Top 10 Bathurst Shootout Laps

"DannyCatSteve" (dannycatsteve) 10/11/2013 at 17:42 • Filed to: V8 Supercars

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10) Will Davison - 2012/Ford FG Falcon/2:08.07

For the 50th anniversary of The Great Race in 2012, many teams ran special tribute liveries. Ford Performance Racing painted their cars identical to the Moffat Ford Dealers Falcons that finished 1-2 in the 1977 race. Will Davison went out and put one of the tribute racers on pole.

9) Glenn Seton - 1992/Ford EB Falcon/2:14:97

After years of the Ford Sierra being the Blue Oval's weapon of choice in Australian Touring Car racing, the legendary Falcon made its return to Mount Panorama in a prelude to the debut of the new 5.0L V8 Supercars formula that occured the next year. The sound of a V8 Falcon for the first time since 1984 sent the Ford fans into a frenzy.

8) Shane Van Gisbergen - 2009/Ford FG Falcon/2:08.82

Few drivers in the world have better car control than Shane Van Gisbergen. In 2009, Van Gisbergen took to the track as it was still drying out. In typical Giz fashion, he gave us a lap to remember.

7) Tom Walkinshaw - 1985/Jaguar XJ-S/2:18.82

Scottish driver Tom Walkinshaw was most well known for his ownership of the Holden Racing Team, but in 1985 his stable ran two Jaguar XJ-S'. The Jags qualified 1-2 and finished the race that way as well. The sound of their V12 engines is perhaps the sweetest ever heard around the mountain.

6) Craig Lowndes - 2009/Ford FG Falcon/2:08.22

There are few people better at putting a stong lap together at Mount Panorama better than Craig Lowndes. In Triple Eight Race Engineering's last year with Ford, the three-time defending champion drove all out, making for a shootout lap that keeps viewers on the edge of their seat.

5) Dick Johnson - 1983/ Ford XE Falcon/ DNF

Dick Johnson is most famous for hitting the rock in Tru-Blu during the 1980 race, but he copped an arguably bigger shunt three years later in the top 10 shootout with the Greens' Tuff Falcon. The team is running a tribute livery to the car this year.

4) Mark Skaife - 2007/Holden VE Commodore/2:07.19

Gunning for his sixth pole position and second in a row, he had to beat a time of a 2:08.07 set by Steven Johnson. Not only did he beat it, he annihilated it, setting a time almost a second faster. Had he not made two small mistakes near the end of the lap, he may have dipped into the 2:06's.

Mark Winterbottom - 2007/Ford BF Falcon/2:07:09

After Mark Skaife set his blistering time, Mark Winterbottom was the last man who could knock the HRT car off pole. With rain clouds looming and running his first ever attempt in the shootout, Frosty was under maximum pressure. The Ford stalwart would not succumb to it.

2) Peter Brock - 1991/ Holden VN Commodore/ 2:16:07

Following his ninth and final win at the mountain in 1987, Peter Brock departed from Holden for a BMW M3, then the Ford Sierra. In 1991, the King moved back to the manufacturer that made him famous, delivering a breath-taking shootout performance in the new VN Commodore.

1) Greg Murphy - 2003/Holden VY Commodore/2:06.86

In 2003, Greg Murphy, teaming with Rick Kelly, dominated the practice sessions and the race, winning his third Bathurst crown. However, what everyone remembers about the Kiwi's performance that year occured in the top 15 shootout, when he delivered a mountain rattling time so unbelievable that it can only be called "The Lap of the Gods."

(Keep in mind I haven't seen every single top 10 shootout lap ever run and this list was put together in somewhat of a rush so if you think I left a good one off please let me know.)

desertdog5051 > DannyCatSteve 10/11/2013 at 18:35

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Excellent post. Loves Panorama. Thank you sir.

Nick-Speed > DannyCatSteve 10/11/2013 at 19:17

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No Skylines in the Top 10?
Really . . .

Nintondo-San > DannyCatSteve 10/11/2013 at 20:15

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I honestly think one of the reasons motorsports is such a forgotten sport in the U.S is because of NASCAR. Every time I tell someone about the ALMS they have a blank look. Then I say "race car", and they automatically presume I'm a boring hick with no life that likes to watch cars go in circles for several hours.

If NASCAR had always been the awesomeness that is V8 Supercars, I think that would be a very different story today. I truly think that if NASCAR would go home, and these would come in their place, motorsports could make a comeback to the mainstream in the U.S. Sadly, I think it is too late now as the stereotype that the only form of motorsports that exists is NASCAR is so prominent. Well at least the "stance kids" like drifting, which is still better than NASCAR.

Watching 43 cars go around an oval is like watching paint dry. Compared to watching ONE car go around Bathurst which is like the second coming of Christ himself.

Thank you for this post for reminding me how awesome V8 Supercars truly is. I'm ashamed to admit I never really payed too much mind to the series, but that is certainly changed now. Such a shame a similar series didn't take birth in the U.S in place of NASCAR. Maybe if they weren't all drunk on whiskey and not the spawn of their cousin's mother and uncle, we could have V8 Supercars!

MFEJAL grey because who knows... > DannyCatSteve 10/11/2013 at 21:17

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1) I hate commentators. With passion.

GearHeadfromBrazil > DannyCatSteve 10/11/2013 at 21:45

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V8 supercars and Mount Panorama makes every other motosport look boring.

heeltoehero > DannyCatSteve 10/11/2013 at 22:30

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Thanks for this. My favorite Bathurst laps though? 2003 24hr. GRM Monaro vs Monaro. EPIC battle.

