In-car crosses, pit interviews in Bathurst broadcast

Greater insight into ongoing Great Race storylines will be offered at this year’s Repco Bathurst 1000.

The commentary team will tap into pit lane and cars during sessions of the October 6-9 event.

That includes live in-car crosses to drivers during Safety Car periods in the 161-lap race.

Drivers, co-drivers and team principals will also join the commentary remotely.

Key pit lane figures will join via a headset and will conduct longer in-depth interviews.

It gives drivers and team principals a chance to converse situations as they pan out.

The initiative will be in each session across the four days of the event.

The broadcast will retain its pit commentary team, which will chase storylines as sessions evolve.

Supercars Head of Broadcast David Tunnicliffe said the latest offerings will take viewers even closer to the ongoing action.

“It’s about following the stories in pit lane and on track as closely as possible,” Tunnicliffe told Supercars.com.

“We’ll have different team personnel from up and down pit lane joining during each session and the race.

“It’s an opportunity to have expanded, longer conversations as things play out.

“It’s a long race and there will be so many stories to follow along the way.”

Supercars will also capitalise on Safety Car periods to talk to drivers with the race neutralised.

Drivers often cross to commentary prior to a race on the sighting lap.

Craig Lowndes’s Sandown cameo for Brad Jones Racing featured a live in-car cross.

Such crosses will be made during Sunday’s race.

A lull in action during Safety Car periods offers the perfect chance to get the latest from the track, and what may happen next.

“Safety Cars slow everything down, so it’s a great time to have a chat with drivers,” Tunnicliffe said.

“You'll will be taken into the minds of drivers during a live race situation.

“It’s where it’s happening, as it happens.”

The Bathurst channel will commence on Fox Sports 503 on Monday at 6:00am AEST.

Track action commences on Thursday October 6.

The Seven Network will provide live free-to-air coverage of the event.

Tickets for the Repco Bathurst 1000 are available on Supercars.com and Ticketek.