MEET THE NEW ZEALAND CONTENDERS
There are seven Kiwis at this year’s Bathurst 1000, if you count New Zealand-born, Australian raised Steven Richards. Here’s everything you need to know about them:
SCOTT McLAUGHLIN Team: DJR Team Penske Partner: Alex Premat Born: June 10, 1993 Race starts: 221 Race wins: 42 Best Bathurst 1000 result: 3rd (2018) The reigning Supercars champion has been so dominant this season the title is all but his with four more rounds to go. However, winning Bathurst means as much to McLaughlin as claiming a second Supercars title. He has the pace and a good co-drive BUT so much can happen during the six-hour race.
FABIAN COULTHARD Team: DJR Team Penske Partner: Tony D’Albert Born: July 28, 1992 Race starts: 406 Race wins: 12 Best Bathurst 1000 result: 3rd (2017) Coulthard has spent this season living in McLaughlin’s shadow. He has seemed more relaxed than usual during the week at Bathurst and is a dark horse, especially if the race strategy goes his way.
SHANE VAN GISBERGEN Team: Triple Eight Race Engineering Partner: Garth Tander Born: May 9, 1989 Race starts: 384 Race wins: 34 Best Bathurst 1000 result: 2nd (2016) Van Gisbergen has had some disappointments over the years at Bathurst when he looked on target for a victory. In Garth Tander as his co-driver, he has someone who could give him a distinct advantage.
RICHIE STANAWAY Team: Garry Rogers Motorsport Partner: Chris Pither Born: November 24, 1991 Race starts: 56 Race wins: 1 Best Bathurst 1000 result: 12th (2016) Stanaway has shown what he’s capable of this season, with his car struggling for speed early in the season, then being forced to miss seven races because of a neck injury. But at Pukekohe last month he had two top 10 finishes. So the signs are looking good.
CHRIS PITHER Team: Garry Rogers Motorsport Partner: Richie Stanaway Born: December 3, 1986 Race starts: 69 Race wins: 0 Best Bathurst 1000 result: 4th (2017) Pither won the Super2 championship last year, so knows how to extract pace out of a Supercar. He is an under-rated and consistent driver and unlikely to make any of the mistakes other co-drivers do.
ANDRE HEIMGARTNER Team: Kelly Racing Partner: Bryce Fullwood Born: June 8, 1995 Race starts: 118 Race wins: 0 Best Bathurst result: 9th (2017) Heimgartner has done his time in uncompetitive cars and deserves a shot in a fast car. He has consistently been the quickest of the four Team Kelly drivers this season.
STEVEN RICHARDS Team: Irwin Racing Partner: Mark Winterbottom Born: July 11, 1972 Race starts: 451 Race wins: 10 Best Bathurst 1000 result: 1st (1998, 1999, 2013, 2015, 2018) He’s the son of a Kiwi motorsport legend and was born in Auckland, but has spent nearly all of his life in Australia. He’s teamed up with another experienced driver in Mark Winterbottom for this year’s race, but it’s hard to see him claiming his sixth title this time.