This year’s Bathurst 1000 could be the most unpredictable ever

In just over a week’s time, the Supercars Championship will start the final round of the season, returning to the hallowed tarmac of the Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst to close out the 2020 racing year, one that has been nothing short of amazing to actually complete given the global circumstances.

For the first time since 2000, the Bathurst 1000 will be the final race of the year, having always been one of the last few rounds in recent years but still anywhere between a month or two from the actual conclusion of the championship series.

Though every year is billed as potentially being the best iteration of the Great Race (and all certainly have merit), the circumstances surrounding this year’s race as well as the unpredictable nature of the 1000km classic means that we could well be in for an all-in shootout between the top guns or have an underdog winner.

Leading in to this year’s race, ten rounds have been completed (including the abandoned Australian Grand Prix support event) and Scott McLaughlin has already been named as the champion-elect, having a margin of more than the 300 points which will be up for grabs for the winner of Bathurst.

Since the race’s inception in the early 1960’s, every running up until the 1999 edition was held after the Australian Touring Car Championship had wrapped up for the year, meaning the grid at Mount Panorama filled up with one-off entries wanting publicity as well as the top drivers and teams in the regular championship.

With the issue of the 2020 championship a moot point and the team’s standings viewed as nowhere near as important than a victory in Australia’s biggest race, everyone will be going guns blazing for the race win which brings with it a certain level of risk given it’s likely to be the first time since the late 90’s that everyone can give 100% all day long.

Drivers like Shane van Gisbergen have suffered tumultuous years, having to wait to round eight in Townsville for his first race win of the year but he comes into Bathurst with nothing to lose and a three-time 1000 winner in Garth Tander as his co-driver while also searching for his first visit to the top step in the Great Race.

Of the 24 cars confirmed to start, seven feature co-drivers who were full-time Supercars drivers up until the end of 2018 with only four entrants having never taken on the Mountain in a main game Supercars race before, further proving the strength of the field.

There are a multitude of storylines to play out as well; can Scott McLaughlin take a second Bathurst 1000 win in a row and put behind the doubts that last year’s race was gifted to him? Will Jamie Whincup break his hoo-doo to take his first win at the Mountain since 2012? Is it possible for Craig Lowndes to notch up his eighth win and go just one victory shy of his mentor, the late Peter Brock?

And what of the rookies and young blood in the field? Drivers like Thomas Randle and Will Brown are desperate to break through the feeder categories into the main game and have a point to prove but may have to put their desires aside to give their main drivers a fighting chance for a shot at the podium in the latter stages of the race.

With just over 4000 fans being allowed in to the track every day, it will be a very different atmosphere compared to previous years which is a shame given that we’ll finally be able to claim Bathurst being on par with the football code grand finals, coincidentally coming a week after the 1000 this season.

Though the physical attendance won’t be the same, ratings are set for a boost given the race is on free-to-air, is the last outing of the 2020 season and the NRL and AFL finals matches won’t get underway until after the race is finished (hopefully).

It’s not worth talking about the weather in Bathurst as mid-October can see temperatures vary between high-20’s to freezing with snow having fallen on the track around that time a few years ago, making it nearly impossible to predict the weather even when you’re standing on Pit Straight.

With all that in mind, do yourself a favour and tune into the 2020 Bathurst 1000 to see what may be one of the best Supercars races in years, kicking off on October 15 as the final race of the season begins at 1130 local time on the 18th.