Fans can expect a whole lot of craziness around Mount Panorama on Thursday and Friday, so says V8 Supercars championship leader Jamie Whincup, as teams and drivers try to come to grips with the new track surface.
All 26 cars competing in Sunday’s Bathurst 1000 will have a combined four hours of practice over five sessions before qualifying begins.
The new generation V8s are yet to be tested on the grippy tarmac, which was laid after last year’s Great Race.
Few are doubting lap records will be smashed, but what impact the expected greater speeds will have on tyre wear and fuel is what has most teams worried.
“We’ve pretty much thrown out all the information we’ve got on Bathurst from previous years,” said Whincup, who’s conquered the mountain four times before.
“It’s a brand new track, which means we start from scratch and everyone competes equally.
“We’ll use Thursday and Friday to try and make the car as nice to drive as possible.
“Everyone will be going absolutely crazy and really grabbing those little practice sessions, we’ve got to try and improve the car as much as we can.
“(The race) is six and a half hours, so if you don’t have a good car to drive you’re generally going to find a wall somewhere.”
Whincup last month achieved what no-one had in 18 years – winning the Sandown 500 from pole position.
It’s almost as rare to win at Bathurst from first place on the grid, with only three drivers doing so in the last 15 years.
Whincup started last year’s 1000km epic from pole but couldn’t hold out for the victory, narrowly beaten by Ford Performance Racing’s Mark Winterbottom.
“Qualifying up the front’s good to get out of the stresses of those first three laps,” the Holden-Red Bull Racing pilot said.
“On the flip side, this is probably the least most important track to qualify on.
“Last year, it was one of the best feelings I’ve had in motorsport being on pole when I did that lap right on the death there.
“It’s a great feeling, but it doesn’t guarantee anything for the race, which is really what it’s all about.”
The first practice session starts at 11.05am (AEDT) on Thursday, with qualifying from 3pm on Friday.
