John Bowe: It starts today
This is my 30th year at Bathurst and I still get just as excited as I did the first year I arrived - that would be 1984 for the clever ones amongst you!
I'll be racing my Wilson Security/Dunlop Super Dealer Mustang Sally in the Touring Car Masters, and watching the V8 Supercar action with bated breath.
Mount Panorama is the holy grail of race tracks (in the world, I reckon) and the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 is the holy grail in terms of motor racing in Australia!
The race has changed dramatically over the years. It's still the one that every driver and every team would give their left nut to win.
Make no mistake, winning the Supercheap Bathurst 1000 is a team effort with a capital T. Every team member has to do their job to maximum efficiency and capacity to be able to stand a chance of winning.
There's so much planning and hard work that goes into the day. It's a far cry from the late, great Harry Firth who drove the car on the journey to Bathurst to race it.
On current form the Triple Eight cars of Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup have to be firm favourites. They are a great team, with great drivers and their cars are respectfully the best prepared in pit lane.
But, it's not that simple. There are lots and lots of very close competitors ready to take the fight withthe Red Bulls. That's what I love about Bathurst, everyone goes there with the belief they are in with a chance - and rightly so!
There's amazing public interest in the Volvos' efforts this year, which issomewhat unusual for a nation raised on Holden v Ford battles.
I think young Scotty McLaughlin has captured the imagination and hearts of our nation, being young and so down to earth. I'd have an each way bet on he and Alex Premat.
Funny as it seems - I have a media interview with (Unique Cars magazine) and Scotty McLaughlin. Apparently, the story line is 'thirty years ago JB arrived at Mount Panorama in a Volvo with his hat on the parcel shelf ... Today, Scotty McLaughlin arrived without his hat (heaven forbid... that's a serious Volvo you have there, sonny! But Scotty - where's the hat?
Sadly, it's about thirty years too late for me, I reckon! I'd love to be able to wind my speedo back and have a crack... I wish!
Don't forget, Garry Rogers' team knows how to win on the mountain!
I'm unsure about the Ford chances. Their competitiveness has dropped away lately as others have improved, so in my world, they will be underdogs.
That in itself is no bad thing, I liked being the underdog in my day. It reduces the pressure a bit, and let's face it, the pressure at Mt Panorama is immense!
I think the HRT boys will also be hard to beat! Their recent engine upgrades have really kicked them forward. They have been building quietly over the season and have been progressively moving forward - they are a genuine threat this weekend.
In today's world, with a set number of pit stops, and only tough Dunlop Sport Maxx control tyres (on the shelf), there's no rolling of the dice on tyre performance.
The strategy is to manage your stops and driver stints well, leaving your regular driver to make the sprint home after the (inevitable) late safety car.
So, you see, the strategist and engineers have a huge task - that's just the way motorsport is played today!
Will the Mercedes or Nissan be capable of becomingthe first manufacturer outside of Holden and Ford to win the Great Racein over two decades?
I honestly don't know. Every time I write them off as a wasted season, one or the other surprises me!The front running performance of both marques is patchy, to say the least, but I would never say never.There's lots of talent in the Erebus and Nissan teams, as there is up and down the pit lane.
One thing we can be sure of, the Great Race will be exactly that, a great, fantastic, enthralling contest between this country's motor racing elite.
My apologies to the ones I haven't mentioned, I don't have much space and I don't like to analyse too much.
Suffice to say, there isn't a team in the race that's not capable of a top 10 or podium result, for that matter.
If I recall correctly, my Sandown preview basically said - the longer the races are, the better the Triple Eight cars will go. I also thought HRT would be strong - that was the top four placing. What do you know?
Best be putting the crystal ball away for a rest I reckon.
The Bathurst 1000 is on the radar of motor racing enthusiasts around the world. It has massive interest and appeal, as it should. This is gladiatorial in terms of the race and battle, where's Russell Crowe when you need him?
I can't wait to arrive at The Colosseum... bring the Chariots to battle!
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.
