Most Daunting Part of Bathurst for Winterbottom
Mark Winterbottom has had some pretty daunting moments in a V8 Supercar at Bathurst, from flying through The Chase, driving a car on fire and dodging kangaroos – but for him the most challenging part is having raced at the Mountain so many years without winning there.
The Pepsi Max Crew driver – and Ford Performance Racing – have not been able to break through for a victory at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.
And it’s not just a win – the podium has eluded Winterbottom as well. Despite two ARMOR ALL Pole Positions, the 32-year old's best result from 10 starts at Mount Panorama is fourth, which he achieved with current co-driver Steven Richards in both 2008 and 2011.
However, without talking it up too much, he believes this year is a great chance.
“I think we’ve definitely got the speed, I feel really comfortable with the driver combo with Richo – we’ve done it quite a few times now – I feel really good,” Winterbottom told v8supercars.com.au.
“I know the guys don’t want to see a wheel nut ever again because they’ve absolutely studied it to the enth-degree over the last couple of weeks (after several issues in pit stops this year).
“We’ve really left no stone unturned – the preparation has been really, really good.
“I really think this is a great chance.”
However, Winterbottom knows he’s not the only one eying victory and that Peter Brock Trophy, this coming Sunday.
“There’s going to be so many people say the same thing, so if we get it right – which is a hard thing to do – but we know that if we get it right, we’ve got a chance of winning the race and that’s a really good way to go up there.
“We’re as good a chance as any if we get it right on the day.”
Winterbottom’s Mount Panorama highlight so far involves current co-driver Richards. In fact, the pair is one of the most experienced combinations lining up on the grid, with only Craig Lowndes/Warren Luff having had more starts between them at Bathurst.
“My best moment there hasn’t been in a race,” ‘Frosty’ said.
“In 2007 I qualified on provisional pole and (HRT’s Mark) Skaife went out before me in the Shootout and recorded a 2min07.1, an awesome time.
“Clouds were coming over, it was my first ever Shootout and I remember sitting in the motorhome really nervous – I had massive stomach pains.
“I remember Richo coming in and saying, ‘What are you nervous for? You’ve got this’, giving me the experience pep talk, which was nice.
“Going out and knocking Skaife off the top for pole (with a 2min07.0908) and starting the big race from pole position – and then the day after was one of my worst, I was leading and speared off-track.
“That was an amazing weekend for different reasons, that was definitely the year for me, 2007. When I go up, I want to repeat that form, bar the last 15 laps… There’s never one memory, there’s always hundreds, and that’s why you want to win it.
“That place is history and you want to be a part of it.”
Winterbottom believes the memories made watching the Great Race with family is what makes it so special, and this year will take eight-month old son Austin to Mount Panorama for the first time.
“If your parents went for Ford, you went for Ford and if they went for Holden, you went for Holden,” he said. “So they instil it all in you, who you go for and put the passion in that race from a young age.
“It’s a massive part of the weekend how family is involved, whether it’s watching or racing, that doesn’t change. Family is a big part of it.”
Austin and Oliver, two years, along with mum, Winterbottom’s wife Renee, will drive to Bathurst from Melbourne tomorrow, one of many motorsport families to do the traditional road trip together.
Winterbottom has just signed on as an ambassador for Safety 1st to raise awareness of correct car seat installation for children, and general child safety while on the roads. The #5 driver is passionate about the issue and felt it was timely to encourange drivers to be safe when traveling to Bathurst.
Some of his wild rides on the world-renownded Mout Panoram circuit?
“Going through the Chase in 2007 at 300km/h wasn’t a good moment!
“The car got airborne, so I wasn’t sure where I wasn’t going to end up on the other side, but leading the race and feeling like you’ve thrown away a win scares you as well. It wasn’t a nice moment.
“I’ve had the car on fire, I’ve driven the car on fire from Forrest Elbow to half of pit lane.
“(There’s) always something Bathurst can throw up, like kangaroos jumping out at you – it’s never-ending the things that scare you up there, but probably the biggest thing that scares you is racing there so many years and not winning it!”
The Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 begins on Thursday, with V8 Supercar practice at 10.20am AEDST. Tickets are still available for the event, and you can view the TV schedule here.
