John Bowe: Dunlop Series stars will shine at Bathurst

Here we are at the most exciting time of the season ... and I'm really excited. Bathurst is our Grand Final. The AFL had theirs last weekend and the NRL take their turn this weekend.

Then, the nation's most important sporting event is played out 200km west of Sydney! How could you not be excited about the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000?

This year we'll see the first Dunlop Series 250k race on the Saturday. I think it's a fantastic concept, I'm just not sure if the entrants in the development Dunlop Series realise it or not - Bathurst is their chance to shine.

With the introduction of their own mini enduro 250k race, they really become a major feature at the greatest race meeting of the year!

The development Dunlop Series is seen as an entree into the big time - I'm tipping the winner will be on the path to stardom, sort of a bit like the Monaco and Macau F3 races were the path to stardom back in the day.

Incidentally, my buddy Larry Perkins featured at Monaco F3 years ago and he didn't do too badly at Bathurst did he?

Having their own premium race puts some spotlight on the Dunlop Series. In my opinion the category has lost a little public interest to some degree in recent years; it's become more of program filler I reckon.

Let's face it, if you want to be a main series regular then beating someone of the status of Paul Dumbrell in a Dunlop mini enduro has got to help your CV and story - don't you reckon?

Likewise, anyone in Porsche Carrera Cup who has aspirations and wants to climb the slippery pole of success needs to look good against Warren Luff, Steven Richards and Craig Baird - these guys are the benchmark in the category.

The guys are all Bathurst 1000 co-drivers.

In my view, we need a few more new racing heroes in V8 Supercars, and sometimes the discovery of one is as close as a mini enduro at the greatest most challenging track in the country ... who knows what maybe revealed?

So who do I reckon can win ... it's hard to go past Paul Dumbrell, great car and a driver with a wealth of experience. Andy Jones is my personal favorite but I'm not sure his car is as good as the ex 888 one? Ash Walsh is without doubt worthy of a main series spot if the opportunity arises ... reckon he's a podium chance given all goes well!

The length of the race will mean a different discipline and teams with main series engineering experience will prevail I reckon. Don't underestimate Paul Morris; he's good for a result. He's a gun when he applies himself and Bathurst is his place - he has vast experience.

A point I'd like to make is the Dunlop Series race should be only open to regular or drivers without main game or series cred. As much as I admire and respect drivers like Steve Owen, Tony D'Alberto and Morrie - it only muddies the water in terms of rating the up-and-comers!

Oops, I almost forgot Cam Waters, run by factory FPR, he has great pace but needs to take a chill pill. Bathurst bites and at 250km per hour it's not time for crash and burn!

Finally, if we look to the US, NASCAR drivers are able to run in the Nationwide Series, however, they have a population of 330 million in the US ... it's not quite the case here.

I must congratulate V8 Supercars and the Dunlop Series category for the initiative in creating the race; I think it's a great fit and consistent with the weekend race program at Bathurst.

Don't you love this time of year? See you on the Mountain!

Cheers,

JB

Follow John Bowe on Facebook. Bowe is supported by Wilson Security, Dunlop Super Dealers and Coates Hire, and competing in the 2014 Touring Car Masters Championship.