MUSTANG BATHURST 1000 WILDCARD OFFICIALLY OFF

The 2021 Mount Panorama 500

MICHAEL Anderson’s 2022 Repco Bathurst 1000 dream is dead; Supercars confirming a 28-car field without him for next month’s event.

Bathurst local Anderson purchased the spare Shell V-Power Racing Team Ford Mustang in a bid to compete at the October 6-9 Mount Panorama event.

His wildcard effort was granted conditional approval by Supercars on the basis of several promises being met, including a high-profile co-driver.

MORE: The 2022 Repco Bathurst 1000 entry list

The plan derailed altogether once Motorsport Australia withdrew his Superlicence after it discovered Anderson had provided “incorrect information about his racing history” in his application.

Fabian Coulthard’s former Mustang was purchased by Anderson for the Bathurst wildcard. Pic: an1images.com / Dirk Klynsmith.

Little has been said publicly since, although Anderson privately remained adamant the wildcard would proceed with him as one of its two drivers.

Supercars has now put that to bed.

“Supercars can confirm that this year’s Repco Bathurst 1000 official entry list will contain 28 Supercars,” read a statement.

“Twenty-five of which will be Championship entries and three approved wildcards; Matt Chahda Motorsport, Triple Eight Race Engineering and Erebus Motorsport.”

Just one co-drive is unaccounted for: the #4 Brad Jones Racing entry led by Jack Smith.

Connor O’Brien joined V8 Sleuth in 2022 as website Editor. He won the Supercars Media Award in 2017 while working as a sports reporter at the Gold Coast Bulletin, before stints at Supercars and Speedcafe. During his time at V8 Sleuth he's twice (2022, 2023) been named Journalist of the Year at the Supercars Media Awards.