Supercars Championship 2026 Preview: Bathurst 1000
The inaugural Bathurst 1000 takes place at the famous Mount Panorama this weekend, marking Australian Motorsport’s favourite time of year. Bathurst is located West of the Blue Mountains in New South Wales, roughly three hours via road from Sydney.
This year’s event at Mount Panorama, though, holds a special tribute in store for the man who once lived and breathed everything Bathurst stood for.
Nine-time winner Peter Brock passed away 20 years ago, making this year even more emotional for those following in his footsteps. The King of the Mountain has inspired many drivers worldwide, his speed, precision and chivalry admired by many fans.
This weekend will be an enormously magnetic and moving weekend for seven-time winner Craig Lowndes. The Melbourne-born 52-year-old is often referred to as Brock’s prodigy. The two shared a very special and close bond, both as teammates, mentor-mentee, and friends. Lowndes will make his 33rd consecutive start at Mount Panorama and will be paired with young gun Bayley Hall in the No. 15 Chevrolet Camaro, a wild-card entrant for Team 18.
The championship battle presents an opportunity for Matthew Payne, or one to ignite further for Broc Feeney; anything could happen this weekend - the Mountain is known for being relentless and fierce for those who dare disrespect or gain too much confidence.
Bathurst has become a showcase of Australia’s best strategic gains and performance across an endurance race, providing excitement and thrill for fans who watch along for all 161 laps; the Peter Brock Trophy is always a dream to acquire for many drivers in their Supercars career.
Mount Panorama has been home of the Bathurst 1000 since 1963, the first three years of the now-known 1000 endurance race held at Philip Island as a 500-mile race.
Australian greats have been created through success at The Mountain - Dick Johnson experienced three victories at Bathurst, his campaigns more often than not ending in heartbreak.
His most famous shunt was in 1980 on Lap 18 as he hit a football-sized rock just past The Cutting, effectively taking him out from the lead of the race - the 40-second gap he built quickly speeding away with his top-step hopes.
The Ford XD Falcon, most commonly referred to as “Tru-Blu”, suffered severe front-end, suspension, and body damage - the car immediately suffering race-ending damage, before hurling off into the concrete embankment.
The damage suffered was estimated to be AUD $40,000 - $50,000 (approx. USD 28,000 - 34,000), the crash almost ending Johnson both financially and personally; an end to racing looked to be more likely.
The public generously intervened thanks to a Channel 7 broadcast, giving ample donations, to which then Ford Australia executive Edsel Ford matched every dollar.
Donations ensured the shell of the original Tru Blu could be restored, and a whole new race car was built in time for 1981 Bathurst 1000, where Johnson went on to win the James Hardie 1000 with co-driver John French. These donations gave life to what is now known as Dick Johnson Racing Team.
The King of The Mountain, Brock, was often there for Johnson in times when the Mountain became relentlessly unforgiving to the classically known No.17 Ford Falcon - the most memorable being Johnson’s “Greens-Tuf” era.
1983 saw more heartbreak for Johnson - the Falcon XE was launched into the bushland, horrifically wrapping around trees after clipping a tyre barrier exiting Forrest’s Elbow during the James Hardie Top Ten Shootout.
Brock was already on his Shoot-Out Warm Up Lap. Stopping to help his friend and give him a ride back to pit lane after the enormous shunt; one Johnson was lucky to walk away from.
Another memorable moment in Bathurst history saw Lowndes winning in the same year as Brock’s tragic passing at the Targa West Rally in Western Australia, sustaining severe injuries after making forceful contact with a tree in a Daytona Coupe in September 2006.
Lowndes and co-driver Jamie Whincup made the emotional finish in 2006, crossing the finish line at Bathurst just 0.5 seconds ahead of brother duo Rick and Todd Kelly. The Triple Eight Race Engineering Ford Falcon BA was the first to be awarded the Peter Brock Trophy, starting a heartfelt tribute to be remembered as a legacy and the highest of honours in Australian racing.
This year there are 13 winless drivers attempting victory at the Mountain with 10 or more starts to their name - their chance not over; Paul Morris waited 22 Bathurst starts to finally achieve his very own win at the iconic venue, doing so in 2014.
Feel-good stories don’t just end there; Both Luke Youlden and Lee Holdsworth needed 18 Bathurst starts to gain their very first victory at Mount Panorama.
The Supercars Championship have projected that 80 per cent of fans predict that a first-time winner will take the top step in 2026, the mountain crowning a new face as its favoured man.
Mount Panorama currently has a lap record held by reigning Champion, Chaz Mostert - a whopping 2:03.3732 completed in 2021.
The weather in Bathurst this weekend is anticipated to be a mix; Saturday looks to feature light rain and partly cloudy weather with a top of 21°C, while Sunday remains sunny with a top of 25°C.
News broke in the lead-up to the weekend with a blow for the Dick Johnson Racing camp - Brodie Kostecki’s trusted engineer is forced to be swapped out this weekend.
His engineer George Cummins has sustained an injury after a mountain biking accident, effectively ruling him out for this weekend. The Cummins-Kostecki pairing had taken victory at Bathurst in 2021 together, with Pole Position going their way in 2025.
“Team manager Tom Moore will take over race engineer duties for Brodie Kostecki and Todd Hazelwood at Mount Panorama while George recuperates at home,” said a DJR spokesperson in a team statement.
In 2026, the Ford dream is still alive - with 23 out of 29 races being won by the Ford Squad, Payne expressed his thoughts to Supercars media.
Just last year, Payne delivered Ford’s first Bathurst victory since Scott McLaughlin in 2019, and it seems he’s ready to roar across the Mountain top, heading for victory once again.
“Bathurst is a race that, if it presents conditions like it did last year, it is anyone's game. Anyone that minimises the most mistakes." Payne said.
Supercars action commences this Thursday, with the first practice taking place at 13:30 AEDT (03:30 BST). The highly anticipated Bathurst 1000 race will begin at 11:30 AEDT (01:30 BST) on Sunday, 11 October.
SESSION TIMES:
Thursday, 8 October:
PRACTICE 1 (All drivers) - 13:30 AEDT (03:30 BST)
PRACTICE 2 (Additional drivers) - 15:45 AEDT (05:45 BST)
Friday, 9 October:
PRACTICE 3 (All drivers) - 10:05 AEDT (00:05) BST
PRACTICE 4 (All drivers) - 13:15 AEDT | (03:15 BST)
BOOST MOBILE QUALIFYING (Race 30) - 16:10 AEDT (06:10 BST)
Saturday, 10 October:
PRACTICE 5 (Additional drivers) - 10:05 AEDT (00:05 BST)
PRACTICE 6 (All drivers) - 13:10 AEDT (03:10 BST)
BOOST MOBILE TOP TEN SHOOT OUT (Race 30) - 17:05 AEDT (07:05 BST)
Sunday, 11 October:
RACE 30 (Bathurst 1000 start) - 11:30 AEDT (01:30 BST)
Edited by Vyas Ponnuri
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