De Silvestro keen on Bathurst cameo

Former Supercars driver Simona De Silvestro is interested in making a Bathurst 1000 comeback, saying it would be “really cool”.

The Swiss driver raced a Kelly Racing Nissan between 2017 and 2019 on a full-time basis.

De Silvestro is no stranger to Bathurst wildcards, making Great Race cameos in 2015 and 2016.

The 34-year-old departed Supercars at the end of 2019 to join Porsche factory program.

It was in 2019, alongside Alex Rullo, when De Silvestro scored her best Bathurst finish of 13th.

De Silvestro, however, told the Girls on the Grid podcast that she would be keen to add another Bathurst start to her CV.

“At the time, I was definitely a bit sad that [my Supercars career] didn’t really continue, just opportunity-wise, but I really enjoyed it,” she said.

Newcastle 2019: De Silvestro's last Supercars race

“It was really three years of my racing career that I will always remember.

“It would be really cool to come back to do a wildcard or something like that, it would be really fun. I would really enjoy it.”

De Silvestro is also in the frame to return to IndyCar, having made a comeback to the category in 2021.

The driver’s comments come after Walkinshaw Andretti United refused to rule out a wildcard program for 2023.

WAU last ran a wildcard for IndyCar drivers Alexander Rossi and James Hinchcliffe in 2019.

The now Ford team, however, said it would consider a wildcard deeper into the 2023 season.

For De Silvestro, a wildcard remains her best shot at a Bathurst return — something she wants to make, given her affinity with Mount Panorama.

October 2019: De Silvestro's last Bathurst

"Right now, I think I’m in a really good position with Porsche, with my involvement in the Formula E program,” she said.

“That’s kind of my priority right now.

“A wildcard or as a co-driver, if this opportunity would come up, I think it’s something I definitely could consider.

“I think it is the only track — even if you’re having the worst race and nothing is going well — you still enjoy driving around it.

“I love it — it’s the best place in the world."

Tickets for this weekend’s Bosch Power Tools Perth SuperSprint are on sale on Supercars.com and Ticketek.com.

The 2023 Repco Bathurst 1000 will be held on October 5-8.