Barry Ryan's Bathurst philosophy driving Lochie Dalton's bold target
Super2 points leader Dalton will race with Cooper Murray in #99 Camaro
Murray battled for victory in dramatic 2025 Bathurst 1000
Lochie Dalton is determined to play the best role possible for Cooper Murray and Erebus Motorsport as Mount Panorama takes centre stage.
Super2 points leader Dalton will partner Murray in Erebus’ #99 Chevrolet Camaro for the Ryco Enduro Cup, which commences at The Bend on September 11.
The Betty Klimenko-owned team, more often than not, rises to the occasion at Mount Panorama. Notably, after a turbulent year in 2024, the team won the Great Race.
Last year, Murray and now teammate Jobe Stewart — who was a rookie — nearly pulled off one of Bathurst’s biggest shocks, again proving how Erebus finds a gear on the Mountain.
Should the speed be there this year, Dalton wants to offer Murray the best possible platform to win the race, just as Todd Hazelwood did for Brodie Kostecki two years ago, and prove Erebus CEO Barry Ryan’s philosophy right.
“There’s a little bit of pressure to be a good coey,” Dalton told Supercars.com.
“I need to step up to play a role for Cooper and the team, given their speed [at Bathurst], but I'm sure we'll be right. Main drivers are supposed to be faster.
“I’m here to learn from Cooper get up to speed. That's why Baz [Ryan] says you need to have two main drivers to win Bathurst.”
Murray found speed at Queensland Raceway, offering hope that, once again, Erebus will make a splash at the year’s longest Supercars races.
Dalton, who leads the Super2 standings by 69 points, raced to 13th with Rylan Gray in last year's Great Race, finishing just behind the fancied sister Tickford Mustang of Cam Waters/Mark Winterbottom.
When asked if he feels Erebus is rising to the occasion once again, Dalton said: "Yeah, I think so.
“If we're going by history, we always turn up for Bathurst. Everyone’s goal here is to win Bathurst.
“Of course, you want to win every race you can, but Bathurst is always special to everyone.”
The 2026 season hits enduro mode at Tailem Bend, before the Repco Bathurst 1000 on October 8-11. Tickets for all events are on sale now.
