tops – Practice 1
12:45-1:45 – Supercars – Practice 2 (co-drivers only)
2:00-2:20 – Combined Historics – Practice 2
2:30-2:50 – TGRA 86 Series – Practice 2
3:05-3:45 – Dunlop Super2/Super3 – Practice 2
4:00-5:00 – Supercars – Practice 3 (all drivers)
Friday, October 16
8:35-9:35 – Supercars – Practice 4 (co-drivers only)
9:50-10:10 – Aussie Tin Tops – Practice 2
10:20-10:40 – TGRA 86 Series – Qualifying
10:50-11:10 – Combined Historics – Qualifying
11:25-11:45 – Dunlop Super2/Super3 – Qualifying
12:00-1:00 – Supercars – Practice 5 (all drivers)
1:15-1:35 – Aussie Tin Tops – Qualifying
1:50-2:15 – TGRA 86 Series – Race 1
2:30-2:50 – Combined Historics – Race 1
3:05-3:50 – Dunlop Super2/Super 3 – Race 1 (16 laps)
4:05-4:45 – Supercars – Qualifying
Saturday, October 17
9:10-9:30 – Combined Historics – Race 2
9:45-10:45 – Supercars – Practice 6 (co-drivers only)
11:00-11:25 – Aussie Tin Tops – Race 1
11:40-12:05 – TGRA 86 Series – Race 2
12:20-12:40 – Dunlop Super2/Super 3 – Qualifying
12:55-1:15 – Combined Historics – Race 3
1:30-2:30 – Supercars – Practice 7 (all drivers)
2:45-3:10 – Aussie Tin Tops – Race 2
3:20-3:45 – TGRA 86 Series – Race 3
4:00-4:45 – Dunlop Super2/Super3 – Race 2 (16 laps)
5:05-5:50 – Supercars – Top 10 Shootout
Sunday, October 18
8:40-9:00 – Supercars – Warm-up
9:15-9:40 – Aussie Tin Tops – Race 3
9:55-10:20 – TGRA 86 Series – Race 4
11:30 – Supercars – 161-lap race