POWER RANKINGS: BATHURST 1000 2020
ANOTHER GREAT, great race has delivered what we hope is another great edition of the TRT Power Rankings (presented by our mates at Yellow Cover). Read on for the Hot, the Not, the What and the Memes from the 2020 Bathurst 1000.
WORDS: Richard Craill, Mark Walker, Tony Schibeci, Dale Rodgers, Social Media Contributors
IMAGES: Mark Horsbrough / Supercars
LETS get one thing clear: There was much more ‘Hot’ than there was ‘Not’ in this year’s Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.
This particular column focusses on the Great Race itself, but fear not Rankings Enthusiasts: such is our dedication to the cause we churned out carefully curated Hot / Not / What lists for each day of the Bathurst event. So, before launching into this list – refresh yourself of the weekend that was at the links here.
Right. Now, on to what is a largish edition of the Power Rankings.
And yes, Lex Kelly made the list. We’re not idiots.
HOT
1. CAR 97
WE SUSPECT history will only get kinder and kinder to the performance dished out by Shane van Gisbergen, Garth Tander and the Red Bull Holden Racing Team in 2020. While SVG admitted the car needed some work as it unloaded out of the truck, by the time GT bashed out 20 laps of ruthless consistency on Friday afternoon we kinda knew that the 97 machine was some kind of rocket, especially over a distance. Tander’s influence in this victory was probably overshadowed by van Gisbergen’s immense performance of raw, relentless speed (and his wet weather skills earlier) at the end of the race but the now four-time champion was a critical element.
Ironically aided by the early non-finish of the sister car, removing any pit stacking issues, this was a controlled, knife’s edge performance of the fastest car over the distance winning the motor race. Awesome.
And he gets it done!@shanevg97 has taken the lead ? #Bathurst1000 #VASC pic.twitter.com/YtJ0rhSdYV
— Supercars (@supercars) October 18, 2020
2. HOLDEN GOES OUT ON TOP
NO BRAND has done more for the status of the Bathurst 1000 than Holden, nor has one race had such a significant role in the history of any given brand the world around. The pair are intrinsically linked, which makes the Lion’s departure from the world even more significant and makes this result particularly poignant. The official factory team of Holden – now in its what, fourth or fifth iteration – wins the final officially supported race the brand ever enters. In the decades to come that will prove a nice full stop on the history of the General on the Mountain.
REVEALED: THE HOLDEN FLAG MAN!@V8Sleuth has found the fan who gave @shanevg97 this Holden flag for an emotional victory lap at Bathurst yesterday – and he reveals it wasn’t his flag!
— V8 Sleuth (@V8Sleuth) October 18, 2020
DETAILS >> https://t.co/dAeJSgfvf7 pic.twitter.com/d7l1EfsmlX
3. CAR 6
CAME UP a tiny bit short on Sunday, but it certainly wasn’t for a lack of excellence on the part of Cameron Waters, Will Davison and Tickford Racing. The Monster Mustang was exactly that all week – a Monster – and was quick regardless of the driver behind the wheel. Cam Waters shootout lap was immense and the team managed the race exceedingly well, never relenting in their pressure of the 97.
Will Davison was as good as you’d expect from a two-time champion of the race but the coming-of-age performance from Cam Waters was perhaps more significant; he was mistake free in his pursuit of van Gisbergen and only lost out to the Holden’s superior long-run pace. An excellent drive and with McLaughlin going, this bodes well for Ford fans moving forward.
“Waters arriving like a MANIAC‼️” ?
— Fox Motorsport (@Fox_Motorsport) October 18, 2020
? Live Blog: https://t.co/frNRULCpik#VASC #Bathurst1000 on Bathurst Channel 506 & Kayo Sports: https://t.co/UPl8xTuhUJ pic.twitter.com/5p6lmhvP07
SVG Vs Waters, Holden Vs Ford, NZ Vs Aus, Red Bull Vs Monster.. IT IS ON‼️?#VASC #Bathurst1000 on Bathurst Channel 506 & Kayo Sports: https://t.co/UPl8xTuhUJ pic.twitter.com/LbfWf5lfms
— Fox Motorsport (@Fox_Motorsport) October 18, 2020
4. CAR 25
WANT A Bathurst podium? Just make sure you’ve got Warren Luff aboard and you’re almost a certainty! An outstanding performance from a team that always goes well at Bathurst, yet is up there for ‘most improved overall’ in 2020. This was a fine way for Chaz Mostert to cap off his first full season in the WAU camp and while he didn’t quite have the last few tenths to battle the two leaders, he easily had the Penske cars in hand at the end which is no mean feat. Good signs from this team all year, capped off by another Bathurst podium.
