Source : ABC NEWS
The most famous race on the Supercars calendar is here, with thousands of fans flocking to Mount Panorama in regional New South Wales for the Bathurst 1000.
Fifty-four drivers across 27 cars will battle over the 1,000-kilometre endurance race in an event that always produces drama.
Here is what you need to know about this weekend’s Bathurst 1000, including when the race begins and how you can follow the action.
When is the Bathurst 1000?
The Great Race will be held this Sunday, October 11, at Mount Panorama in Bathurst.
There will be four days of action culminating in the 1,000km race on Sunday.
Here is when each of the key sessions begins in your state or territory.
Bathurst 1000 race, Sunday, October 11
- 11:30am AEDT: NSW, Victoria, ACT, Tasmania
- 11am ACDT: South Australia
- 10:30am AEST: Queensland
- 10am ACST: Northern Territory
- 8:30am AWST: Western Australia
- 1:30pm NZDT: New Zealand
Top 10 Shootout, Saturday, October 10
- 5:05pm AEDT: NSW, Victoria, ACT, Tasmania
- 4:35pm ACDT: South Australia
- 4:05pm AEST: Queensland
- 3:35pm ACST: Northern Territory
- 2:05pm AWST: Western Australia
- 7:05pm NZDT: New Zealand
Qualifying (top 10 advance to shootout), Friday, October 9
- 4:10pm AEDT: NSW, Victoria, ACT, Tasmania
- 3:40pm ACDT: South Australia
- 3:10pm AEST: Queensland
- 2:40pm ACST: Northern Territory
- 1:10pm AWST: Western Australia
- 6:10pm NZDT: New Zealand
How can I watch the Bathurst 1000?
In Australia, you can watch the race on both free-to-air and pay television, as well as streaming platforms.
The Seven Network is the free-to-air broadcaster, and you can watch it on Channel 7 or via the online streaming platform 7plus.
Foxtel and its streaming platform Kayo will also be broadcasting the race. On Foxtel, the race will be shown on Fox Sports channel 506.
In New Zealand, you can watch the race through Sky Sport.
ABC Sport will have live blog coverage of the Great Race from 10am AEDT on Sunday.
Who is driving in the Bathurst 1000?
There will be 54 drivers across 27 cars contesting this year’s Bathurst 1000.
Along with the usual 24 cars across 12 teams that contest every round of the Supercars Championship, the wildcard entries in this year’s Bathurst 1000 are: 5 Ben Gomersall/Campbell Logan, 15 Craig Lowndes/Bayley Hall and 34 Nathan Herne/James Moffat.
| Number | Main driver | Co-driver | Team | Car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chaz Mostert | Fabian Coulthard | Walkinshaw TWG Racing | Toyota |
| 2 | Ryan Wood | Jaxon Evans | Walkinshaw TWG Racing | Toyota |
| 3 | Aaron Cameron | Zak Best | Blanchard Racing Team | Ford |
| 4 | Jack Le Brocq | Harri Jones | Matt Stone Racing | Chevrolet |
| 5 | Ben Gomersall | Campbell Logan | Tickford Racing | Ford |
| 6 | Cam Waters | Mark Winterbottom | Tickford Racing | Ford |
| 7 | James Golding | Richie Stanaway | Blanchard Racing Team | Ford |
| 8 | Andre Heimgartner | Bryce Fullwood | Brad Jones Racing | Toyota |
| 9 | Jobe Stewart | Jarrod Hughes | Erebus Motorsport | Chevrolet |
| 10 | Zac Bates | Aaron Seton | Matt Stone Racing | Chevrolet |
| 11 | Jackson Walls | Jack Perkins | SCT Motorsport | Ford |
| 14 | Cameron Hill | Brad Vaughan | Brad Jones Racing | Toyota |
| 15 | Craig Lowndes | Bayley Hall | Team 18 | Chevrolet |
| 17 | Brodie Kostecki | Todd Hazelwood | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford |
| 18 | Anton De Pasquale | Lee Holdsworth | Team 18 | Chevrolet |
| 19 | Matthew Payne | Will Davidson | Grove Racing | Ford |
| 20 | David Reynolds | James Courtney | Team 18 | Chevrolet |
| 26 | Kai Allen | Tim Slade | Grove Racing | Ford |
| 31 | Jayden Ojeda | David Russell | PremiAir Racing | Chevrolet |
| 34 | Nathan Herne | James Moffat | Garry Rogers Motorsport | Chevrolet |
| 38 | Rylan Gray | Tony D’Alberto | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford |
| 55 | Thomas Randle | Reuben Goodall | Tickford Racing | Ford |
| 88 | Broc Feeney | Nick Percat | Triple Eight Race Engineering | Ford |
| 96 | Macauley Jones | Jordan Boys | Brad Jones Racing | Toyota |
| 99 | Cooper Murray | Lochie Dalton | Erebus Motorsport | Chevrolet |
| 777 | Declan Fraser | Nash Morris | PremiAir Racing | Chevrolet |
| 888 | Will Brown | Scott Pye | Triple Eight Race Engineering | Ford |
What weather is forecast for the Bathurst 1000?
Sunday is set to be sunny at Bathurst, but rain threatens to cause chaos at Mount Panorama on Saturday. (Getty Images: Robert Cianflone)
Rain affected last year’s Bathurst 1000, leading to a wild and thrilling finale at Mount Panorama.
For now, the 2026 drivers can breathe a sigh of relief based on the current forecast.
Sunday at Mount Panorama is expected to be sunny, with a maximum temperature of 26 degrees Celsius.
However, there is a 90 per cent chance of rain on Saturday, which could have a massive effect on the starting grid.
The fifth and sixth practice sessions will be held on Saturday, then the iconic Top 10 Shootout from 5:05pm, local time.
The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting: “High chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. The chance of a thunderstorm in the morning and afternoon”.
That could make Saturday a very wild and eventful day.
*Forecast from the Bureau of Meteorology correct as of Wednesday, October 7
Who won the Bathurst 1000 last year?
Matt Payne and Garth Tander won an extraordinary edition of the Bathurst 1000 in 2025, despite crossing the line second.
The duo started 18th on the grid, and Payne only took the lead with five laps to go. Payne was overtaken on the last lap by James Golding, who was carrying a time penalty for taking out Cooper Murray late in the race.
Golding took the chequered flag, but dropped to third with the penalty, as Payne and Tander were promoted to the win. It was Tander’s sixth Bathurst 1000 win, while it was Payne’s maiden triumph on Mount Panorama.
But the late chaotic finale barely touches the surface of what was an unbelievable race that was one of the all-time greats.
You can relive the drama of last year’s Bathurst 1000 by tapping this link.
