Rain-Slicked Practice Sets a Cautious Tone at Mount Panorama
The early phases of Bathurst 1000 week kicked off with treacherous conditions as heavy rain drenched Mount Panorama, turning the practice sessions into a test of nerve and car control. With the 161-lap race looming on Sunday and a weather forecast hinting at more showers, teams faced a delicate balance between learning the track and preserving equipment for the endurance grind ahead.
Triple Eight Holds the Edge Despite the Wet
Triple Eight retrieves a familiar position near the front, with co-driver Scott Pye steering the No. 1 entry alongside defending Supercars champion Will Brown. The session saw Pye clock a 2 minutes 6.839 seconds lap in conditions described by many as “ice on the road” once the rain began to fall. Several rivals chose to park their cars in the garages, taking a conservative approach as the track bit back at shallow drizzle turned into a more challenging damp surface.
Pye’s Cautious Approach Reflects Mount Panorama Realities
Pye, no stranger to heartbreak at Bathurst, acknowledged the unique hazards of racing on a slick surface even when only a light rain is present. “When it rains on the slick tyre, even just a little drizzle — I don’t know if it’s tar covering the cracks, but it just is like ice immediately,” he explained. “Even on the slick tyre, you get a bit of drizzle in the rain and you want to bail out of it. And I’ve looked pretty average on a Thursday before, so I didn’t want to repeat history. I was pretty cautious out there.”
Other Notables Fall on Wet Track
Chaz Mostert, a two-time Bathurst winner, was among three drivers who crashed during the wet and wild conditions in practice, underscoring how tricky Mount Panorama can be once the weather turns. Co-drivers Cam McLeod and Harry Jones also encountered difficulties in the damp, exemplifying how even established combinations can be tested in unfamiliar grip levels.
Quiet Start for 2024 Bathurst Champions, With Forward Momentum
Two-time Bathurst winner Brodie Kostecki and Todd Hazelwood began the day with measured runs, as Hazelwood—driving for Dick Johnson Racing—ended the session sixth-fastest. The night’s timesheets showed Brown and Pye sitting in the mix, following a strong finish last year where they completed the podium alongside teammates Broc Feeney and Shane van Gisbergen. The balance between speed and durability will be crucial as teams shift into Friday’s dry practice sessions and the all-important qualifying hour.
Looking Ahead to Friday: Dry Track, Fresh Opportunities
With expectations of dry conditions for Friday’s two practice sessions, teams will be keen to refine setups for a potential wet-to-dry transition later in the weekend. Pye remained confident in the car’s pace, insisting that the package is competitive and that the team has learned valuable lessons from Thursday’s challenging conditions. “It may be wet later in the weekend, but we decided the car and the package we got seemed really quite competitive,” he said. “For sure, we rolled out of the way, it was fast immediately. This place bites hard, especially with the conditions they were on Thursday. But in the race, obviously, you don’t have the luxury of bailing out.”
Implications for Qualifying and the Bathurst 1000
As teams prepare for qualifying, the memory of Thursday’s drama—thunderous sprays, clipped barriers, and a handful of spins—serves as a reminder that Mount Panorama rewards rhythm and precision. The early pace-setters—especially Triple Eight—enter Bathurst with confidence in their machinery, even as the weather remains a wildcard. The ongoing challenge will be to translate the cautious handling displayed in practice into a blistering, reliable performance over the long race on Sunday.