P.S. Warren Luff has been on the Bathurst podium six times in the last nine years. It’s incredible.
3rd place at Bathurst. Wouldn’t mind top step next year but after the crazy season we have had getting a podium was still a great result for their efforts. We have such an incredible team of people. Next year, we will come back even stronger. @FollowWAU https://t.co/q29rMMJdFa
— Ryan (@RyanWalkinshaw) October 18, 2020
5. THE RACE TO THE FINISH
NEVER FAILS, does it? From the utter intensity of SVG and Waters trading blows, identical lap time to identical lap time in what was basically a qualifying session, to the bedlam of the two Safety Cars in the final nine laps, Bathurst never leaves us wanting for something dramatic at the end. Magnificent.
ABSOLUTELY SPECTACULAR! ??
— Supercars (@supercars) October 18, 2020
Shane van Gisbergen and Garth Tander have won the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000! #Bathurst1000 #VASC pic.twitter.com/3RgnbYR77H
Win on Sunday, sell your energy drink to the kiddies on Monday #VASC #Bathurst1000
— Tim Schenken (@FakeTimSchenken) October 18, 2020
Tander auditioning to become the next Bond villain#Bathurst1000 #VASC pic.twitter.com/M5uoSUuV8m
— Sportsbet.com.au (@sportsbetcomau) October 18, 2020
6. TV COVERAGE
WE are lucky in this part of the world to have the level of TV production we do. From go to woah the coverage was brilliant again and even though the COVID economy forced some rationalization of the coverage, you could hardly tell. Let’s be honest: until now, you never realised there was no fly cam at the chase, right?
From the best chopper shots in the sport to the little hype packages before each individual session and the pre and post-race presentations that ably hid the fact there were few people there, it was another outstanding effort from the Supercars media team – many of whom who have been on the road for almost as long as the Melbourne teams, which only adds to the story.
Special mention to Neil Crompton’s call of the start.. “To succeed at Bathurst, the desire to win must be greater than the fear of losing.” Goosebumps.
THE WAIT IS OVER!
— Supercars (@supercars) October 18, 2020
We are away for the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000! ? #Bathurst1000 #VASC pic.twitter.com/UhhXPfwma1
Spent all afternoon trying to remember why I laughed early in the race. Caught the #Bathurst1000 highlights package and found it: Crompo and Skaifey’s dead heat on the “awww” when Wood skated off. Perfect harmony ? #VASC pic.twitter.com/rdXbozJgBo
— James Pavey (@jamespavey_) October 18, 2020
Not sure who is commentating on @btsport (3), but I wholeheartedly approve of “wo…whhhh….whooaaaaahh”.#vasc #Bathurst1000
— Lewlew (@IamLewis4fake) October 18, 2020
Followed by an “aaaaargh”
7. LEX FREAKING KELLY
Need we say anything more? No, we need not.
We’ve got Gen3 covered, and now the future of pitlane reporting is in good hands!
— Supercars (@supercars) October 17, 2020
Lex Kelly didn’t hold back in his pre-Bathurst interviews ?? #Bathurst1000 #VASC pic.twitter.com/1Oga3Ny989
Who do we have to petition to get Lex Kelly in the running for a Logie Award? #Bathurst1000 #VASC
— The Race Torque (@theracetorque) October 17, 2020
Love the brutal honesty of Lex. Kid doesn’t give aF ??? #VASC #Bathurst #Bathurst1000
— Lauz (@LauzBURNS) October 17, 2020
Take a bow Lex Kelly. You are the bomb! ?? #VASC #Bathurst1000 – thank you for sharing him with us @ElysiaKelly and @rickkelly
— Em (@hufflepuffcrazy) October 17, 2020
I say again , it’s Lex’s world and we’re just inhabiting it.#VASC #Bathurst1000
— Shane B (@ShaneB19) October 17, 2020
Lex Kelly
— Jono Beikoff (@JonoBeikoff) October 17, 2020
Get this guy his own show #vasc
Lex Kelly is such a little baller… ? I particularly liked him roasting Lee Holdsworth about if he’s jealous of his dads hair! #HappyBathurstDay #vasc #Bathurst1000
— C A R L E Y (@carleycarleyb) October 17, 2020
8. GARRY JACOBSON’S EMOTION
THIS was one of the most moving moments of the entire weekend. Don’t let anyone tell you that race doesn’t mean much..
