The Mountain Calls Again

I’ve been to the Bathurst 1000 a handful of times – more than a handful, but we need not go there – which in my opinion is enough for one person’s lifetime, though when I count how many times I’ve been to the Bathurst 12 Hour on the other hand, it has only been a total of three over the last decade.

I haven’t been a “fan” of sports car racing for the longest time, but having experienced two great ones in Petit Le Mans and of course the Bathurst 12 Hour, I’ve already got my sights set on others to make my way out to in the future.

After the smallest field in the event’s history in 2022, the field had expanded this year to include Manthey Racing’s 911 GT3 R, the most fascinating team and car(s) for me in the past few years, and their first time back to Mount Panorama since the last time I laid eyes on ‘Grello’ in 2018. I was incredibly excited when the announcement of their entry first broke cover, and had been dearly hoping for a win this year given their stellar driver lineup but unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be.

I can’t recount this year’s event without mentioning the Red Bull RB7 taking sighting laps of The Mountain, the first (and last) time being Jenson Button’s record-breaking run in 2011. The speculation leading up to the weekend on who would have the privilege of driving duties was rife, but when the RB7’s naturally aspirated V8 sung across the small regional town that was all forgotten. I had even forgotten to take photos of it, such was the awe I was in hearing its note.