Winterbottom determined to make 20th start count

Two decades at Mount Panorama have flown by for Mark Winterbottom, but the winning ambition remains the same.

Winterbottom will make his 20th consecutive Bathurst start this weekend.

The 588-race veteran made his Great race debut in 2003 for Stone Brothers Racing.

Later that year, he won the development series title for the team, which paved the way to a main game seat.

Winterbottom joined Mark Larkham’s team before he shifted to Ford Performance Racing in 2006.

It was with the Ford team, which runs under the Tickford Racing banner, that Winterbottom won the 2013 race.

However, luck has mostly evaded Winterbottom in Bathurst; he only has a 2015 podium to go with the 2013 win.

Four of his first seven Bathurst starts were DNFs, and he didn’t convert his 2007 and 2010 poles to a trophy.

Winterbottom’s Team 18 era also hasn’t yet reaped results, but he has been a fixture of the top 10 in Bathurst.

Winterbottom debuted in 2003, the year he won the Super2 title (pictured)

The 38-time winner becomes the 40th driver to make 20 or more Bathurst starts.

Given a solid test day and updates to his #18 IRWIN Commodore, Winterbottom is motivated to make his 20th start count.

He also has extra motivation considering his recent re-signing with Team 18, as well as Holden’s last Bathurst.

Team 18 will campaign Chevrolet Camaros from 2023.

“I think that the car has definitely had a good birthday in a short amount of time,” said Winterbottom, who will race with Michael Caruso.

“There’s a lot of new bits on it and it feels really good.

"I’m really excited, I’ve been lucky enough to win it before and would love to win it again.

"It’s a massive race, last year for Holden, last year for the Commodore.

“It’s my 20th race so I would love to win it.”

Winterbottom won in 2013 after a decade of trying

At the other end of the spectrum at Team 18 is Scott Pye’s co-driver Tyler Everingham, who makes his second start.

Everingham made his debut aboard a Garry Rogers Motorsport wildcard in 2020.

The 21-year-old hails from nearby Dubbo, and is the only local driver on the grid.

That hometown pride is driving Everingham to make his presence felt alongside two-time podium finisher Pye.

“After our test day I feel very comfortable in the Alspec Racing car,” Everingham said.

“We’ve made great improvements so I’m feeling very confident heading into Bathurst.

“It’s exciting to be heading to Bathurst as a driver from the Central West region and representing Dubbo."

Cars will hit the track at Mount Panorama for Practice 1 on Thursday.

Tickets for the Repco Bathurst 1000 are available on Supercars.com and Ticketek.

Most Bathurst starts (all-time)

35: Jim Richards32: Peter Brock28: Colin Bond, Bob Holden, Craig Lowndes27: Steven Richards26: Dick Johnson, Allan Grice, Larry Perkins, Glenn Seton, Russell Ingall, Bruce Stewart25: Mark Skaife24: Kevin Bartlett, Tony Longhurst, Brad Jones, Graham Moore23: John Bowe, Ray Gulson, Terry Finnigan, Garth Tander22: Jason Bright, Paul Morris, Barry Seton, Don Smith, Garry Willmington, Greg Murphy21: Geoff Leeds, Craig Baird, Cameron McConville, Steven Johnson, Dean Canto, Steve Owen, Luke Youlden, Warren Luff20: Todd Kelly, Rick Kelly, Paul Dumbrell, Charlie O’Brien, Jamie Whincup19: John French, Brian Sampson, Gary Cooke, John Goss, Allan Moffat, Murray Carter, Peter Janson, Alan Jones, Mark Winterbottom

Most Bathurst starts (2022 grid)

28: Craig Lowndes23: Garth Tander22: Greg Murphy21: Warren Luff20: Jamie Whincup19: Mark Winterbottom18: Will Davison, Lee Holdsworth, Fabian Coulthard17: Alex Davison, Tony D’Alberto16: James Courtney, Michael Caruso, Jack Perkins15: Shane van Gisbergen14: David Reynolds13: Tim Slade, Dale Wood, Dean Fiore12: Chris Pither, James Moffat, David Russell11: Nick Percat, Tim Blanchard10: Cam Waters, Scott Pye8: Chaz Mostert, Andre Heimgartner7: Jack Le Brocq, Macauley Jones6: James Golding5: Todd Hazelwood4: Anton De Pasquale, Will Brown, Bryce Fullwood, Richie Stanaway3: Thomas Randle, Brodie Kostecki, Jake Kostecki, Jack Smith, Matt Campbell2: Broc Feeney, Zane Goddard, Jayden Ojeda, Kurt Kostecki, Dylan O’Keeffe1: Tyler Everingham, Zak Best, Jordan Boys0: Declan Fraser, Matt Chahda, Jaylyn Robotham, Aaron Seton, Matt Payne, Cameron Hill, Jaxon Evans