Wow. Emotional interview from the man from Shepparton. Shows you how much it means. #VASC #Bathurst1000
— Richard Craill (@Craillsy) October 18, 2020
Gary Jacobson, super wholesome.#Bathurst1000 #V8SC
— Callum Wilson (@Cal___) October 18, 2020
9. TEAM 18
WHAT a story this has been for ‘Team Charlie’. It was a big call to go to two cars, but it paid off handsomely this year by not only getting two cars home in the 10 at Bathurst, but in the championship as well. Didn’t look like contending on pace, but they were efficient and more than fast enough to run in the top six, which they did. This is a big result for this crew and a great reward for the drivers and the boss man himself.
Special mention to co-drivers Dean Fiore and James Golding – big effort.
Fiore’s car has been recovered, and the Warm Up is now green again#Bathurst1000 #VASC pic.twitter.com/ASGyCWeBgV
— Supercars (@supercars) October 17, 2020
Great opening 45 laps from Dean Fiore. He’s been in the car since the start, almost got his minimum co-driver laps done already and they sit in P11. Great start guys! @deanfiore @scottpye19 #VASC
— Brian Van De Wakker (@brianwakker22) October 18, 2020
10. VICTORY LAPS AND THE SKIDS ON IT
Wish we could make this a Bathurst tradition, but in any other year you’d be running over 10,000 drunk souls at McPhillamy doing this.
WHAT
FULL MOON
THE fan wall was an innovative way to keep fans involved, who otherwise have been given the bum steer in 2020. A cracking initiative. Unfortunately for Supercars TV, Melanie Llewelyn gave them the arse…
Brilliant work. #VASC pic.twitter.com/1jq1aD0Nib
— Andrew van Leeuwen (@avl_motorsport) October 18, 2020
FAN WALL x2
C’MON Brendon, lift!
Pick the sleeper #bathurst2020 #bathurst #bathurst1000 pic.twitter.com/FgEt3Mlkz0
— Crofts Motorsport (@CroftsRacing) October 18, 2020
Newman has nodded off #Bathurst1000 pic.twitter.com/bC9V19hsrg
— Dr Lennni The Influencer (@spartytalkback) October 18, 2020
Fuck me. Old mate Brendan looksike he has terrible sleep apnoea. #Bathurst1000
— HoJu (@GuyWhoTweetsYou) October 18, 2020
LITERALLY THE CHASE
WHEN the Chase was installed in 1987, nobody could have pictured this classic. An oldie but a goodie. Look at that star picket fly!
TWINS?
SERIOUSLY, questions have to be asked. Separated at birth, reunited by Superlites?
Brothers from another Mothers lol #Bathurst1000 pic.twitter.com/CLmNyXL6cM
— Australijski Turysta ?? ?? ? (@Kubicowy) October 18, 2020
C’MON DAN
SUB-OPTIMAL timing from Dan Andrews for his daily presser – clearly not a race fan.
At the same time as Bathurst ? #Bathurst1000 https://t.co/2ejhh77ZLE pic.twitter.com/MdpIyACjCT
— Trent (@TrentC_95) October 17, 2020
NOT
1. JAMIE WHINCUP
CRITCAL MOMENT in the motor race and it came from the seven-time champion, a four-time Great Race winner and the best there’s been. Regardless of who it was, it was a key error that changed the complexion of the motor race and removed one of the outright, key contenders that also removed pressure from the arch-rival Ford team in the team’s title too. We’re still scratching our heads about this one.
Whincup into the wall! It’s disaster for @redbullholden as it looks like Whincup and Lowndes are OUT! #Bathurst1000 pic.twitter.com/aNCGwszm4b
— 10 Motorsport (@10Motorsport) October 18, 2020
This likely hands the Teams Championship to DJRTP and maybe 2nd in the drivers Championship to Waters depending on results#VASC #Bathurst1000
— TheSupercarsCollective (@VASC_Collective) October 18, 2020
Jamie saw the spectre of Greg Murphy in his blind spot #VASC #Bathurst1000
— Shane B (@ShaneB19) October 18, 2020
Larko’s Bathurst intro from a few years ago.. one line through The Cutting, get out of those tram tracks, you’re gone. #VASC
— John (@jt_melb) October 18, 2020
“I am disappointed for everyone. I’m fine, but obviously everyone has put in a lot of effort here inside this garage, engineers in particular. They deserve better.” – Jamie Whincup pic.twitter.com/uwb4TTCRml
— Fox Motorsport (@Fox_Motorsport) October 18, 2020
The competition’s on hold. pic.twitter.com/YyG25OIKAh
— Anthony Leach (@ahleach) October 18, 2020
2. BRAD JONES RACING
There’s not much we can add to this other than to list the litany of disasters that BJR endured on Sunday.
