Mt Panorama will light up this weekend for the 2015 Bathurst 1000; the country’s headline motorsport event which will peg 27 entries against one another in search of the coveted Peter Brock Trophy.
Bathurst has produced some of the Australian sporting landscape’s greatest triumphs, but like any major event it has also been the scene for many famous heartbreaks – it is a true test of character, skill and fortitude.
Sometimes, the fate of a driver’s campaign at Bathurst has been completely out of their hands – most famously seen in 1980 when Dick Johnson collided with the infamous rock.
There are also plenty of conspiracy theories surrounding why some drivers have not been able to take their position on the top of the podium.
Mark Winterbottom currently sits atop standings in the 2015 V8 Supercars Drivers Championship and is a leading contender to take out the Bathurst 1000 this weekend as a result.
Having worked his way towards the fore of the field in 2014, Winterbottom was involved in an incident with fierce rival Craig Lowndes which resulted in him spinning out of contention; the race eventually taken out by team mate Chaz Mostert.
Winterbottom is in the right form to return to the top of the Bathurst podium for only the second time this year but will need plenty of luck to go his way if he is not to be left heartbroken again in 2015.
We’ve taken a look back at some of Bathurst’s greatest heartaches ahead of Sunday’s big race.
Dick Johnson and The Rock – 1980
Dick Johnson qualified on the front row of the grid for the 1980 edition of Bathurst and immediately took up the pace. Travelling well for the first 17 laps, Johnson spun off into a wall hitting a football-sized rock that had worked its way onto the track; ending his race. Plenty of speculation still circulates as to whether the rock was accidently kicked onto the track by drunken fans or purposely thrown into his path by a fan of a rival team, but the incident came close to ruining Johnson’s entire career and team as a result of the hefty repair bill. The Rock has become something of a big deal in Australian motor racing folklore and remains perched in the DJR Museum at Yatala.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtcjlF4aFo4
Mark Winterbottom Misses his First Opportunity
While the current championship leader has since posted a win at Mt Panorama, Bathurst has not been a particularly happy hunting ground for Mark Winterbottom. In 2007, Winterbottom had raced his way to the front of the field and appeared to have the race won as the chasing pack focused their efforts of passing Jason Bright, but what appeared to be a momentary lapse in concentration led to the FPR lead to shoot off the chase. A piece of precision driving meant Winterbottom was able to stop the car from flipping, but his chances of climbing the podium had already been dashed.
Glenn Seton Narrowly Misses Out – 1995
Glenn Seton won two championships through an impressive career in Australia’s headline motorsport category, but never managed to conquer Mount Panorama. Having produced several impressive performances without being able to post a win in the famed race, Seton appeared to have finally broken the hoodoo in 1995 when he led with only ten laps to go, but his Ford Falcon was unable to see out the gruelling circuit and blew its engine. Seton, father Barry and the whole Peter Jackson Racing team were devastated.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn2YQ6kYDPs
Jim Richards’ Mind is on the Beach – 1985
BMW as a manufacturer was absolutely dominating the 1985 edition of Bathurst as Jim Richards held the pace ahead of team mate George Fury. The pair looked as though they would continue to improve and drive away from the chasing pack until Richards took a corner too wide and ended up in a sand trap, immediately followed in by Fury. The pair desperately tried to dig Richards’ car out of the pit, but lost far too much time to warrant a successful comeback.
Craig Lowndes Spins Mark Winterbottom Out of Contention – 2014
It was a little known-fact prior to the 2014 Bathurst 1000 that fan favourite Craig Lowndes and FPR’s Mark Winterbottom did not get along. That however became abundantly clear when Lowndes left his foot on the accelerator a little too long rounding onto the straight late in the race, punting Winterbottom’s left rear quarter panel and spinning his chances of a second-consecutive win at Mt Panorama out the window. Lowndes maintains his vision was momentarily hampered by glare, while Frosty is sure there was more to the incident.
Race Fans Left Thirsty by Organisers
In what has undoubtedly been the biggest heartbreak in the history of the Bathurst 1000 however, punters who camp at the top of Mt Panorama have been told they are now only allowed to bring along one slab of beer per person, per day. The Hill has gained international recognition for the characters it has drawn and continues to draw year in, year out and it came as a huge shock when it was confirmed they will now be limited to only 24 stubbies each 24 hours.
