Bathurst 1000: Everything You Need to Know

The Repco Bathurst 1000 is called ‘The Great Race’ for a reason. Unlike other car races, this one scales a mountain. The track is open to the public most of the year, then closed off every October when the best drivers in Australia take over. The 2026 Bathurst 1000 dates are 8-11 October, and once you watch it, the obsession Australians have had with it since 1963 makes complete sense.

Whether you’re heading to the mountain for the race or want to get behind the wheel yourself, here's everything you need to know.

The Repco Bathurst 1000 is an endurance car race that takes place each year at Mount Panorama (or Mount Panorama-Wahluu) in Bathurst, NSW. The stretch of road is 6.213km long and is packed with twists and turns. And then there’s the cars. Not your average car, these are 600-horsepower V8 Supercars.

The event sees bespoke racing versions of the Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang hitting the circuit for a set number of laps equalling to 1,000 kilometres (the name makes sense right?). In 2025, the race covered 161 laps. The lap counts for 2026 lap count still needs to be confirmed but expect something close.

While it’s technically part of the Supercars Championship and points are on the line, it’s so much more than just the table. It’s a standalone cultural event.

There are two drivers to each car. Both share the wheel across the race and between them, they come up with the strategy, decide when to push the speed, and when it's the right time to hit the pit, so they can come away on top with the title.

Most of the year, Mount Panorama is just a hill in Bathurst. Residents drive it every day. Then October arrives, the barriers go up, and the best drivers in Australia take over. That alone makes it different already.

But what really makes the Mount Panorama circuit stand out is the layout. The track has a unique elevation, with 174-metres between the highest and the lowest points. Long story short: there’s a lot of steep grades. Makes sense since it was originally built as a tourist scenic drive in 1938.

And just to make it even more intense, the odd design is full of tight, narrow sections and long hills with one massive straight right at the bottom. The track is broken into several parts, with features that are notorious across the racing crowd. You’ve got:
Hell Corner: A hard 90º left corner found right after the pit straight that is known for pile-ups. Spoiler: this is the first of 23 bends.
The Cutting: One of tightest and steepest corners on the track. It’s cut into the mountain rock, which makes it even more dangerous.
The Skyline: The highest point of the track where a blind corner sends cars down a steep downhill.
Forrest’s Elbow: A tricky downhill left-hand corner that was named after a local motorcycle racer who scraped his elbow.
The Conrod Straight: The fastest section of track where speeds hit up to 300km/h.
The Chase: A high-speed chicane that slows cars down before they reach the final corner.

The biggest legend of them all is the “King of the Mountain”, Peter Brock. He holds the record for the most Bathurst 1000s victories, with nine track wins. His first race was 1966, with his final appearance in 2004. The trophy handed out to the winner of the Bathurst 1000 is named after him. Enough said.

Craig Lowndes is also up there, with seven wins to his name. He last claimed the Bathurst title in 2018, finishing on a high and stepping away from full-time competition later that year. Earlier in his career, he competed in Formula Ford. Different vehicles, different conditions, F1-style driving is a whole different ballgame.

Mark Skaife is another legend at Mount Panorama, with six Bathurst 1000 wins in his Supercars career. Four of his wins were in a Holden Commodore. He originally retired from the game in 2008, but made a comeback in 2010, securing his sixth win, alongside Craig Lowndes.

Garth Tander also has six Bathurst 1000 titles to his name. One of the big names from the modern era, he won the 2025 Bathurst 1000 with Matthew Payne after a 5-second post-race penalty removed James Golding from the lead. He hung up the helmet and announced his retirement after locking in his sixth win.

The 2026 race runs from 8 to 11 October. A four-day event, there are practice and qualifying races on Thursday through Saturday. Then Sunday, it’s race day. We recommend getting there by Thursday so you don't miss the action.

Bathurst is 3.5 hours away from Sydney by car, but you can also get there by train or bus if you don’t want to make the drive.

As for accommodation, you’ve got a few choices. You can join Tent Village at the track and get the full experience. Adrenaline offers Repco Bathurst 1000 entry and stay packages from $1,499 with single tent and twin tent options. Packages include paddock passes, daily breakfast, on-site parking, staff support and entry to the Pit Lane Welcome Function with canapés and beverages.

Otherwise, you can stay at the Rydges Mount Panorama which sits right at the track. There's also the option to stay in town at one of the Bathurst township hotels. One thing is for sure: accommodation books out early so lock it in first.

And if you want to know what to pack, that’s easy: layers. October in Bathurst goes between warm and cold and even foggy, all in the same day. So sunscreen is also a good shout, as is ear plugs if you want, but honestly the sound is part of it.

We also recommend planning where you want to watch the race from. The Chase and Skyline are two popular viewing spots but be prepared to set up camp early because everyone else will have the same idea.

Watching the race trackside is sick, but being in the car yourself? Nothing compares. The speed, the noise, the vibration. Once you've been in one first-hand, you’ll get it.

Adrenaline offers V8 Supercar driving experiences at Mount Panorama in Bathurst, so you can get behind the wheel and have a go. And if you don’t have a licence or want a lower price point, there’s also hot laps around Mount Panorama so you can get the Bathurst 1000 experience as a pro driver shows you what it’s like to go over 300km/h.

Can’t make it to Bathurst? You can still get the race car experience. With experiences across Australia, you’ll find V8 Supercar drives and hot laps at different tracks, including Sandown Raceway, Norwell Motorplex, The Bend Motorsport Park and more.

There’s also racing simulators, and F1-style driving if you’re looking for other ways to get your racing fill.

When is the Bathurst 1000 in 2026?

The 2026 Repco Bathurst 1000 will be on 8 to 11 October, 2026. The race will be held in Bathurst NSW at Mount Panorama Circuit.

How many laps is the Bathurst 1000?

The 2025 race ran for 161 laps of the 6.213km circuit. The 2026 count is expected to be the same and will be confirmed closer to the event.

Where is Mount Panorama?

Mount Panorama is in Bathurst, New South Wales. It is 3.5 hours west of Sydney. It is a public road for most of the year and closes for racing events.

Who won the 2025 Bathurst 1000?

Matt Payne and Garth Tander won the 2025 Repco Bathurst 1000 driving for Grove Racing. It was Payne's first win and Tander's sixth victory (but first in a Ford).

James Golding was the first to cross the finish line but received a post-race five-second penalty for clipping another driver, consequently elevating Payne and Tander to first place.

Can I drive a V8 Supercar?

Yes. Adrenaline offers V8 Supercar driving experiences at Mount Panorama in Bathurst, and in other locations around Australia, so you can take it for a drive first hand.