WE’VE compiled the best Bathurst TV coverage introductions: it’s the best way to start the build-up to the Great Race.

WORDS: Richard Craill IMAGE: FOX Sports

IT’S 7AM on a cool October morning. Brushing sleep from your eyes, you move directly from bed to lounge, flick on the TV and settle in for the best day of the year.

Usually, the first thing you’d hear on Great Race Sunday is this:

Then the coverage, in all of its iterations over the years, would segue into a montage of classic Mountain Moments that would set the tone for the day to come.

Over the years the introduction to the Bathurst TV coverage has been one of the best parts of the show itself; a five to ten minute clip that shows everything great about The Great Race.

Based on the emotions stirred by the 2019 version airing this weekend by FOX Sports, we’ve dived into YouTube to find the most classic intros produced for the best race of the year.

Agree? Have another to suggest? Hit us up on socials @theracetorque and let us know!

2019 FOX SPORTS INTRO

A CO-PRODUCTION between FOX and Supercars Media, the 2019 Great Race introduction is one of the finest ever. The re-creation of Fabian Coulthard’s rollover is, in our opinion, could be one of the most impressive pieces of TV included in a Bathurst coverage yet.

This is an emotive, remarkable piece of TV that proves the world-standard of Australian motorsport TV coverage.

2017 CHANNEL 10: ‘THERE’S NOTHING LIKE IT’

CHANNEL 10’S PIECE from their coverage of the 2017 Great Race is amazing and quickly went viral. No one exudes a mixture of passion, emotion and knowledge than Mark Larkham, and this near-10 minute piece showcased all of it; and more. Wonderful TV and if you wanted to introduce someone to Bathurst, you’d show them this first.

2011 CHANNEL 7: THIS MOUNTAIN

A really nice piece from Channel 7 called ‘This Mountain’ which just does a nice all-round job of making all the famous moments from the race get the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.. again.

2010 CHANNEL 7: RUSSELL CROWE

“HOW can a scenic road built for Sunday drivers be the mecca for Motorsport?” narrates Russell Crowe in this 2010 Channel 7 production. This is up there with the better intros done for The Great Race. Magic.

2007 CHANNEL 7

THE 2007 race was a cracker and the intro to the Channel 7 Broadcast – their first back on the hill after a decade of Channel 10 coverage – did the trick to kickstart a pretty amazing day.

2005 CHANNEL 10: ‘WHEN MEN AND MOUNTAIN MEET’

SHORT, but nicely done by Channel 10 back in 2005. Billy woods narrates a super piece based on a piece by the poet, William Blake.

2004 CHANNEL 10

THIS one is cool for all the legends of Bathurst included in Channel 10’s primer for the 2004 race. Worth a watch.

1995 CHANNEL 7: BOYS FROM BATHURST

NOT QUITE an intro, but we’ll let it slip through because it fills the same criteria. Nothing like a bit of mid-90’s country music and fender-bashing old-school Touring Car Racing to get the heart going. Classic!

BONUS: CROMPO’S LAP

NOT Quite a telecast intro, but a fantastic piece none the less as Neil Crompton takes a walking tour of the Mountain, complete with some amazing vision, editing and music.