Bathurst 1000: Everything you need to know

The time has arrived for the biggest race of the year, as the V8 Supercars carnival arrives for the Bathurst 1000.

Here's everything you need to know for a massive four days of racing.

SCHEDULE (all times AEDT)

THURSDAY

Practice 1: 9.30am-10.30am

Practice 2 (co-drivers only): 12.45pm-1.45pm

Practice 3: 4pm-5pm

FRIDAY

Practice 4 (co-drivers only): 9.45am-10.45am

Practice 5: 12.10pm-1.10pm

Qualifying: 4.05pm-4.45pm

SATURDAY:

Practice 6 (co-drivers only): 9.10am-10.10am

Practice 7: 11.35am-12.35pm

Top Ten Shootout: 5.05pm-5.50pm

SUNDAY:

Warm-up: 8.40am-9am

Bathurst 1000: 11.30am-5.45pm

HOW TO WATCH

Every practice, qualifying session and race is live on Fox Sports via the 24-hour Bathurst channel and Kayo.

You can also follow via Wide World of Sports' Race Centre and live blog, which will get you through the big race on Sunday.

There are limited tickets to this year's event due to social distancing protocols implemented in response to the coronavirus pandemic. For more ticketing information, click here.

TEAMS

#2 Walkinshaw Andretti United: Bryce Fullwood/Kurt Kostecki

#3 Brad Jones Racing: Macauley Jones/Tim Blanchard

#4 Brad Jones Racing: Jack Smith/Jack Perkins

#5 Tickford Racing: Lee Holdsworth/Michael Caruso

#6 Tickford Racing: Cameron Waters/Will Davison

#7 Kelly Racing: Andre Heimgartner/Dylan O'Keeffe

#8 Brad Jones Racing: Nick Percat/Thomas Randle

#9 Penrite Racing: David Reynolds/Will Brown

#12 Shell V-Power Racing: Fabian Coulthard/Tony D'Alberto

#14 Brad Jones Racing: Todd Hazelwood/Jordan Boys

#15 Kelly Racing: Rick Kelly/Dale Wood

#17 Shell V-Power Racing: Scott McLaughlin/Tim Slade

#18 Team 18: Mark Winterbottom/James Golding

#19 Team Sydney: Alex Davison/Jonathon Webb

#20 Team 18: Scott Pye/Dean Fiore

#22 Team Sydney: Chris Pither/Steve Owen

#25 Walkinshaw Andretti United: Chaz Mostert/Warren Luff

#34 Matt Stone Racing: Zane Goddard/Jake Kostecki

#35 Matt Stone Racing: Garry Jacobson/David Russell

#40 Garry Rogers Motorsport: Tyler Everingham/Jayden Odeja

#44 Tickford Racing: James Courtney/Broc Feeney

#55 Tickford Racing: Jack Le Brocq/James Moffat

#88 Red Bull Holden Racing Team: Jamie Whincup/Craig Lowndes

#97 Red Bull Holden Racing Team: Shane van Gisbergen/Garth Tander

#99 Penrite Racing: Anton De Pasquale/Brodie Kostecki

ODDS (via Sportsbet) *all prices correct at time of publishing

$3.60: Scott McLaughlin/Tim Slade

$4.33: Jamie Whincup/Craig Lowndes

$5.00: Shane van Gisbergen/Garth Tander

$5.00: Cameron Waters/Will Davison

$10.00: Chaz Mostert/Warren Luff

$15.00: Fabian Coulthard/Tony D'Alberto

$15.00: David Reynolds/Will Brown

$26.00: Lee Holdsworth/Michael Caruso

$26.00: Nick Percat/Thomas Randle

$34.00: Scott Pye/Dean Fiore

$34.00: Anton De Pasquale/Brodie Kostecki

$34.00: Jack Le Brocq/James Moffat

$34.00: James Courtney/Broc Feeney

$41.00: Mark Winterbottom/James Golding

$51.00: Andre Heimgartner/Dylan O'Keeffe

$51.00: Rick Kelly/Dale Wood

$81.00: Todd Hazelwood/Jordan Boys

$151.00: Bryce Fullwood/Kurt Kostecki

$151.00: Alex Davison/Jonathon Webb

$151.00: Chris Pither/Steve Owen

$151.00: Jack Smith/Jack Perkins

$151.00: Macauley Jones/Tim Blanchard

$151.00: Zane Goddard/Jake Kostecki

$151.00: Garry Jacobson/David Russell

$276.00: Tyler Everingham/Jayden Odeja

TOP CHANCES

Scott McLaughlin/Tim Slade

Scott McLaughlin has taken the crown as the best driver in the field over the past few years, with the 27-year-old Kiwi the winner of the past three Supercars championships and the Bathurst 1000 defending champion.

However, already in the first practice session there has been a minor wobble, with his co-driver Tim Slade showing poor judgement by steering into the Red Bull of Shane van Gisbergen as he attempted to hold his position around a corner.

Slade admitted to getting it wrong after clipping the Red Bull and spinning before heading to the pits with no major damage done.

Jamie Whincup/Craig Lowndes

These two legends of the sport have a combined total of 11 Bathurst wins, with both enjoying long periods of dominance of the V8 Supercars category.

While Lowndes is no longer a full-time driver, few know every inch of Mount Panorama like he does. Add the hardnosed competitive edge of Whincup and the fact that the two veterans make up one of very few combinations to have driven together before and you have all the elements for a winning team.

Shane van Gisbergen/Garth Tander

Rounding out the favourites is the other Red Bull Holden of Shane van Gisbergen and Garth Tander.

Tander returns to Mount Panorama hunting for his fourth Bathurst crown, 20 years after his first in 2000.

Van Gisbergen is still chasing his first Bathurst win, and will be hungrier than ever after finishing as runner-up last year for the second time in his career.

However, van Gisbergen will already be cursing his luck after tangling with Slade in the first practice session of the 2020 Bathurst weekend.

TALE OF THE TAPE

Last year was one of the most controversial races on record, with McLaughlin's victory tarnished by go-slow tactics after the safety car intervened to give the Kiwi a chance to pit without losing position.

That controversy rages on, with co-owner of Erebus Motorsport Barry Ryan this week hitting out at the fact that McLaughlin and his DJR Penske team wasn't stripped of the title.

Undoubtedly that will motivate McLaughlin to prove he can do it again without the cloud of a cheating scandal.

Meanwhile, rival drivers who are still burning at last year's result will be fired up to deny McLaughlin that legitimacy.

V8 Supercars is famous for its combustible personalities and with the spectre of last year's race still hanging around, it makes for an exciting return to Mount Panorama for a big four days ahead.

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