Car 8: DNQ from TTSO after an awesome lap, power steering problems before the start, engine issues throughout cost them any result.
Car 3: Door issues, which we noted as a NOT from Saturday, reoccurred from the start, crashed into teammate Smith and ended up serving two 15 second penalties.
Car 4: Put into the bunker by teammate Jones, repeated the effort following a flat tyre into the Chase, with the SC causing that decisive strategy change for Slade in car 17 just to make sure they hurt other people’s races too.
Car 14: Boys crashed at Hell Corner on Thursday, repeated the effort at Murray’s on race day.
Nicely improvised! #VASC | #Bathurst1000 pic.twitter.com/dLtJbhtjj8
— JJ (@TomcatNASCAR_2) October 17, 2020
BJR have a second door to replace on Jones’ car, however they may face further penalty for not pitting immediately #Bathurst1000 #VASC pic.twitter.com/crxohr2eg8
— Supercars (@supercars) October 18, 2020
Car 3 #Bathurst1000 #car3 #holden pic.twitter.com/qdARk5ANXc
— Joey B (@JoeyB_13) October 18, 2020
Randle/Percat’s car is back in the lane.
The #8 entry is suffering an engine misfire #Bathurst1000 #VASC pic.twitter.com/3TUL07oIKx
— Supercars (@supercars) October 18, 2020
BJR’s day goes from bad to worse ?
Boys sits it up on the kerb and he goes into the wall hard #Bathurst1000 #VASC pic.twitter.com/1rhStp1wzf
— Supercars (@supercars) October 18, 2020
Oh boy…#Bathurst1000 #VASC pic.twitter.com/kxujw6idik
— Supercars (@supercars) October 18, 2020
“It’s been a dreadful day for Brad Jones Racing”
Macauley Jones – “Hold my beer….”#vasc
— Jono Beikoff (@JonoBeikoff) October 18, 2020
MASSIVE!
A big off for Smith which triggers a @kayosports Safety Car! #Bathurst1000 #VASC pic.twitter.com/SqVvqfzAjC
— Supercars (@supercars) October 18, 2020
3. EREBUS
CAR 99 running third in the early running was something of a false economy for Penrite Racing, who were far from their usual selves for most of the weekend. Anton de Pasquale was fast enough, but down on grunt in the race which really removed their ability to fight.
Car 9 was absolutely nowhere, however, not on results or pace or anything else. It’s okay to have a bad day at Bathurst.. but to be anonymous feels almost worse.
Whoa! ?
That rejoin nearly ended in tears #Bathurst1000 #VASC pic.twitter.com/pBBshwrH7u
— Supercars (@supercars) October 18, 2020
Side-by-side through The Chase and Mostert is lighting up the radio! ?#Bathurst1000 #VASC pic.twitter.com/leyQGP6acO
— Supercars (@supercars) October 18, 2020
Bit going on here! ?#Bathurst1000 #VASC pic.twitter.com/ujgtgXfeLI
— Supercars (@supercars) October 18, 2020
.@daffidreynolds is in P12 and is running on seven cylinders.
He will press on to the end of the race #Bathurst1000 #VASC pic.twitter.com/0mFTg0q6UZ
— Supercars (@supercars) October 18, 2020
4. MECHANICAL GREMLINS
IT WAS one of the storylines coming into the race: Would the extended time on the road, and the challenges that generated in terms of getting ready for the Great Race, impact the reliability of the cars? We’re not saying that preparation was the problem – but there were certainly more mechanicals than perhaps we’re used to on Sunday.
Massive dramas for @FollowWAU! ?
Car #2 is stuck in pit lane with power steering fluid pooling under the car #Bathurst1000 #VASC pic.twitter.com/5pbAszPUBg
— Supercars (@supercars) October 18, 2020
Saddest thing ever ?? #VASC #Bathurst1000 pic.twitter.com/ANNBhlP7qB
— SupercarsMaster (@SupercarsMaster) October 18, 2020
Crew member beneath the car got a nasty surprise. #VASC | #Bathurst1000 pic.twitter.com/dR0E1OSJpY
— JJ (@TomcatNASCAR_2) October 18, 2020
Looking like the DeLorean from Back to the Future 2#Bathurst1000 #VASC pic.twitter.com/aDtL2yaoC0
— Sportsbet.com.au (@sportsbetcomau) October 18, 2020
5. NO PUNTERS AND NO ATMOSPHERE
That slowdown lap should’ve been the most emotional thing ever if there were punters – though wouldn’t have happened if there was. Still, felt very strange indeed and it was like part of Bathurst’s soul was missing in action.