Moarloud > DannyCatSteve 10/11/2013 at 22:35

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Holy fuck why can't America start up a touring car class like this? This is amazing. I also just realized how amazing of a track Mt.Panorama is. Tons of fast sweeping turns and those big straights so we can hear those sweet-singing V8s sing. This is motorsports at its best.

Steven Phillips Photography > DannyCatSteve 10/11/2013 at 23:40

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Everyone should drop the cash for the v8 superview so you can watch the races at your leisure here in the US. For 30 or so bucks and every race it's just a steal.

HugePanic > Nintondo-San 10/12/2013 at 04:44

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AMEN !!

Here in europe about nobody understands why a Oval is a racetrack...

Maybe NASCAR is more boring than F1 ??

ja9ae > DannyCatSteve 10/12/2013 at 07:29

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The TWR Jag is one of my all-time favourites. A beast of a car that needed it's driver to drive the crap out of it to get the best.

DarthNoll > Moarloud 10/12/2013 at 07:37

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Because NASCAR.....sadly

DarthNoll > Nintondo-San 10/12/2013 at 07:39

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I can only imagine that Rush would've done better as well. I can only imagine that no one wanted to watch one of them thar yuropean racing kajigger movies.

Nintondo-San > DarthNoll 10/12/2013 at 09:16

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Exactly, and well quite frankly I'm sure the majority of people that have seen any previews for Rush just assume it's some rehashed NASCAR drama.

Nintondo-San > HugePanic 10/12/2013 at 09:20

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Though F1 can also be a bit overwrought with many of the pointless rules and regulations, NASCAR far surpasses it in terms of boredom, except when the accidents happen...

Honestly though it is so bad I usually keep that I am a motor sports fan to myself as literally 99% of people in the U.S just DON'T GET it. Not because they wouldn't like motorsports per-se, but just because the stereotype of their boredom (NASCAR) is so prominent, people can't even be bothered with them, even if you tell them that no, this racetrack is NOT an oval, has corners, and Ferraris and Porsches go around it!

You may be able to get through to some people, but still, the majority will just respond "wait.... Since when are Ferrari and PorSH in NASCAR??".

The only thing I'd properly accomplish is being yelled at and told I know nothing about cars because I can't pronounce PorschE correctly. :-)

Kong > DannyCatSteve 10/12/2013 at 10:07

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Axel-Ripper > HugePanic 10/12/2013 at 10:12

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Well its still more exciting than DTM.

DarthNoll > Nintondo-San 10/12/2013 at 14:50

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"Why isn't Tom Cruise in this Days of Thunder sequel?"

onerunjunior > Nintondo-San 10/12/2013 at 15:32

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I truly think that if NASCAR would go home, and these would come in their place, motorsports could make a comeback to the mainstream in the U.S.

Sadly, I disagree completely. There are far too many dumb, beer-swilling rednecks that are racing fans to actually appreciate V8 Supercars. They don't have 30 car pile ups, they don't have massive fistfights like a bunch of elementary schoolkids over the dumbest shit and they actually have cars that at least look like the real thing and that isn't tolerated. The average NASCAR fan wants to get shitfaced, yell about who sucks, and then see a 30 car pileup at least once in a race. Oh, I forgot. They have to pray to Jesus that everyone stays safe, and then go hoarse screaming at the drivers to wreck each other as much as possible and then thank Jesus instead of proper science and engineering for actually saving a driver.

jacknifetoaswan > HugePanic 10/12/2013 at 15:40

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Personally, I can't watch F1. I've tried, tried, and tried again, and I can't do it. It's a 200 MPH parade lap. That said, NASCAR is pretty boring, these days, too. There have been some great oval races in NASCAR's history, and I generally like stock car racing, but this product that NASCAR is putting out, these days, is trash. I really only watch the road course races, Bristol, and the Daytona 500, because, well, Daytona.

jacknifetoaswan > onerunjunior 10/12/2013 at 15:44

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Ugh. Your stereotyping of NASCAR fans is appalling. I bet you're the same type of person that thinks that everyone in the south has no teeth.

Go to a race, and see how people are. Until then, kindly go fuck yourself.

onerunjunior > jacknifetoaswan 10/12/2013 at 19:32

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I've been to about 40 NASCAR races in the last 20 years, and I've lived in the southeast my entire life. Sorry if I hurt your feelings, but stereotypes exist for a reason. By and large NASCAR fans drink beer, get shitfaced, cheer fights and love 30 car pileups. NASCAR is the WWE and I'm sorry you can't admit it. Racing like the ALMS and V8 Supercars don't interest 90% of them because they don't crash 25 at a time. But I'll kindly not go fuck myself, and you can continue to love an absolute joke of a racing series. NASCAR is garbage, sorry to break it to you.

Nintondo-San > onerunjunior 10/12/2013 at 21:27

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Read the sentence I have after that one; I agree with you...

Lindshrek > DannyCatSteve 10/13/2013 at 03:40

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Don't forget Rickard Rydell and Volvo, when he demolished the opposition in 1998!

ratonbox > ja9ae 10/13/2013 at 11:13

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I loved Tom Walkinshaw in that lap. Pure awesomeness. Every single time someone asks me to show him a lap of Mt. Panorama, that's the video I go to.

jacknifetoaswan > onerunjunior 10/15/2013 at 13:46

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Perhaps my experiences are different, but I've been to NASCAR races at Dover, Pocono, Richmond, and Charlotte, and while there is certainly a fringe minority of dipshit rednecks, most of the people are middle class, good people. I live in Charleston, SC, now, and my experiences are similar.

I'm also not a huge NASCAR fan, though I grew up going to many short tracks in New Jersey, loving the circle track racing where guys actually put everything they have on the line to do what they love. Further, I just spent all night, Saturday, watching the Bathurst 1000 live, something I've done for the past three years. I don't do nearly the same thing for any NASCAR races.