BATHURST 1000
WINNING STRATEGY SO, YOU WANT TO WIN THE BATHURST 1000? Here we take a deep dive into the aspects to keep an eye on during this year’s Great Race. There are a lot of factors to come into play – obviously, car pace is king – slow teams don’t win Bathurst. You want to have a fast, safe co-driver, and you want them in the car at the right times, only just covering their minimum driving times. As always, expect the co-drivers to knock over as many laps as possible in the opening half of the race.
Car #
Stop 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
97
21
33
51
75
97
120
142
6
21
33
51
75
97
120
142
25
19
33
51
75
95
118
140
The Lap Length of Each Stint During the Race: Car #
Stint 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
However, there are many constraints to keep in mind – from driving time to minimum laps, and pit stop requirements.
97
21
12
18
24
22
23
22
19
6
21
12
18
24
22
23
22
19
Key points relating to strategy include:
25
21
12
18
24
22
21
22
21
• • • • •
Drivers must not exceed 3.5 hours of continuous driving time Each driver must complete at least 54 laps Seven compulsory pit stops for fuel and/or tyres Brake rotors will need to be changed once between laps 55 and 120 52 new hard tyres, 28 wet weather tyres
Safety cars dictated the timing of three of the pit cycles, namely on lap 33 (Jamie Whincup in the fence), lap 51 (Jordan Boys crash), and lap 97 (BJR cars coming together at Murray’s), with two other late yellows falling after the final stops.
THE 2019 RACE
The 3.5 hours of continuous driving is not compatible with a straight 107 lap stint coming home for the main driver – even with a massive green flag run, so this has to be juggled accordingly.
Looking back at the 2019 edition, the race played out with significantly different strategies for the key players.
Safety car interventions have to come into consideration, as well as the maximum distance on a tank of petrol, which in the past three years stands at 26 laps (including three sloooow safety car laps), with normal stints typically topping out at 24-25 laps. As seen below, 27 lap stints are possible in the wet.
Laps on which the Podium Finishers from 2019 Pitted:
Therefore, the key lap to look for final stops to fall will be around lap 135. To help you play armchair engineer, we’ve broken down the strategy plays for the recent editions of the Bathurst 1000.
THE 2020 RACE Last year’s race proved to be one of follow the leader, although, the deciding factor amongst leaders more or less proved to be co-driver stint timings, particularly for Scott McLaughlin having Tim Slade pitted against main drivers late in the day. 24
Laps on which the Podium Finishers from 2020 Pitted:
The critical stop for the podium finishers came on lap 135, setting up a 26 lap run home, which was only made realistic by a pair of safety car interventions. Car #
Stop 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
17
16
38
57
79
95
113
135
97
22
43
64
86
102
113
123
135
22
12
19
42
66
90
113
124
135
The Lap Length of Each Stint During the Race: Car #
Stint 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
17
16
22
19
22
16
18
22
26
97
22
21
21
22
16
11
10
22
26
22
12
7
23
24
24
23
11
22
26
Throughout the day, car 17 ran reasonably even stints, a ploy that ultimately saw the team pressed into action one less time than the other podium pair.
