Bathurst 1000 facts for kids
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| Race Information | |
| Venue | Mount Panorama Circuit |
| Number of times held | 67 |
| First held | 1960 |
| Race Format | |
| Race 1 | |
| Laps | 161 |
| Distance | 1,000 km |
| Last Event (2024) | |
| Overall Winner | |
 Brodie Kostecki Todd Hazelwood |
Erebus Motorsport |
| Race Winners | |
| Brodie Kostecki Todd Hazelwood |
Erebus Motorsport |
The Bathurst 1000 is a famous 1,000-kilometre touring car race held every year in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia. It takes place on the challenging Mount Panorama Circuit and is a major event in the Supercars Championship.
Motorsport fans often call it The Great Race. The event started in 1960 as a 500-mile race at Phillip Island. It moved to Bathurst in 1963 and was extended to 1,000 kilometres in 1973.
Winners of the race receive the Peter Brock Trophy. This trophy was named after Peter Brock, who won the race a record nine times. He was known as the "King of the Mountain" because of his incredible success at the track.
Contents
The Legendary Mount Panorama Circuit
The Mount Panorama Circuit is not a typical racetrack. It is made of public roads that are closed for the race. The track is famous for its steep hills, with a 174-metre climb from the lowest to the highest point.
The race starts with a sharp left turn called Hell Corner. Drivers then speed up Mountain Straight before facing a series of difficult turns. These include The Cutting, a very steep and sharp corner, and The Esses, a fast, winding section.
One of the most famous parts is The Dipper, a sharp dip in the road. After that, cars fly down Conrod Straight, the fastest part of the track. Here, they can reach speeds of almost 300 km/h. To slow cars down, a chicane (a series of tight turns) called "The Chase" was added. The final corner, Murray's, is the slowest part of the circuit before cars cross the finish line.
The Cars of Bathurst
Over the years, many different types of cars have competed at Bathurst. The race began with standard production cars, which were very similar to the cars people could buy in showrooms.
The race is most famous for the rivalry between Ford and Holden. These two Australian brands have a long history of battling for victory at Mount Panorama. For many years, the rules only allowed Ford Falcons and Holden Commodores to compete, making the rivalry even more intense.
In 2013, the rules changed to allow other car makers to join. This brought back brands like Nissan and introduced Mercedes-Benz to the race. Holden has the most wins in the race's history, followed by Ford.
History of The Great Race
The Early Years
The first race, called the Armstrong 500, was held in 1960 at Phillip Island. The goal was to see which cars were the most reliable over a long distance. The track surface at Phillip Island couldn't handle the stress of racing, so the event moved to Mount Panorama in Bathurst in 1963.
In the early Bathurst races, smaller cars like the Ford Cortina and Mini Cooper were very successful. They were quick through the corners and didn't need to stop for fuel as often as bigger cars. In 1963, Bob Jane and Harry Firth won in a Ford Cortina GT.
The V8 Muscle Car Battle
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In 1967, the rules changed to favour larger, more powerful cars. This marked the beginning of the famous rivalry between Ford, Holden, and Chrysler. These companies started building special "Bathurst" versions of their muscle cars, like the Ford Falcon GT, Holden Monaro, and Chrysler Valiant Charger.
Ford's Falcon GT, with its powerful V8 engine, won in 1967. This started an era where big engines dominated the race. Holden fought back with its Monaro GTS 350, winning in 1968 and 1969. One of the drivers in 1969 was a young Peter Brock, who would go on to become a legend.
In the 1970s, the battle continued. Allan Moffat became a star for Ford, winning in a powerful Falcon GT-HO in 1970 and 1971. In 1972, Peter Brock won his first Bathurst race in a smaller six-cylinder Holden Torana during a very rainy race, proving that power wasn't everything.
In 1973, the race distance was changed to 1,000 kilometres. The decade saw incredible battles, including the famous 1-2 finish for Ford in 1977, when Allan Moffat and Colin Bond crossed the line side-by-side. Peter Brock and the Holden Dealer Team dominated the late 1970s and early 1980s, winning six times in seven years.
