Asian Motor Sports

Plans for a second Bathurst track at the foot of Mount Panorama were given the green light at a recent public meeting, reports Austrialian publication eNews.

The meeting was reportedly attended by Bathurst residents, motorsport enthusiasts and politicians, who all agreed a second racing venue would bring great economic benefits to Bathurst and the central-western NSW region.

The circuit’s unique design allows for several configurations to be used, allowing club or state-level events to take place without the need for any of the existing Mount Panorama circuit’s public roads to be closed. On its own, the new track is 2.5 kilometers in length.

The new circuit can also be combined with some of Mount Panorama’s existing sections that include the Pit Straight, Mountain Straight and back on Con-rod straight which will create a 4.6km grand-prix style circuit suitable for classes that cannot race around the traditional Mount Panorama Layout due to its extreme elevation changes.

Former bike-racer Allan Cunynghame is the brain-child behind the track, he says the new track could be used to attract high profile events such as a round of the World Superbike Championship.

Cunynghame also received some valuable input from V8 Supercar driver Craig Lowndes during the planning stages for the circuit.

“My question to Craig was: ‘how would this be for a sprint round of the V8 Series?’” Cunningham said. “He was very supportive to give me his time, because in the track design, I hadn’t put the proposal in front of a professional driver and I wanted to talk to someone from V8 Supercars, so I put the question to him. His comment back to me was that it would be a fantastic thing if you could have a premier endurance race at Mount Panorama, and a premier sprint round as well.”

“If it’s going to happen at all, it will be a joint venture between the Federal and State Governments, and Bathurst City Council,” he said. “If you look at it from a business perspective, it would certainly bring a lot of industry and a lot of business to the Central West.”

State Member for Bathurst, Gerard Martin, is strongly in support of the new track’s construction. “This is a good way for the Government to invest in regional NSW, create economic development and create opportunities for people to work in the area,” he said.

Local racing identity Brian Nightingale says the new track would provide a much-needed extra racing facility in NSW, especially with Oran Park closing down. “They want to make Mount Panorama the home of motorsport, but it’s never going to be the home of motorsport when it only holds five race meetings a year,” Nightingale said.

Future progress with the new circuit now lies with State and Federal Governments, who will meet to discuss funding for the facility.

About Current Mount Panorama Racing Circuit:

In 1938 the Mount Panorama Scenic Drive was opened to the public and became the home of motor racing in Australia. It may have started its career as a dusty country track but Bathurst’s
Mount Panorama is now one of the world’s top three motor racing circuits,

Mount Panorama Motor Racing Circuit is 6.213 kilometers in length and 874 metres above sea level.

Mount Panorama is unique in its rural setting. There are over 40 private residences located around the circuit - inside and outside. Private businesses also exist on the Mount - including: luxury accommodation, a winery, restaurant and fruit orchard.

The circuit has been upgraded over the years and had a deviation installed on Con-Rod Straight, but the essential nature of the track hasn’t changed since 1938. It’s still the most challenging track in Australia and one of the best circuits in the world. Drivers and riders have always seen success at “The Mount” as necessary on their CV’s. World Champions such as Sir Jack Brabham, Wayne Gardner, Alan Jones, Kel Carruthers and Mick Doohan can all attest to the fact that if you can win at Bathurst, you can succeed anywhere.

The National Motor Racing Museum - located at Murray’s Corner, at the foot of Mount Panorama - showcases an impressive array of motorcycle and car racing memorabilia from all over the country.

Peter Brock is known by many as “King of the Mountain” and one of the best racing drivers Australia has seen.

After his tragic death in 2006 a large proportion of the 194,000 race spectators also came to say farewell to him. In doing so they decorated the safety wall at the top of the mountain with thousands of farewell messages.

At the National Motor Racing Museum you can view the Peter Brock tribute book which also has thousands of farewell messages recorded.

Peter Brock first raced at Bathurst in the (then named) Bathurst 500 in 1969. This was, and still is, Australia’s most prestigious endurance road race.

He won the race for the first time in 1972.

In 1979 he won the race by six laps, and broke the circuit lap record on his final lap.
Another point of interest is that in 32 starts at Mount Panorama he claimed pole position a record six times, results that earned him the title ‘King of the Mountain’.