We’re less than a day away from the 2022 edition of the Repco Bathurst 1000 which will see a field of 56 drivers take to the 6.2km long Mount Panorama Circuit for 161 laps of racing.
Included in that driver lineup will be eight competitors flying the New Zealand flag ranging from current Supercars drivers to wildcard entries.
Shane van Gisbergen – Triple Eight Race Engineering #97
Starting off with the man who needs no introduction, van Gisbergen will be behind the wheel of his trusty #97 Holden ZB Commodore alongside co-driver Garth Tander for this year’s Great Race.
The current championship points leader will be looking to clinch the title if he puts 75 points on Cam Waters on Sunday. Van Gisbergen can secure the title with a race win if Waters finishes fifth or lower.
He also most recently picked up a podium finish during his WRC debut right here in New Zealand.
Andre Heimgartner – Brad Jones Racing #8
Kiwi Andre Heimgartner will be competing alongside Australian driver Dale Wood this weekend, looking to build upon his recent second and third place finishes at the ITM Auckland SuperSprint.
Jaxon Evans – Brad Jones Racing #4
Jaxon Evans, who currently races in the FIA World Endurance Championship will be making his first appearance at a Bathurst 1000 event and will co-drive the #4 Holden ZB Commodore with Australian Jack Smith.
Fabian Coulthard – Walkinshaw Andretti United #25
Another driver Supercars fans will be familiar with is Fabian Coulthard who will make his 19th entry in a Bathurst race this weekend. He will be looking to bank another podium to go alongside his third place result he scored in 2017.
The Kiwi share driving duties with Chaz Mostert in their #25 Holden ZB Commodore.
Greg Murphy & Richie Stanaway – Erebus Motorsport #51
The all Kiwi pairing of Greg Murphy and Richie Stanaway will likely be a New Zealand fan favourite considering the two haven’t been seen on the Supercars circuit for a number of years.
This is particularly true for Murphy considering the last time he stepped foot in a Supercar competitively was at the 2014 Gold Coast 600 while Stanaway last raced at Newcastle in 2019.
Following Erebus Motorsport driver Will Brown’s 56g crash at Pukekohe, the Kiwi duo nearly had their wildcard entry dashed if Brown’s car required their chassis. Fortunately, the team repaired the Australian’s car in time for Bathurst.
Murphy and Stanaway will get behind the wheel of the #51 Holden ZB Commodore.
Matthew Payne – Grove Racing #10
Another Bathurst 1000 first timer is Matthew Payne who currently competes for Grove Racing in Super2.
Last week, it was also announced that the Aucklander would become a full time Supercars driver for Grove Racing alongside David Reynolds in the 2023 season.
For Bathurst however, he will be driving the #10 Ford Mustang GT with Lee Holdsworth.
Chris Pither – PremiAir Racing #22
Chris Pither will be competing in his usual #22 Holden ZB Commodore which has been dressed up in a special livery that honours that of Wayne Gardner and Neil Crompton’s 1995 scheme.
The Kiwi will take to the mountain with Cameron Hill as his co-driver this weekend.
Bathurst 1000 will get underway with Practice 1 on Thursday, October 6 and run until Sunday, October 9 with the race getting underway at 1:15PM.
