How Bathurst 1000 corners got their names

Who are Griffin, Reid, Sulman, McPhillamy, Forrest or Murray? Why The Cutting, or The Esses?

While watching the Repco Bathurst 1000, you'll hear many saying odd-sounding corner names, instead of your classic 'Turn 1' or 'Turn 2'.

Mount Panorama has some curly names for its corners, but what do they all mean? Supercars.com explains.

Hell Corner

It looks like a simple 90-degree left-hander. However, in the circuit's early days, this corner is believed to have had a tree stump, which posed a risk to motorcycle riders.

Mountain Straight

It goes without saying, but this 1.1km straight begins the climb up the Mountain.

Griffins Bend

Turn 2 is an uphill right-hander, and is named after Martin Griffin, former Mayor of Bathurst. Griffin was mayor between 1931-41, including when the circuit opened in 1938, and was the brainchild behind the circuit itself.

The Cutting

The mountain itself was literally carved (or cut) away to drop this now famous piece of road in. The mountainside on the left creates a blind corner, which follows into the steepest part of the circuit, with a 1:6 gradient.

Reid Park

After The Cutting, drivers head towards Reid Park, which refers to both the circuit and the camping ground to driver's right. The sector is named after former Bathurst City Council member Hughie Reid, who designed the layout. Many simply call it 'the tree', given there is an old tree at corner apex on driver's left.

Sulman Park

The area between Reid and McPhillamy Parks is named after the late Tom Sulman, a racer and flag marshal who was killed in an accident on Conrod Straight in a 1970 sportscar race. There, you'll find 'The Grate', a metal grate near the wall which doubles as a target for drivers to aim for through the fast sweeper.

McPhillamy Park

Former councillor and mayor Walter J. McPhillamy donated a piece of land at the top of the Mountain, which now hosts a sign in his name. A fast left-hander, McPhillamy neighbours the campsite at driver's right.

Brock’s Skyline

One of the most spectacular views in world motorsport is the aptly-named Skyline, which was re-named in 1997 in honour of nine-time winner Peter Brock.

The Dipper

The Esses begin after Skyline, but The Dipper itself has a dramatic 'dip' into a left-hander. The Dipper is technically the third sharp corner in the Esses.

The Esses

Drivers snake their way through a series of fast left and right handers en route to Forrest’s Elbow. Here, drivers are coming down the Mountain, but at no point are they going straight before they get to the Elbow.

Forrest’s Elbow

After The Esses, drivers hit the brakes and dive into a tight, blind left-hander. The corner is named after motorcycle racer Jack Forrest, who crashed there in 1947. He hit his elbow in the accident, and the rest is history.

Conrod Straight

At 1.9km, Conrod Straight is a long drag down to The Chase. Before The Chase was installed, it was simply known as 'Main Straight' before a Hudson Special, driven by Frank Kleinig in 1939, suffered a spectacular con rod failure.

The Chase

Added in 1987, the fast three-corner sequence was initially dubbed 'Caltex Chase' over its initial sponsorship. The 'Chase' element remained in the years after.

Murray’s Corner

The final corner of the track, Murray’s Corner was coined after Bill Murray, who crashed his Hudson Special into the sandbags at the corner in the 1946 New South Wales Grand Prix.