'Want to smash each other': The unique camaraderie in pre-season Bathurst running
Toyota, Ford and Chevrolet Supercars on the ground in Bathurst
Cars from three makes partaking in demonstrations, evaluations at 12 Hour
2026 Supercars season starts in Sydney on February 20-22
Supercars drivers, much like any elite athletes, are competitive beings by nature.
That competitive edge usually becomes even more intense on stages where the stakes are raised; think last year's Repco Supercars Finals Series, for example.
However, for more than 60 years, if there is one race that brings out the absolute best in everyone who has ever driven there, it's the Repco Bathurst 1000.
Supercars have had an early peak at Mount Panorama this weekend, however there is a much more relaxed attitude than you would usually see.
In fact, there's not even a competitive nature at all, more a sense of mateship and helping out for the greater good of the sport.
The sessions have also doubled as a chance for Supercars to evaluate the engine packages of all three cars, a final step in achieving the final sign-off for the all-new Toyota GR Supra package.
With no competitive stakes this weekend, all three drivers, namely Broc Feeney, Anton De Pasquale, and Chaz Mostert, haven't been afraid to have a bit of fun.
Feeney got the tail out on his Mustang yesterday at the exit of The Chase, whilst a social media video has emerged of Mostert revving his Toyota V8 to scare away an errant wallaby at the exit of Forrest's Elbow.
However, whilst it's all smiles and pleasantries this weekend at the Meguiar's Bathurst 12 Hour, all bets will be off come Monday, with the DUNLOP Sydney 500 opening the season next weekend.
“The camaraderie is pretty good here,” Mostert told Supercars.com at Bathurst.
“But I know when we get to SMP, no one will want to help each other out, we’ll want to smash each other.
“It's good to be here early, help Supercars take the opportunity to test stuff, especially at Bathurst. This place is our holy grail, and it’s a great place to make it as close as possible.
“So, we'll see where it all washes out.”
De Pasquale, who doesn't have any 12 Hour commitments this weekend, added: “We don't really do anything other than drive.
“They have all information, so we just kind of do what we're told. It's always good to drive a race car around Bathurst, so that part’s always fun.
"But yeah, my role is just to drive. Chaz and Broc are driving new stuff, so they're doing a lot more than us. We're pretty much the baseline, the standard known variable of these cars."
The 2026 Repco Supercars Championship begins at the DUNLOP Sydney 500 from February 20-22. Tickets for the event, including DUNLOP Free Friday, are on sale now.
