WHO holds the lap record at Bathurst? And will a new Bathurst lap record be set at the Mount Panorama Circuit this year?
They are popular questions each year when the Repco Bathurst 1000 rolls around.
While the latter is very much a case of watch this space over the course of the event and will be heavily impacted by weather, we can help you with the first part of the equation.
Here’s a rundown of the records you need to know ahead of the six-day extravaganza.
Supercars
Qualifying – 2:03.5592
Cam Waters, Ford Mustang GT, 2020
Race – 2:04.7602
Chaz Mostert, Ford Mustang GT, 2019
Although lap records can traditionally only be set in races, Supercars has also recognised a qualifying lap record at each circuit in the modern era.
At Bathurst that currently belongs to Cam Waters, who clocked 2:03.5592s in the Top 10 Shootout to score pole position for the 2020 Great Race.
The Supercars Bathurst race lap record was recorded by another Tickford Mustang back in 2019.
Chaz Mostert charged around the Mountain in 2:04.7602s while running a lap down late in the race after an earlier clash with teammate Waters.
While these are the qualifying and race lap records, Scott McLaughlin actually holds the fastest official Supercars lap time at Mount Panorama.
He set a 2:03.4813s lap aboard the #17 DJR Team Penske Mustang in Practice 5 on Saturday of the 2019 event.
McLaughlin went even quicker in the Top 10 Shootout (2m03.3783s), but that marker was later scrubbed from the history books due to an engine infringement.
Explained: How McLaughlin still has the fastest Bathurst Supercars lap
Support categories
Each of the below represents the current race lap record for the respective classes that are in action this week, listed in order of fastest to slowest.
Australian GT
2:01.5670, Shane van Gisbergen, McLaren 650S GT3, 2016
Carrera Cup
2:06.2285, Jaxon Evans, Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 2018
Super2
2:06.7352, Paul Dumbrell, Holden Commodore VEII, 2015
Trans Am
2:10.5053, Aaron Seton, Ford Mustang, 2021
Super3
2:11.8797, Jon McCorkindale, Ford Falcon FG, 2021
TCR
2:14.8162, Chaz Mostert, Audi RS 3, 2021
Touring Car Masters
2:16.4840, Steven Johnson, Ford Mustang, 2019
Toyota 86 Series
2:37.4873, Luke van Herwaarde, Toyota 86, 2019
SuperUtes
2:43.4058, Tom Alexander, Isuzu D-MAX, 2019
Note: This year the SuperUtes return with V8 engines replacing the previous turbo-diesel units, meaning they should be significantly faster.
S5000
This category makes its debut this year and a key talking point will be just how fast the V8-powered open-wheelers can go. Early estimates suggest they’ll be quicker than the Supercars…
Outright
So what about the outright lap record?
That stands at 1:59.2910, set in the 2018 Challenge Bathurst sprint event by German Chris Mies aboard a GT3-specification Audi R8 Ultra.
Mies will be racing at Bathurst this year, driving Audis in the TCR and Australian GT races.
Jenson Button recorded a 1:48.88s lap aboard a McLaren MP4-23 Formula 1 car during a demonstration run in 2011, but that is not classed as an official record.
