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F1 star Ricciardo’s Bathurst 1000 ambition

15 Apr 2021
Ricciardo expresses desire to run at Mount Panorama
3 mins by James Pavey
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Australian Formula 1 star Daniel Ricciardo has expressed his desire to run in Supercars’ marquee Bathurst 1000 event.

Ricciardo moved to McLaren from 2021 in a multi-year deal, having recorded two podium finishes in his final season with Renault.

WATCH: RICCIARDO ONBOARD OF SUPERCAR STEER

ONBOARD: Daniel Ricciardo drives a Supercar

The seven-time Grand Prix winner’s team boss, Zak Brown, is a part owner of Supercars team Walkinshaw Andretti United.

McLaren has also upped its involvement in IndyCar, with three-time Supercars champion Scott McLaughlin to make his full-time debut this weekend.

When Ricciardo drove a Kelly Racing Supercar back in 2019, he floated the chances of a Bathurst 1000 start as “50-50”.

After driving the Kelly Altima, Ricciardo admitted he felt "intimidated" by the car, but enjoyed the challenge.

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Enter Sandman - Daniel Ricciardo

He also drove a Triple Eight-prepared Sandman Supercar at Sandown in 2016.

Having aligned with Brown at McLaren, Ricciardo said he is keen for both a Bathurst Supercar run and IndyCar start.

"I do have to ask Zak. I need to – even if I don’t do the race – I need to drive a Supercar around Bathurst,” the 31-year-old said in this month’s edition of GP Racing magazine.

"Whether it’s a private test, or the actual race, I do need to do it. And I think now I have a good opportunity with Zak as a friend and a boss.

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Ricciardo drove Triple Eight's Sandman in 2016

"He’s keen to try and get us into the other open-wheelers in the States, the IndyCars. So there’s a lot to do.”

In 2019, the Perth-born racer said he would “love” to steer a Supercar around Mount Panorama.

10 years ago, then McLaren star and 2009 world champion Jenson Button cut laps of the mountain in an exhibition event.

Shortly after Ricciardo’s McLaren signing was announced, Brown didn’t rule out a wildcard opportunity for Ricciardo at Bathurst.

Ricciardo with Rick Kelly in 2019

Calendar clashes would likely be the barrier; this year’s Repco Bathurst 1000 falls on the same weekend as F1’s Japanese Grand Prix.

The Bathurst 12 Hour, which will return in February 2022, could be another option.

"When I signed with [Brown], over the early phase of last year, we had these conversations and it was thrown in there: 'We should get you to do the 12 Hours of Bathurst’,” Ricciardo said.

WATCH: RICCIARDO ON KELLY SUPERCAR DRIVE

"If he asked me and it worked logistically, I would say yes.”

Ricciardo will continue his 2021 F1 campaign at Imola this weekend, having scored a seventh-placed finish at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

The Repco Supercars Championship field will return to Symmons Plains for the Beaurepaires Tasmania SuperSprint across April 17-18. Tickets are on sale now.

The event will be broadcast live on Foxtel and will be streamed on Kayo.

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