Our day in October

Bathurst. It means something different to everyone. Every person who has ever watched this race or been to the Mountain hashis or her own story - but every person comes backevery year for the same reason. To get their fixof the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.

It's probably the only place on our calendar where you will see grown men cry. This place can bring the toughest, bravest blokes you will ever come across to tears -be it tears of joy, tears of pure heartbreak or tears ofbroken bones. It's brutal. But that's why we love it.

That's why standing on the grid on Sunday morningmakes you hold your breath, makes your heart race, makesyour hands shake. ItmakesAustralia and246 million other households around the globe stop what they are doing for over six hours,for161 laps, for 1000km and watch one of the greatest races in the world unfold.

It's aweek-longstory but the draft starts well before.Ask any driver or team member in the paddock when preparation for the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 begins and unless they were one of two blokes standing on the top step holding the Peter Brock Trophy at 5.15pm then they sayit startsat about 5.20pm Sunday night the year before. It's just that kind of race - it bites so hard and is sodifficult to win. That's whythey sayvictory is so sweet.

The PRcommitments for the drivers and teams alone arelike a race meeting in itself. Talking about what is going to happen. What has happened in the past and trying to predict the future.

Then practice, practice, practice. Qualifying session.

And on Saturday afternoon, one of my favourite moments of the weekend, the ARMOR ALL Top 10 Shootout. It's almost surreal -the light is fading and tension building in pit lane, fans glued to the fence line,the cars getting quicker, the occasional threat of bad weather.The fastest, most exciting lap in our Championship. It's like nobody breathes for about an hour - a seriously cool moment in our sport.

The talk this year is a predicted lap time somewhere between a 2min05.8 and 2min06.2, someareeven saying a 2min03! But I have a feeling we are going to witness something pretty special at 5.10pm on Saturday - something that, in years to come, we'll say 'I was standing there, when that happened'.

This will be my ninth year in pit lane at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 and it's a pretty specialprivilege towitness these teams ride the highs and lows of thisincrediblyintense battle.To see the most talented drivers in the world tackle this Mountain with such determination in their eyes, a hunger for success that only those who have tried to tame Mount Panoramawould understand.

To watch the teamwork of the mechanics who are 'on call' often after very little sleep and thefocus of theengineers who do not break concentration from their data screensthe entire race. They blow me away year after year!So much added pressure is loaded on their shoulders for this race. So many more eyes watching, so much more value in terms of sponsorship. You win thisone and you go down in history and people will refer toyou for the rest of your life as a BathurstChampion.

Many compare the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 to a grand final and experts say to win a grand final you need momentum. If that's the case, you can't overlook Jamie Whincup and Paul Dumbrell as the ones to beat.

Last year some might say it was PD's two mistakes that costWhincupa fifthBathurst 1000 victory and what forced PD into competing in the current Dunlop Series.

On the flip sideforMarkWinterbottom and FPR it seems like the wheels are falling off his Championship assault. After a fairly average Sandown outing the defending Bathurst Champ has his work cutout for him to scrape backcritical points.

He dropped into thirdon the ladder, 279 points adrift and it's now been four events since he last appeared on the podium!HRT and Triple Eight have dominated the top step winningeight of the last nine Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000s.

So given FPR broke the drought last year, can someone else can ruin the party?

Maybe we will see a Volvo snatch victory 16 years after their last appearance at the Mountain?

Teamsstill have very big concerns about fuel economy and question marks surrounding the new kerbs. We knowas years have gone on emphasis has been to set the car up to suit the latter part of the race. From the compulsory pit stops the final two are critical todetermining who will win the race.

Either way having five manufacturers take to the grid, a new surface and fast cars we are on trackfor the quickest, most exhilaratingSupercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 we have ever seen. Ican'twait to be in pit lane to watch history unfold.

Riana's wrap

- Can Greg Murphy repay last year's mid-race crash with a podium for he and James Courtney?

- The Volvo of Scott McLaughlin will be the one to catch in qualifying.

- Jamie Whincup and Paul Dumbrell will be the ones to chase come Sunday.

- You can't discount Craig Lowndes and Steven Richards -41 starts and eight wins between them.

Follow Riana onTwitter andInstagram@rianacrehan