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Leading drivers and co-drivers are ready for a grueling and rain-stricken 2020 edition of the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.
Sunday’s forecast for Bathurst is a very high probability of showers with a possibility of a thunderstorm.
With that in the cards, race officials chose Friday to advance the start of the race 30 minutes to 11:00 am local time, to help ensure that the race runs its full distance.
While Bathurst does not have a set time limit, it is limited to 161 laps or dim lighting, which can be a factor if there are long periods of Safety Car or even red flag interruptions.
None of the nine sessions held on Thursday, Friday and Saturday had a run on wet tires, with the only significant drops at the end of qualifying on Friday.
That means drivers haven’t had a chance to feel and tune their cars in rainy conditions, adding to the usual unknowns of the Great Race.
“The weather is going to play a big role, it’s going to go down a bit,” Will Davison said after watching Cameron Waters put his Mustang on ARMOR ALL Pole.
“Of course we are nervous, everyone is, it is a great day and a great reward in our sport.”
Waters added: “Traditionally at Tickford we don’t change the car much in a wet session, so I hope the car is good in the wet.
“If not, it will be a very old day, but I think it will be fine. Obviously Will has driven these cars too, so he knows what to expect, so he’ll probably help us a bit too. “
Scott McLaughlin’s co-driver Tim Slade is among those who have never driven his Bathurst steed in the wet, completing just one day of testing in the car before the event.
The # 17 Shell V-Power Racing Mustang will start the race from second place, probably with McLaughlin at the wheel if wet, but Slade is downplaying any downside.
“Scotty was on pole here qualifying in the wet. [last year]so obviously the thing is pretty good, he’s in control there, ”said Slade.
“It is normal for a racing driver; if you have grip, you will get the most out of it. I don’t think it’s a big problem.
“It could influence who starts the race, but I think that’s it.”
While qualifying on Friday took place in the rain last year, the last wet race of the race took place in 2017.
One of the stars of that day was Warren Luff, who posted a podium run for himself and Scott Pye with two impressive first seasons from deep within the field.
This year, Luff teamed up with Walkinshaw Andretti United ace Chaz Mostert, who put his # 25 Commodore third on the grid at the Shootout.
“To be fast here in the wet, you need a good car and you need to have confidence in your car,” Luff said.
“There are 25 cars with drivers who are capable of doing a good job if they have the car under them.
“We’re pretty sure if it does, or probably when it rains tomorrow, we’ll have a strong pack, so head down and keep pushing.”
The 20-minute warm-up session is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. local time, giving teams the opportunity to complete final preparations for the final race of the 2020 Supercars season.
