This is the weekend we have been waiting for all year; it’s Bathurst 1000 race week!
Jayden Ojeda and Fabian Coulthard are back behind the wheel ready to take on The Mountain alongside Ryan Wood and Chaz Mostert.
It’s been a big few weeks for the crew since The Bend, turning the cars around for the biggest race of the year.
161 laps, 1000kms, the toughest race in Australian motorsport, bring it on.
The Track
What more can you say about Bathurst? 6.2 kilometres of the most amazing piece of road in Australia (and the world if you ask us…)
With 23 wild corners from Conrod to McPhillamy, The Grate to Forrest Elbow, it’s a hold your breath operation for most of the lap, leaving no room for error with an average speed of 181km/h.
Tyres
We are back on the Dunlop Soft tyre this year after running the Dunlop Hard tyre last year.
Format
There are four days of on track action which kicks off on Thursday with two Practice sessions, the first with all drivers and the second just a co-driver session.
Friday sees two more practice sessions with all drivers into the most important qualifying session of the year which starts at 4.10pm AEDT. This session will set the grid for P11 to P26 with the top 10 cars securing themselves a spot into the Top 10 Shootout for a lap to themselves around Mount Panorama.
Saturday rounds out the final two practice sessions before the pressure intensifies for the Top 10 Shootout which kicks off at 5.05pm AEDT. Make sure you tune in for this session, it is arguably the best session of the year.
Sunday is the day, the big dance. The team get a 20-minute warm up in the morning before the lights go out and engines roar at 11.45am AEDT for 1000kms around the best track in the world.
Pitstops
Similar to The Bend, there are no compulsory pitstop requirements, so how much fuel you take and when, will be the big question, it all depends on strategy.
At some stage during the race, cars will have to complete a front brake rotor change. This involves, for us, taking the entire brake calliper and rotor off, and replacing them with brand new ones, fresh out of the oven to warm up.
Safety Car Changes
There have been changes to the Safety Car rules since The Bend with the 80km/h speed limiter being removed, except for in emergency situations, alongside the ‘slow zones’ and closing of pit lane.
Drivers now must slow significantly when passing an incident area, and will be signalled by double-waved yellow flags.
Weather
It looks to be a clear weekend with no rain on the forecast except for some showers on Thursday.
How to Watch
Fox Sports and Kayo will have you covered for every session live across the weekend. For the free to air viewers Channel 7 will have Saturday and Sunday live. For the Kiwi fans Sky Sports will cover all of the on-track action.
For the full TV guide, please CLICK HERE.
Ryan Wood
“I grew up watching the Bathurst 1000 and it still feels surreal to actually be racing in it again.
“Qualifying hurt us at The Bend, that will be a focus for us this weekend, it definitely makes your day easier on Sunday when you start up the front.
Jayden Ojeda
“This is the race we look forward to all year, it’s the best race on the calendar, for us co-drivers it’s like Christmas has come early.
“We had a solid weekend at The Bend but it really wasn’t where we wanted to end up, it just makes Woody and I hungrier for a better result this weekend.
Chaz Mostert
“Fabs and I have unfinished business at Bathurst, it’s going to be a redemption weekend for us.
“The Bathurst God’s always have something to throw your way, that’s what makes this place so special, as a team and driver you need to be prepared for that.”
Fabian Coulthard
“This is the best weekend of the year, we have put in the hard work in the lead up to the event and now we need to execute.
“Last time Chaz and I were teamed up at Bathurst we came second, this year the goal is to finish one step higher.”