The Bathurst Undercard
07 Oct 2015
Everyone is an expert when it comes to the 1000km race on Sunday, so if you want to sound like a complete boss at your Bathurst barbecue then you'll need this support categories form guide.
At last count we have 138 drivers entered across five categories making it a huge undercard, so let's get into it.
Dunlop V8 Supercars
The Saturday 250km mini-enduro is back and is well worth a watch. With 300 points up for grabs there is a chance Cam Waters could wrap up the championship, as Paul Dumbrell needs to finish 8th or better to send it the final round in Sydney. However it also means that Waters' 173-point lead could evaporate if he makes a mistake. Huge race.
With half of the top 20 drivers in the points also racing in the big one on Sunday, it's a good chance to clock up some mountain miles, especially the wildcard drivers of Renee Gracie and the Russell brothers.
Also Grant Denyer is back in the Dunlop Series, the diminutive game show host is actually a four-time race winner so expect him to trouble the top 10. Can drive.
Porsche Carrera Cup Australia
In the last 10 Carrera Cup races Nick Foster has recorded eight race wins and two second place finishes. Along the way he has overcome a 298-point deficit, Lleyton Hewitt would be impressed with that comeback.
But if there's a place that can bring you down to Earth, it's Bathurst. One slip here and Steven Richards or Craig Baird will snatch the points lead ahead of the final round in Surfers Paradise.
Want a roughy? Richard Muscat is due for his first race win.
East Coast Bullbars V8 Utes Series
A real favourite of the campers, the V8 Utes are back for their 12th appearance at Australia's most famous track. As well as providing more biff than a 'State of Origin' game the V8 Utes are in the midst of a tight championship battle with three rounds to go.
Because he's leading the points, Ryal Harris is carrying an extra 40kg of ballast and that makes it hard to run at the front at Bathurst.
Who will be near the front? Kim Jane and Gerard McLeod are two drivers who have great family history at this joint and are both in good form, so maybe them.
ENZED Touring Car Masters
If you wish you could turn back the clock to the days when Brock and Moffat ruled the mountain then find some time to watch TCM this weekend.
Not only is it full of famous cars but it features some drivers that know Bathurst like it's their own driveway - Jim Richards, John Bowe, Steven Johnson and Glenn Seton are just a few of the big names who will duke it out old-school style.
By the way this is the penultimate round of their championship and the top eight in points are all a mathematical shot at the title, you can't even make this stuff up!
Aussie Racing Cars
The little Aussie Racing Cars have the most races out of any category this weekend with four, which means four times the action and four times the slipstreaming down Conrod Straight.
I'm tipping championship leader Brendon Pingel will be near the front, points leaders typically like to stay out of trouble and with 38 cars entered this weekend I'd say the lead pack will be the safest place.
Young guns like James Abela won't make it easy for him.
Chad's Fast Four
Dunlop Series: 250km around Bathurst is a bloody hard slog, there'll be some crazy stuff near the end when fatigue kicks in.
PCCA: The bizarre streak of different pole winners at each round this year continued at Sandown. Richards and Baird are yet to claim a pole this season so it could continue.
TCM: Brock's famous 1979 lap record of 2min 21sec just so happens to be the same as the TCM lap record. The hot tip is that John Bowe will go under that time this weekend some 36 years later, in a Torana. How fitting.
Bathurst: Amazingly, 24 of the drivers racing on the undercard have started in the 'Great Race' before.
Stay tuned to FOX SPORTS 506and Channel Ten for coverage this weekend - click here for full details.
