THE DRIVER PAIRINGS TO WATCH OUT FOR AT THIS YEAR'S BATHURST 1000 SUPERCARS RACE:-
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WILL DAVISON-ALEX DAVISON (FORD)
Bathurst best: Will Davison - 1st (2009, '16); Alex Davison - 4th (2014)
Davison brothers Will and Alex will spearhead Dick Johnson Racing's 1000th race in the Australian Touring Car Championship/Supercars series at Bathurst this weekend. Placed third on the Supercars ladder, Will is hunting for his third Bathurst title and Alex, a first-ever podium at the great race. DJR racing made their debut in 1981 and won both the Bathurst and Supercars title in their maiden year.
SHANE VAN GISBERGEN-GARTH TANDER (HOLDEN)
Bathurst best: Van Gisbergen - 1st (2020); Tander - 1st (2000, '09, '11, 20')
Reigning Supercars champion and series leader Shane van Gisbergen will again pair with Garth Tander in pursuit of a second Bathurst title, and a fifth for the veteran and broadcaster. Van Gisbergen is almost a lock for back-to-back series titles as he boasts a 525 point lead over Cam Waters with four rounds remaining. A win at Bathurst will cap off a ruthless year from the New Zealander after winning 18 races so far in 2022.
BROC FEENEY-JAMIE WHINCUP (HOLDEN)
Bathurst best: Feeney - 10th (2020); Whincup -1st (2006, '07, '08, '12)
What better way to cap off your first full season in the Supercars championship than partnering with team principal and seven-time championship winner, Jamie Whincup. Almost a year after winning the Dunlop Super2 Series, Broc Feeney sits sixth on the Supercars ladder with two podiums to his name in 2022. This will be Feeney's third Bathurst 1000 and Whincup's 20th, the Triple Eight team principal's last win coming in 2012.
CHAZ MOSTERT-FABIAN COULTHARD (HOLDEN)
Bathurst best: Mostert - 1st (2014, 21'); Coulthard 3rd (2017)
Chaz Mostert has enjoyed mixed results since winning last year's installment of the Bathurst 1000. Three wins and nine podiums has the Walkinshaw Andretti United driver fifth on the leaderboard, but don't count out the 30-year-old from bringing the fireworks in Sunday's race. Mostert won from pole in 2021 and registered the fastest lap of the race. This year he partners with Fabian Coulthard in pursuit of back-to-back crowns.
CRAIG LOWNDES-DECLAN FRASER (HOLDEN)
Bathurst best: Lowndes 1st (1996, 06', 07', 08', 10', 15', 18'); Fraser
Seven-time champion Craig Lowndes is one of three wildcard entries this year, heading a Triple Eight wildcard alongside Declan Fraser in Lowndes' 29th consecutive start at Bathurst. Lowndes' resume speaks for itself - seven Bathurst wins, 14 podium finishes (record) and tied most wins in succession (2006-2008). If the Supercars legend can win this year's race he will be one behind Australian racing legend Peter Brock's record of nine Bathurst wins.
CAM WATERS-JAMES MOFFAT (FORD)
Bathurst best: Waters - 2nd (2020, 21'); Moffat 2nd (2014, 21')
Tickford Racing's Cam Waters and James Moffat are back to go one further in 2022 after a second-place finish one year ago. Waters is staring down the barrel of unwanted history if he finishes runner up on Sunday, as he will be the first driver ever to three-peat on the second rung of the podium ever. Waters has three wins in 2022 along with 10 podiums. Having an air of familiarity with his co-driver, keep a keen on eye on this duo in Sunday's race.
LEE HOLDSWORTH-MATT PAYNE (Ford)
Bathurst best: Holdsworth - 1st (2021); Payne (Debut)
Lee Holdsworth described his 2021 Bathurst win alongside Chaz Mostert as the pinnacle of his two-decade career. The 39-year-old announced his retirement from the sport in August and will look to bow out in style alongside Matt Payne. Holdsworth is now one of 11 drivers in Supercars history to reach 500 races and has four wins and 19 podiums across his career. For Payne, Sunday's race will be his first great race.
MARK WINTERBOTTOM-MICHAEL CARUSO (HOLDEN)
Bathurst best: Winterbottom - 1st (2013); Caruso - 3rd (2009)
You need to cast your eyes back to 2015 when Mark 'Frosty' Winterbottom last secured a podium at Bathurst with a second-place finish. Two years earlier he won the Bathurst title for Ford Performance Racing. This year, he partners with Michael Caruso who last took to the circuit in 2020. But 41-year-old Winterbottom enters Sunday's race boosted by a two-year Team 18 contract extension, continuing in the Supercars competition till 2024.
DAVID REYNOLDS-MATT CAMPBELL (FORD)
Bathurst best: 1st (2017); Campbell fifth (2017)
Penrite's David Reynolds has improved enormously on his 18th ladder finish last year, currently seventh in the Supercars championship. His consistent early season has dwindled of late, but Reynolds' veteran experience will be invaluable for co-driver Matt Campbell this week.
ANDRE HEIMGARTNER-DALE WOOD (HOLDEN)
Bathurst best: Heimgartner - 9th (2017);Wood - 4th (2017)
New Zealander Andre Heimgartner is another driver consistently hovering around the top pack in 2022 with two podiums and 12 top 10 finishes this season. He teams up with veteran Dale Wood ahead of Sunday's race with his best finish fourth in 2017.
Australian Associated Press