Another point – why weren’t all of the seats that were there rammed full? Were there too many seats for the number of people (4,000) actually ticketed? Or did just not everyone turn up? Strange situations in a strange year. Lets never be apart again, Great Race faithful. Ever.
6. SUPER 2/3
LOTS of drama and pretty good racing for what was a pretty last-minute addition to the weekend – but mainly makes the ‘NOT’ because a) it was hard to be critical of the weekend, really and b) how have they not called the title? The chances of getting another round in are about the same as the BoM successfully predicting Bathurst’s weather patterns, so we’re not sure why Tom Randle wasn’t afforded the opportunity of being presented with the championship title at Mount Panorama. Would’ve made all the sense in the world.
Ouch ?
Feeney has crashed out of Qualifying ? #Super2 #Bathurst1000 #VASC pic.twitter.com/fvE7jor6af
— Super2 Series (@Super2Series) October 17, 2020
Crash in super 2‼️
‘That was massive, and it went on forever.’
? #Bathurst1000 on Bathurst Channel 506 & Kayo Sports: https://t.co/UPl8xTuhUJ #VASC #Bathurst1000 pic.twitter.com/9y7odbvdTC
— Fox Motorsport (@Fox_Motorsport) October 17, 2020
7. EARLIER START TIME
ULTIMATELY it was a non-event, with plenty of daylight left at the end for the race to continue onwards in to prime time TV ratings bonanza country. Safety first, we know, and in the end it didn’t really matter so we’re nitpicking a bit. Also, it was hard to fill out the ‘NOT’s beyond the top five.
Still, probably wise to second-guess the..
8. BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY
..who began race week with predictions of a second coming of Noah on Sunday, mixed in with a bit of apocalypse. What we got was a light misting. A sideshow alley fortune teller at your local medieval fare has more chance of accurately picking what the weather is going to do at Mount Panorama.
9. RETAIL SALES
FOR 15 years the two Supercheap Auto retail stores at Mount Panorama have, for a week, been the highest grossing stores in the nation. Surely the end of that little enterprise is going to be a massive dent to the already struggling retail industry nationwide? What will people do when they need a $10 umbrella or a Bathurst playmat for their kid actually purchased from the Mountain itself? Repco has a lot to live up to.
10. SALES OF CHINESE FOOD IN COUNTRY NSW
TRT and our associated parties contribute more than a grand to the local Chinese restaurant economy in Bathurst each October. We hope they have managed to survive our absence and will be there whenever it is we are able to return..
11. OFFSEASON?!?!?!
What in the name of all that is holy do we do now?
TWEETS
CHAMPAGNE LARKO
Not sure Larko hollering over their shoulder’s helped. ?#VASC | #Bathurst1000 | @PenriteRacing pic.twitter.com/OGGrnFVqRP
— JJ (@TomcatNASCAR_2) October 18, 2020
Ah, we love ya Larko! ?#Bathurst1000 #VASC pic.twitter.com/Pp32Z2EEbU
— Supercars (@supercars) October 18, 2020
Mark Larkham is bar none the best analyst/colour commentator in any sport in the world. That piece at turn 1 just now was fantastic. #Bathurst1000 #VASC
— Andrew Mitchell (@AFunkyNZL) October 18, 2020
THAT OPENING LAP INTO THE CHASE
Your 2020 Bathurst 1000 Race Start…‼️#VASC #Bathurst1000 on Bathurst Channel 506 & Kayo Sports: https://t.co/UPl8xTuhUJ pic.twitter.com/8odSaujM4w
— Fox Motorsport (@Fox_Motorsport) October 18, 2020
Will Brown has massive balls. That was big #VASC #Bathurst1000
— Samuel Lockhart (@LloydGSR) October 18, 2020
W The Chase w trzech na raz 🙂 #Bathurst1000 pic.twitter.com/VOKQLUCIIk
— Australijski Turysta ?? ?? ? (@Kubicowy) October 18, 2020
WHERE DO I SIGN?
If Police recruiting were half smart, this would be the hero shot for all of their collateral and the number one reason to sign up… #vasc #bathurst1000 pic.twitter.com/WR3oAVQ8Dv
— Mark Walker (@markwa1ker) October 18, 2020
NICE
When you hit lap 69#Bathurst1000 #VASC pic.twitter.com/7Jr1r1Xy9g
— Mia ?️⚧️ (@OneRoseyMia) October 18, 2020
GOTTA SAVE YOUR GEAR
1000 will be good tomorrow settle into rythum save the gear for the last hour #Vasc ??
— Aaron Zerefos (@AaronZerefos) October 17, 2020