With New Zealand drivers up and down pit lane for this year’s Bathurst 1000, there’s a good chance of at least one of them standing on the podium on Sunday. David Long runs his eye over the nine Kiwi drivers.
Shane van Gisbergen
Car: Holden, Red Bull Racing Australia
Number: 97
Partner: Alex Premat
Age: 27
Bathurst Best: 6th in 2011.
Van Gisbergen has twice won the Bathurst 12 Hour race, but success has eluded him in this category. He came desperately close to winning two years ago, but stalled the car in his final pitstop. He is leading the Supercars championship this year and is regarded as one of the strong favourites to win the Bathurst 1000.
Credit: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images
Steven Richards
Car: Holden, Team Vortex
Number: 888
Partner: Craig Lowndes
Age: 44
Bathurst Best: Winner in 1998, 1999, 2013 and 2015.
Son of New Zealand legend Jim, Steven regards himself as a Kiwi even though he’s spent nearly all of his life in Australia. A four-time winner of the Great Race, Richards is a solid and dependable co-driver who’s unlikely to let Craig Lowndes down.
Credit: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images
Chris Pither
Car: Ford, Super Black Racing
Number: 111
Partner: Richie Stanaway
Age: 29
Bathurst Best: 13th in 2013.
Pither has found it tough going in his first season in the main game, although a pole position at Queensland Raceway in July. His car is prepared by Prodrive Racing Australia, so it should be quick and if the team’s strategy works out, the 111 car could finish among the front runner.
Credit: Sunday Star Times
Richie Stanaway
Car: Ford, Super Black Racing
Number: 111
Partner: Chris Pither
Age: 24
Bathurst Best: First appearance.
The former GP2 driver had the drive of the day in Sandown three weeks ago and didn’t do his hopes of getting a main game drive next year any harm. Stanaway showed that he can handle the car well and isn’t afraid to take on Supercars’ big name drivers.
Credit: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images
Scott McLaughlin
Car: Volvo, Wilson Security Racing GRM
Number: 111
Partner: David Wall
Age: 23
Bathurst Best: Fifth in 2015.
This will be McLaughlin’s final Bathurst 1000 in a Volvo and after being in contention the last two years, a victory would be the perfect way to bow out before moving on to DJR Team Penske in 2017. There’s no doubt McLaughlin will be quick, but there are question marks over whether his co-driver will be able to stay out of trouble.
Credit: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images
Fabian Coulthard
Car: Ford, DJR Team Penske
Number: 12
Partner: Luke Youlden
Age: 34
Bathurst Best: 4th in 2015
Coulthard’s most memorable moment remains that spectacular crash had in 2010 when all that was left of his car was the frame. He hasn’t had an overly successful year since switching teams, but there have been signs recently that the car is getting quicker.
Credit: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images
Andre Heimgartner
Car: Holden, Abro/Repair Management Australia
Number: 3
Partner: Aaren Russell
Age: 21
Bathurst Best: 11th in 2014
The young driver has this season been finding out what it’s like to be in a team that doesn’t have much of a budget and he hasn’t been able to get a top 10 finish in any race this year. Chances of a Bathurst win are unlikely, but in a race that goes for around six hours, anything can happen.
Credit: Southland Times
Craig Baird
Car: Holden, Erebus Motorsport Penrite
Number: 9
Partner: David Reynolds
Age: 46
Bathurst Best: 4th in 1997.
The veteran Kiwi driver shows no signs of slowing down, despite it being 20 years since his first Bathurst 1000. For the last few years he’s been driving in GT categories, both locally and internationally. In a team that’s still finding its feet, Baird’s experience should be invaluable.
Chris van der Drift
Car: Holden, Erebus Motorsport Penrite
Number: 4
Partner: Shae Davies
Age: 30
Bathurst Best: First appearance.
Last year van de Drift won the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia championship, but has spent most of his racing career driving in Europe. Van der drift was introduced to the Erebus team by Greg Murphy, who believed van der Drift was up to the rigours of this gruelling race.
