In honor of the 60th anniversary edition of the Repco Bathurst 1000 in October, the Repco Supercars Championship is gearing up to pay homage to legendary drivers and iconic vehicles with a series of exhibitions at this year’s Great Race.
The inaugural endurance race at Mount Panorama took place in 1963 as a 500-miler, and it saw Harry Firth and Bob Jane clinch victory in a Ford Cortina GT. The race’s distance was later extended to 1000 kilometers in 1973, transforming the regional New South Wales town into the focal point of the Australian racing world every October during the Great Race.
For the 2023 Repco Bathurst 1000, a special demonstration featuring some of the race’s most illustrious cars will be a centerpiece, paying tribute to the event’s rich history. Among the featured vehicles will be the 1993-winning VP Holden Commodore of Larry Perkins and Greg Hansford, the iconic Betta Electrical BA Falcon driven by Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup during their memorable 2006 triumph, and many more that fans will have the opportunity to witness on the track at this significant milestone event.
The list of participating drivers in the demonstrations reads like a who’s who of winning drivers, including Lowndes, Perkins, Whincup, Mark Skaife, and others. Their presence, both on and off the track, will be part of the celebrations, evoking cherished memories for fans of all ages.
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Furthermore, the 2023 event marks the 45th anniversary of the first Top Ten Shootout at Mount Panorama, which was predictably topped by Peter Brock in 1978. Several iconic Shootout cars will be on display in the Harris Park precinct along pit straight, including Marcos Ambrose’s 2001 Pirtek Ford Falcon, the 1990 pole-winning Allan Moffat Enterprises ANZ Ford Sierra, and more.
Supercars CEO Shane Howard expressed excitement about the commemoration, stating, “We are thrilled to be bringing some of Bathurst’s most storied drivers and cars together in commemoration of an incredible six decades of history at Mount Panorama.” He added, “Celebrating an iconic milestone at such an iconic event, with so many prized pieces of its history will make for a truly memorable occasion. These very special displays with some of Bathurst’s most beloved cars and names are a tremendous way to celebrate over 60 years of history at the Repco Bathurst 1000, and we cannot wait to write another chapter in its history in just a few short weeks.”
The Repco Supercars Championship is set to descend upon Mount Panorama for the 60th anniversary edition of the Repco Bathurst 1000 from October 5-8. Tickets for this historic running of the Great Race are available for purchase via Supercars.com and Ticketek.
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