Mount Panorama could well be the circuit that makes or breaks the title fight in the 2026 DUNLOP Super2 Series.
After a slow burn to start the season, the first three rounds being held over the course of seven months, the final three rounds will be crammed into the next nine weeks.
The title fight is tantalisingly poised, and could deliver one of the closest Super2 title fights ever seen. But with three rounds to go there is still a lot of water to go under the bridge before a champion is crowned in Adelaide.
But before you can fight a title, first you have to tame Mount Panorama...
The contenders
Six drivers enter Bathurst all with a genuine chance of leaving Mount Panorama as the series leader, split by just 117 points with 300 on the line across the two races at Bathurst.
The man they're all chasing is Lochie Dalton, who has won three of the six races held this year, but had a three-digit points lead slashed after picking up damage in an opening lap skirmish in Perth.
That opened the door for Reuben Goodall to emerge as the leader of the chasing pack, boosted by his first career Super2 race win, and first win of his car racing career.
As was the case last year, all four Tickford entries are right in the hunt, with Goodall leading Campbell Logan, who has been a breakout star in 2026, while Ben Gomersall and Nash Morris sit fifth and sixth.
They are split by Brad Vaughan, who has been a lone wolf for Holden for the vast majority of the season, having won the opening race of the season in Sydney.
As Logan told Supercars.com, a six-way fight for the Super2 Series title across the final three rounds is an exciting change from years gone by.
"It's going to be super close, I'd say the top six are all emerging as the real title contenders," the Tasmanian said ahead of Bathurst.
"In the last few years it's probably been two or three drivers who have emerged as the contenders after the first few rounds, so this year is really wide open."
A twist in the championship trail
For the first time since 2019, there will be a further two rounds held after Super2's Bathurst round.
Since 2022, Bathurst has been the penultimate round of the development series, which has gone on to conclude in Adelaide, while Bathurst served as the finale in the COVID-affected years of 2020 and 2021.
While Adelaide will once again conclude the season this year, the penultimate round shifts to Sandown, which returns after a year off the calendar. This gives drivers an extra chance to recover from any incidents that Bathurst may throw up.
For what it's worth, Vaughan is the most recent Super2 race winner at both circuits, something the South Australian hasn't been shying away from.
"It's almost like I'm saving all by best tracks for last," Vaughan quipped to Supercars.com.
A history of title drama
Several drivers have had title bids fall apart against the unforgiving concrete walls of Mount Panorama.
Kai Allen's bid for back-to-back Super2 titles seemed to flying along swimmingly until a heavy qualifying accident for the opening race of the weekend. Though his car was rebuilt, he was pitched into the wall again in Race 2.
What was a 126-point series lead turned into an unassailable 42-point deficit heading to Adelaide, Zach Bates claiming the 2024 crown.
Ash Walsh is another to have had heartbreak at Bathurst, entering the inaugural 250km Super2 mini-enduro in 2014 on the Mountain just four points behind leader Paul Dumbrell.
However, an early accident proved catastrophic, as Dumbrell wrapped up the 2014 with a round to spare in a dominant display, as Walsh watched on helplessly.
2026 title leader Dalton isn't daunted by Mount Panorama's reputation, keeping his task across both Super2 and the Repco Bathurst 1000 simple.
"You've just got to go there and keep the two categories totally separate, we'll do our thing," Dalton told Supercars.com.
"I'm always pretty confident and feel good around Bathurst, so we'll just keep the two cars separate, hit our marks, and we should have a good weekend."