International Cars Arrive (Group A)
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From 1985 to 1992, the race followed international Group A rules. This allowed turbocharged cars from Europe and Japan to compete. Cars like the Ford Sierra RS500 and the Nissan Skyline GT-R became the ones to beat.
In 1987, the race was part of the World Touring Car Championship. European teams came to Australia to compete, but the race ended in controversy. The winning European cars were disqualified months later, and Peter Brock was awarded his ninth and final victory.
The powerful Nissan Skyline GT-R, nicknamed "Godzilla," dominated in 1991 and 1992. Its four-wheel-drive and twin-turbo engine were too much for the Fords and Holdens. The 1992 win was controversial because the race was stopped early due to heavy rain while the Nissan was in the lead, even after a crash.
The Modern Supercars Era
In 1993, new rules were created that brought the focus back to the Ford vs. Holden V8 rivalry. This formula evolved into what is now the Supercars Championship.
For a brief period in 1997 and 1998, there were two different Bathurst 1000 races each year due to disagreements over television rights. One race was for the V8 Supercars, and the other was for 2.0-litre "Super Touring" cars. Since 1999, there has been only one Bathurst 1000, which is a key part of the Supercars Championship.
The 2000s saw the rise of new legends. Craig Lowndes, a protégé of Peter Brock, won the race seven times. Jamie Whincup also became a star, winning four times. In 2006, the Peter Brock Trophy was introduced to honour the "King of the Mountain." Lowndes and Whincup were the first to win it.
The closest finish in the race's history happened in 2016, when Will Davison and Jonathon Webb won by just 0.14 seconds. In recent years, drivers like Shane van Gisbergen and Scott McLaughlin have added their names to the list of winners, continuing the tradition of The Great Race.
Famous Winners
- Peter Brock: With nine victories, he is known as the "King of the Mountain." His success made him a hero to many fans.
- Jim Richards: A seven-time winner from New Zealand, he holds the record for the most starts in the race (35).
- Craig Lowndes: Also a seven-time winner, Lowndes is one of the most popular drivers in Australian motorsport. He holds the record for the most podium finishes (14).
- Larry Perkins and Mark Skaife: Both have won the race six times. They were dominant drivers in their eras.
- Allan Moffat: A four-time winner for Ford, he was one of Peter Brock's greatest rivals in the 1970s.
- Dick Johnson: A three-time winner who became a fan favourite after a famous crash in 1980. Public donations helped him rebuild his car and win the race the very next year.
Safety at Mount Panorama
The high speeds at Mount Panorama make it a dangerous track. Over the years, several tragic accidents have occurred.
In 1986, driver Mike Burgmann died in a crash on Conrod Straight. As a result, a chicane called "The Chase" was added to the straight in 1987 to reduce speeds and improve safety. This section was dedicated to his memory.
Other incidents have also led to safety improvements around the circuit, making it safer for both drivers and spectators.
Peter Brock Trophy
After Peter Brock's death in 2006, Supercars created the Peter Brock Trophy to be awarded to the winners of the Bathurst 1000. The trophy is a special tribute to the race's greatest champion.
The trophy is 50 cm tall and weighs 2.5 kg. It is inscribed with the words "King of the Mountain," Brock's famous nickname. Craig Lowndes, who was a close friend and mentee of Brock, has won the trophy a record six times.
Images for kids
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The Ford XT Falcon GT of Barry Seton and Fred Gibson during the 1968 race.
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The Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 in which Bob Morris and John Fitzpatrick won the 1976 race.
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The Nissan Skyline GT-R in which Jim Richards and Mark Skaife won the 1991 race.
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The Ford BA Falcon of Marcos Ambrose and Warren Luff leads a train of cars during the 2005 race.
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The Ford FG Falcon in which Chaz Mostert and Paul Morris won the 2014 race.
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See also
In Spanish: 1000 km de Bathurst para niños
- List of Bathurst 1000 vehicles
- National Motor Racing Museum – a museum located next to the racing circuit.
- Bathurst 12 Hour
- List of Australian Touring Car Championship races
