Young guns remember favourite Bathurst 1000s

They're tackling the Mountain to try and do what the greats have done before them - ahead of this year's Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000, the young guns looked back on their favourite 1000s they watched as fans.

With names like Craig Lowndes and Greg Murphy big inspirations for the current crop of drivers, it's no surprise their wins at the Mountain were mentioned, with 2007's race a collective favourite.

With some Bathurst 1000s watched at home with the family, and others from the circuit, Pepsi Max Crew's Chaz Mostert, Valvoline Volvo's Scott McLaughlin, HHA's Nick Percat and Wilson Security's Scott Pye recalled their favourites for v8supercars.com.au.

"Triple Eight's reign over Bathurst over the years has been pretty special, and I don't know anyone like Craig Lowndes when watching the older races - that someone in the last 10 laps can race like they're in the first 10 laps," Mostert said.

"(In 2007) Steven Johnson was right up there.It was awesome seeing a Johnson at the front of the field and going for that Bathurst win he'd been trying so hard for.

"I remember on the day he actually did the best job, because it could've been anyone's if it had fell their way. It was just fantastic to watch - 161 laps of racing and it all comes down to the final 10 laps. It was unbelievable."

Funnily enough, during his time at Dick Johnson Racing, Mostert didn't ask Steve about the race! However Pye said Johnson had reminded him several times about that Bathurst lead, since he joined DJR this season.

For Kiwi McLaughlin - while acknowledging 2003, the year Murphy set the 'Lap of the Gods' qualifying record and went on to win with Rick Kelly - he also leant towards 2007 as a favourite.

"I like the '07 Bathurst when it was half raining, right at the end there when everyone was battling - amazing, amazing race," the 21-year old said.

"Everyone was just driving to the limit, it was just ridiculous, so cool.

"At the end it mellowed down a little - but DJR looked like they were going to win at some stage, Triple Eight, Murph was looking good - then everyone shunted - it was pretty cool."

Pye felt that seeing Lowndes, partnered with Jamie Whincup, win the race and therefore the inaugural Peter Brock Memorial Trophy the year prior was a key moment in V8 Supercars.

"Watching Craig win the Peter Brock Trophy for the first time - they'd done the parade and all the tributes to Brock, and then Craig, with Jamie, went and won it," Pye said.

"For me, the reason is just because growing up, Craig - like a lot of people - was my favourite driver.

"I remember watching that race with my Dad and, when Craig won it was obviously emotional for him. So it was great to see someone you idolise achieve great things ... there were tricky conditions from memory, but I think that made the race better - and then when Craig won it was just perfect."

In Percat's case, his favourite race of recent times was Garth Tander's win - with Will Davison, before Percat jumped in to share the Holden Racing Team Commodore.

"The most exciting that I've watched live at the track - besides the one we've won - was the year of GT and Will's win," Percat said of 2009.

"Just because the weather was changing all day, it was very up and down, they're out there on slicks in the wet - I think it was the last time the main drivers paired up together, so it was a pretty cool race to watch."

Meeting - and then competing - against their idols has also been part of the journey for the young guns, who have been storming the field at recent events nabbing podiums and career best results.

"When Lowndesy first rocked into HRT, when Murph was real young, all those HRT memories of that era I remember a lot of ... [one year] I watched the race there up at McPhillamy Park," Percat said.

"I don't remember a lot of it because I was still so young, but I still remember getting Lowndesy, Murph, Brock's signature because they were HRT drivers, so that was pretty cool."

Both Lowndes and Murphy will be threats at this year's Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 as well, according to the youngsters.

"I didn't race him much at Sandown, but last year I had a good battle with Murph in the first stint," McLaughlin said.

"He's bloody fast around there so hopefully he's up there again. I'm sure they're going to be fine, HRT are definitely looking pretty good."

For Mostert, he feels lucky to work alongside a driver who has become an inspiration for him.

"Before I got to know anyone in the sport, I was a big Craig Lowndes fan. I think the way he holds himself on and off the camera and still does this day is fantastic and every young driver aspires to be like that," Mostert said.

"In saying that, since I've gotten to know a few people now in motorsport, there are a lot of guys like that - Frosty (Mark Winterbottom) is pretty special, I knew his story growing up and wanted to be exactly like him and get to V8 Supercar racing with not much money in my family and just try and make it."

Pye said that it wasn't racing the 'names' of the sport that had the biggest impact, but sitting representing V8 Supercars alongside them.

"(On the grid) you don't really think about that too much. It's more when you go to appearances and you're signing autographs alongside them, that's when it's surreal," Pye said.

"You have the young kids come up to us now and ask for our signature and it's really special to be sitting alongside Craig and with all the other greats of the sport.

"For me growing up, he was - and still is - an icon of the sport."

What can the young guns do this year at Mount Panorama?

So far in the Pirtek Enduro Cup standings, Pye - paired with Dunlop Series title contender Ash Walsh - is the highest placed in fifth, with Mostert (and Paul Morris) seventh, McLaughlin (and Alex Premat) eighth, and Percat (and Oliver Gavin) 22nd.

The Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 event begins October 9, with the Great Race Sunday October 12.