Bathurst 1000: Drivers to watch – and the Kiwi with the best chance

2:36pm
The 2024 Bathurst 1000.

On Sunday, the familiar sounds of roaring engines will echo across the hills surrounding the famous Mount Panorama circuit when the green flag waves for this year's Bathurst 1000.

The dozens of drivers and co-drivers will be looking to etch their names in history as winners of the great race.

So who are the drivers to watch out for?

Brodie Kostecki and Todd Hazelwood (No. 38 Dick Johnson racing)

Brodie Kostecki and Todd Hazelwood win the 2024 Repco Bathurst 1000

Bathurst best: Kostecki – 1st (2024); Hazelwood – 1st (2024)

Can last year's Bathurst 1000 winners go back-to-back with a new team and car?

Their maiden The Bend 500 win last month would suggest the Dick Johnson Racing duo are capable.

Kostecki will take some beating at Mount Panorama, the track where he is most comfortable regardless of the car.

Kostecki has also claimed Bathurst 1000 pole position since 2023.

Shane van Gisbergen was the last driver to secure consecutive victories, the Kiwi winning in 2022 with Garth Tander and then again in 2023 with compatriot Richie Stanaway.

Broc Feeny and Jamie Whincup (No.88 Red Bull Ampol)

Jamie Whincup driver of the #88 Red Bull Ampol Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and Broc Feeney driver of the #88 Red Bull Ampol Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 celebrate after winning the Penrite Oil Sandown 500 in 2023.

Bathurst best: Feeney – 2nd (2024); Whincup – 1st (2006, '07, '08, '12)

Feeney leads the championship after an outstanding performance in the Sprint Cup and was primed to take out The Bend 500 with Whincup before a re-fuelling issue derailed his campaign.

The 22-year-old seems to have some bad luck when it comes to endurance races and is already familiar with experiencing heartache at Mount Panorama.

Still, Feeney's qualifying pace is lethal, and he poses a real threat to Kostecki.

Should he claim his first Bathurst 1000 win, he'll deliver Whincup his first win since 2012.

The pair finished second last year.

Cam Waters and Mark Winterbottom (No.6 Monster Energy)

Cam Waters and Mark Winterbottom

Bathurst best: Waters – 2nd (2020, '21); Winterbottom – 1st (2013)

Maybe the return of Tickford's favourite son Mark Winterbottom is just what Cam Waters needs to end his "Bathurst 1000 bridesmaid" era.

Winterbottom, now retired from full-time driving, looked like he never left when helping Waters to a second-place finish at The Bend 500.

Waters kicked off his bid for a maiden championship in stunning fashion by claiming the first three races but has since struggled to return to the top of the podium.

He fell short of a Bathurst 1000 top-three finish last year, finishing fourth with co-driver James Moffat.

Matt Payne and Garth Tander (No.19 Penrite Racing)

Matt Payne and Garth Tander

Bathurst best: Payne – 6th (2022); Tander – 1st (2000, '09, '11, '20, '22)

There's no reason why Matt Payne can't win this year's Bathurst 1000, especially when his co-driver is Garth Tander.

The two finished third at The Bend 500 with minimal fuss. Payne is second in the championship and will be out to cause trouble for Feeney.

With just 158 points separating him and Feeney, the New Zealander can finish at the top of the order if he prevails at Mount Panorama.

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