Three drivers, 26 points, one championship: Porsche Carrera Cup Australia’s 10th journey to Mount Panorama and the penultimate round of the season will play a crucial role in its tightest title race in history.
Leading Carrera Cup trio Warren Luff, Steven Richards and Craig Baird will line up at the spiritual home of Australian motorsport separated by only 26 points entering the opening race.
With no previous Carrera Cup Australia championship so tight across the top three competitors with two rounds remaining, Mount Panorama is set to become the perfect stage for an intense title fight.
Both Luff and Baird enjoyed Carrera Cup race wins at last year’s Bathurst event, with the former claiming the round victory. Richards didn’t win a race in the 2013 Porsche round, though the Victorian was still able to taste champagne at the end of the weekend – standing alongside Mark Winterbottom on the top step of the V8 Supercars podium following victory in the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 race.
The leading trio will again assume double duties at Bathurst – racing in both Carrera Cup and V8 Supercars – as will returning Carrera Cup driver David Russell who replaces Roger Lago for the round.
Russell will line up for his 80th Carrera Cup Australia start in Race 1 and hopes to add to his two race wins and five round podiums from previous championships.
“There’s going to be strong competition at Bathurst, as there always is in Carrera Cup,” said Russell, who partnered Lago in May’s Pro-Am event at Phillip Island.
“I’m under no illusion that it’s going to be a walk in the park; it’s going to be a tough weekend. Everyone wants to do well at Bathurst. I’m well aware that people are fighting for championships, though I also want to get the best result possible.”
The race for the Elite Class continues also. Stephen Grove holds a commanding 75 point lead in the class standings, though second-placed James Bergmuller is motivated to close the gap following a horror weekend at Mount Panorama last season.
“I’m very excited but at the same time, given I only did one lap last year, I’m a bit concerned about the lack of racing miles I’ve done at Mount Panorama. Bathurst hosts an awesome event though and it’s definitely the best track that we drive on,” said Bergmuller.
“I’m a few points behind Grove at the moment in the Elite Class so if I have a chance to win I’ve got to beat him in the last two rounds. Therefore I need to go for round wins at Bathurst and the Gold Coast.”
Porsche Carrera Cup Australia will hold three 10-lap races across the Bathurst event, with every Porsche race to be broadcast live on Seven in what is one of the most watched sporting events in the country.
Race Schedule
Thursday October 09, 2014
9:15am Practice 1 20 minutes
4:10pm Practice 2 20 minutes
Friday October 10, 2014
9:00am Qualifying 20 minutes
2:25pm Race 1 10 laps
Saturday October 11, 2014
3:25pm Race 2 10 laps
Sunday October 12, 2014
8:50am Race 3 10 laps
Broadcast Schedule
Race 1 (live)
Date: Friday October 10, 2014
Time: 2:25pm
Channel: Seven
Race 2 (live)
Date: Saturday October 11, 2014
Time: 3:25pm
Channel: Seven
Race 3 (live)
Date: Sunday October 12, 2014
Time: 8:50am
Channel: Seven