SBR Bob Jane T-Marts 1000 - facts and figures
8/10/2004 22:08 (Press Release) -
The following is a detailed lap of Mt Panorama to be used as the venue for the 10th round of the V8 Supercar Championship Series on October 7-10. Also find following thoughts, results and memorable moments relating to this venue from Pirtek Racing’s Marcos Ambrose and Greg Ritter and Caltex Racing’s Russell Ingall and Cameron McLean.
MT PANORAMA – A LAP WITH MARCOS AMBROSE
As you cross the start-finish line you take a deep breath and get ready for the next one.
You have to calm yourself down for the first corner (Hell Corner) because it is probably the easiest turn on the circuit.
It is down to second gear for the corner and it is important to get a nice clean exit as the car drifts out wide.
It’s then up Mountain Straight which is one of the most important sections of the track when it comes to horsepower.
You hit the rev-limiter in fifth gear just the other side of the rise, which is about three quarters of the way up the straight.
The braking zone is uphill, so it allows you to get on the pegs a touch later for the right hander into CAT Bend which is my favourite corner of the track.
The corner is quite quick and is taken at the top of third gear, its is very enjoyable if the car is working right – if you can get a good run out of here you can make up half a second.
You then charge up to the Cutting which involves a lot of concrete, cliff face and a big blind corner.
The marshal here is your best friend all weekend because you simply don’t know what to expect around the corner.
This is a section of the track you really need to creep up on over the weekend.
The exit of the Cutting is the start of a section of track which I really class as one single stretch of lefts and rights where you need to use all the track if you can.
You then get to McPhillamy which is a great corner with a big crest on it.
There is plenty of room on the outside if you go in too hot, but it can get quite exciting if you miss the entry to Skyline.
You really have to commit here and your car has to be right, if you are thinking too much here then you are going to be in all sorts of trouble – it needs to come naturally.
A nice exit will get you across Skyline cleanly and into what I call the “downhill” section of the track.
This is as much about staying off the brake as it is about staying on the accelerator.
If you go in too hot you could crash two or three corners later because you just can’t keep up with the car through the Coates Hire Esses.
You then get to the Victoria Bitter Dipper which is a good bit of fun.
It is not as dramatic as it looks on TV with a couple of wheels off the ground, it is actually a pretty smooth part of the track.
You are basically going as hard as you can from the Dipper through to Forrest Elbow.
This corner can suck you in and so many guys carry too much speed into here and get caught out.
I am very cautious on the exit because I have seen the video footage of Dick Johnson’s crash through the trees here too many times.
There is a concrete wall there now, but you still get a little tingle when you think about Dick’s crash there in the old Green Falcon.
It is important to be slow into Forrest Elbow and fast out so you can get on the power as quickly as possible down Conrod Straight.
You hit top gear and about 300km just as you start to drift the car to the left of the track for the shute into Caltex Chase.
This is the fastest part of any race track in the country and can be a bit scary.
Once you are into the Chase you are virtually pushing the brake pedal through the floor.
You creep off the brakes and hopefully the car is straight for the left hander.
If you lock the brakes here you will spear off through the corner and usually into the sand trap.
It is third gear for the right-hand exit, which can be very slippery on older tyres.
Then there is a short run down to Big Pond corner, where again the car drifts to the outside and across the start-finish line for another run down Bob Jane T-Marts Pit Straight.
It is a very long lap and if you get any part of it wrong it is very hard to make up for lost time.
There are so many variables on each lap with traffic, tyres and luck all playing a part.
Mt Panorama is also one of those places where if you make a mistake it is going to cost you, not only time, but some part of your car.
I can tell you one thing – a good lap here feels fantastic and is very rewarding.
Qualifying is all about getting it right for one single lap – winning at Bathurst is about keeping it altogether for 161 laps and that’s why winning the race would mean so much.
THOUGHTS ON MT PANORAMA, BATHURST…..
MARCOS AMBROSE – PIRTEK RACING
“Bathurst rates up there with the best events in the world. The circuit is unique in that it is as still as raw and challenging as it ever was. The very high-speed cornering sadly doesn’t exist on too many tracks now days. It really is a place that sorts the men from the boys. Any track where you’re your steering binds up in the middle of a corner requires plenty of bravery. This is the one race every Australian kid dreams of winning.
MOST MEMOR ABLE MOMENT
“Definitely taking pole position in my first year there in 2001. That was a very special lap and one I could probably never do again, ever. You earn a front row start at this place.
CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS (After Round 9, 2004)
Current Points: 1487 (1st)
Debut: 2001
Starts: 48
Poles: 15 – Queensland 300, Eastern Creek (2004); Sandown, Oran Park, Queensland Raceway, Winton, Eastern Creek (2003); Phillip Island, Oran Park, Winton, Qld 500, Sandown (2002); Eastern Creek, Qld 500, Bathurst (2001)
Race wins: 16 (Last win – Betta Electrical Sandown 500, Round 9, 2004)
Round wins: 12 – Sandown 500, Oran Park, Queensland 300, Adelaide Clipsal 500 (2004); Eastern Creek, Oran Park, Hidden Valley, Barbagallo, Winton, Eastern Creek (2003), Sandown (2002); Hidden Valley (2001)
THOUGHTS ON MT PANORAMA, BATHURST…..
RUSSELL INGALL – CALTEX RACING
“When you think of legendary races, you automatically think of Bathurst. Some of the antics that go on off the circuit are almost as amazing as the ones on it. It is quite an amazing circuit with its length and average speed. It is certainly one of the most challenging circuits in the world. It also has the potential for some of the biggest shunts if you get it wrong. I have won the thing twice and been very close a couple of other times. It is certainly on the “I want” list for any driver. When you look at how many guys have been trying for so long without winning it, it makes you feel privileged to be someone who has.”
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT
“In 2001 while in the lead with only one stint to go, watching the car come down pit lane and seeing it appear looking like it has run into cow. Unfortunately, Larry had hit the tyre wall only a few metres from the pit lane entrance. It was another one which had gotten away and caused me nightmares for another 12 months.”
CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS (After Round 9, 2004)
Current Points: 1347 (5th)
Debut: 1996
Starts: 104
Poles: 1 Winton (2001)
Race wins: 24 (Last Win – Race 1, Hidden Valley, Darwin, 2004)
Round wins: 10 – Surfers Paradise (2003) Queensland Raceway (2003), Winton (2001); Qld 500 (1999); Lakeside, Mallala, Hidden Valley (1998); Phillip Island, Winton (1997); Calder (1996)
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