Mighty on the mountain

MATTHEW HANSEN PREVIEWS THIS WEEKEND’S BATHURST 1000

The driver line- up at Bathurst spans the full spectrum. Mark Winterbottom even conceding that he “may as well peel off” the # 1 from his car. Chaz Mostert has also battled; his Supercheap Falcon one of the fastest over the one- lap dash but to date not a race winner.

Both will be fast, with quick hands in Dean Canto and Steve Owen riding shotgun, but all were outclassed at the Sandown 500.

The team's third entry of Cameron Waters and Jack Le Brocq could run in the top 10, but the most interesting car in the Prodrive camp could be the all- Kiwi Super Black Racing Chris Pither/ Richie Stanaway entry. Pither has been a leading co- driver at the mountain over the last few years, while Stanaway's name is on everyone's lips after a stellar debut at Sandown.

Dark horse perhaps? Potentially. James Courtney and Jack Perkins will be as solid as ever, however it's Garth Tander and Warren Luff who are most likely to threaten the top step.

The pair comes off a defiant Sandown win, where it won on pace, strategy, and a dash of luck. Tander has struggled for most of 2016, but appears reborn in his new car. Genuine chance. Scott McLaughlin and David Wall will be quick — Wall having shone as one of the best co- drivers at Sandown.

Brad Jones Racing will play every strategic ace it can, but expect only Tim Slade and Ash Walsh's Freightliner Commodore to rise to the front.

Nissan Motorsport will be faster than it’s ever been at Bathurst with its five- strong squad, but it's hard to say whether that will be enough.

The same goes for DJR Team Penske, though its two lead drivers are among the hungriest on the grid. Of course, we can't forget about them.

Write off Craig Lowndes and Steven Richards at your peril.