Rain set to dampen quickest session of Bathurst 1000 weekend
Updated . First published at
The Supercars grid is bracing for a wet and wild Saturday at Mount Panorama, with rain threatening to turn the iconic top ten shootout on its head.
Slippery conditions could easily scramble the starting order for the Bathurst 1000 race if any top-ten contenders find themselves in the barrier.
Last year’s rain shifted the order during Sunday’s race. Getty
The official forecast paints a gloomy picture, predicting a 90 per cent overall chance of rain.
“High chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon,” the forecast reads.
“The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon.”
The forecast also has a 75 per cent high chance of at least 1mm and 50 per cent of at least 3mm in Mount Panorama. DJR’s Brodie Kostecki will be looking for a fourth consecutive pole for the Bathurst 1000.
But every driver will have to navigate these treacherous conditions through the fifth and sixth practice sessions before the high-stakes shootout kicks off with just the top ten qualifiers from Friday’s session.
The one-lap shootout will begin just after 5pm AEST and Saturday’s weather could leave behind a chaotic and unpredictable starting grid.
As skies are expected to clear for a sunny 1000km race on Sunday, fans don’t have to look far back to remember the impact of a wet track at Bathurst.
Last year’s 1000km classic concluded in thrilling fashion as Matthew Payne and Garth Tander held on for dear life in a rain-soaked race to claim the crown.
In a dramatic finish, the driver who crossed the line first was not the victor of the race. James Golding had been slapped with a five-second time penalty after he tipped Cooper Murray into a spin trying to make a move for the lead.
Payne and Garth Tander inherited the victory.
Two more practice sessions will be held on Friday before qualifying sets the shootout order and the grid from positions 11-26.
