MOTORSPORT: Bathurst 1000 form guide

Picking the winner of the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 is a thankless and foolish task.

So we’re not picking the winner here, just nominating who we think are the top 10 chances for a podium result in the race and in the process having a look at what their weaknesses and strengths are.

Having done that, no doubt at least one combination not mentioned here will emerge from the ruck to challenge the star players.
   
Which is as it should be; this is the Great Race, 161 laps on one of the finest motor racing circuits in the world. Almost anything can happen and often does.

But reflect on this; in the last four years only two teams have won this race – Triple Eight and Prodrive Racing Australia – and that’s why their entries feature heavily in this list.

Winterbottom is the eternal championship bridesmaid who has grasped the opportunity presented by the new FG X to flip the roles in 2015.

Combine that with his consistent front-running pace at Bathurst over the years and co-driver Owen’s vast experience and this crew ranks as one of the top-three chances in the race. Don’t forget either that PRA is on for a three-peat this year – a far cry from its earlier shambolic efforts at Bathurst.

Pros: Tremendous experience, fast, great car, team knows how to win Bathurst
Cons: Owen’s ultimate speed could be an issue if he finds himself in a stint against a gun like Jamie Whincup

Waters is like Mostert was a couple of years ago; head and shoulders above his development series rivals and deserving of a main game ride. Mostert’s championship battle with Winterbottom adds complexity and its own issues. The two cars will fight for track position to avoid stacking at pit stops and losing time.

Pros: Mostert is a weapon, Waters should be one of the fastest co-drivers, car is quick
Cons: Waters lacks experience at this level

Triple Eight Race Engineering

Whincup is fast, dedicated, determined and a real racer. In close friend Paul Dumbrell he has one of the best co-drivers in the field, capable of lapping faster than plenty of the regulars. If the car is on-song and the team gets its strategy right, they will be on the rostrum. Just where is the question.

Pros: Whincup is an ace, Dumbrell is fast, team has great engineering depth
Cons: 2015 Commodore has been a battle to get right, Dumbrell has occasional brain-fade

Tekno Autosports

SvG could easily plonk the car on pole and can match anyone in the race for pace. If it rains, as it is forecast too on Sunday, then he may slosh off into the distance. Webb is one of the best co-drivers out there and could quite easily hold down a regular drive in the main game if he wanted to.

Pros: SvG is crazy-fast – especially in the wet, Webb a great back-up
Cons: Team needs to set the car right, get the strategy right and make sure the car runs to the finish

Triple Eight Race Engineering

‘Richo’ is an excellent co-driver; reliable as a Swiss clock, the three-times winner goes about his business quietly and often very quickly.

Pros: Bathurst pedigree impeccable, team does great strategy
Cons: Craig is getting involved in too many incidents, car battles for pace on hard tyres (Bathurst is a hard tyre race)

Brad Jones Racing

It would be a surprise if these guys got up for the win, but not a complete shock. Coulthard, who leaves this team at the end of the season, has tremendous single lap speed at Mount Panorama. The challenge is to turn that into a consistent and clean race-long effort that puts the car in position to race for the win when everyone puts the hammer down in the last 20 laps.

Youlden, who is part of the test crew at motoring.com.au, has raced at Bathurst 17 years in a row but never been offered the chance to contest a single driver V8 Supercar sprint race. Drama-free and fast stints would be the best way to show pitlane what they have been missing all these years. And BJR has never won this race – the party would go on in Albury for years if it did.

Pros: Coulthard’s speed, BJR Commodore works well at Bathurst, team does good strategy
Cons: Can these guys get through a race troublefree?

Rod Nash Racing

Reynolds had a big shot at the Bathurst win in 2012 but never put the hard pass on Whincup – something he now regrets. Last year he and regular co-driver Canto came off the back of the grid to have the race almost within their grasp when an alternator failed and put them out. This year he has raced consistently to rise to third in the championship, without ever quite getting on terms with his Pepsi-Max team-mates.

Pros: Strong car, Reynolds is a talent, Canto is utterly reliable
Cons: Reynolds’ head – it’s not always in the game

Walkinshaw Racing

HRT has also struggled to set up the 2015 Commodore, especially in qualifying. How much a fuel-saving device V8 Supercars has ordered removed from the car will impact on crucial economy we’ll find out on Sunday.

Pros: Tander’s never say die attitude, team has good race strategy
Cons: Poor qualifying form, Luff could be exposed

DJR Team Penske

Pye is a charger who has achieved solid results at Bathurst before, while Ambrose has never been on the podium here, even in those years in the early 2000s when he dominated the championship. Could this be a fairy tale farewell? Unlikely.

Pros: Pye races well
Cons: Ambrose still coming to terms with modern V8s, team is new and learning, car hasn’t shown race-winning speed this year

Garry Rogers Motorsport

A Bathurst result would be a big boost for a program that has suffered a severe case of the second-year blues. No problems with driver pace, both McLaughlin and Frenchman Alex Premat are bold and brave – occasionally too much so.

Pros: Drivers are fast, car can be fast if team finds the set-up
Cons: Reliability questionable, set-up a struggle, drivers need to stay off the walls.