Bathurst 1000 2026: How to Watch, Schedule Details and Mount Panorama Weather Forecast
The Great Race is on Sunday, October 11, with 54 drivers in 27 cars. Here is where to watch, what the forecast says and what to know before lights out.
What the schedule looks like
Australia's most famous touring car race is almost here, and fans are searching for when things start. The Great Race is the finale of four days of action at Mount Panorama, with the 1,000km event on Sunday, October 11.
ABC Sport says it will run a live blog from lights out to the chequered flag, starting from 10am AEDT on Sunday. The ABC's guide lists session times for each state and territory, but the portion of it we could review does not include them, so check the official timetable for your location.
The Supercars.com analysis also points to a 40-minute qualifying session on Friday. The top 10 then head into the Shootout, the one-lap session that sets the front of the grid.
Weather forecast for Mount Panorama
The forecast looks kind for race day. Sunday is expected to be sunny, with a maximum of 26 degrees Celsius.
Saturday is a different story. The ABC reports a 90 per cent chance of rain, which it says could have a big effect on the starting grid. Rain also shaped last year's race, which ended in a wild finish. Matthew Payne and Garth Tanfer won it.
How to watch in Australia
The race is on free-to-air and pay television, and on streaming platforms.
- Free: The Seven Network is the free-to-air broadcaster, on Channel 7 and the 7plus streaming platform.
- Pay TV and streaming: Foxtel will show it on Fox Sports channel 506, and Kayo will stream it.
- Live blog: ABC Sport's text coverage runs through Sunday's race.
Who is racing
Along with the 24 cars from 12 teams that contest every round of the Supercars Championship, three wildcard entries join the field. They are Ben Gomersall and Campbell Logan in the No. 5 Ford, Craig Lowndes and Bayley Hall in the No. 15 Chevrolet, and Nathan Herne and James Moffat in the No. 34 Chevrolet.
Other pairings include Chaz Mostert and Fabian Coulthard in car 1, Broc Feeney and Nick Percat in car 88, and Will Brown and Scott Pye in car 888. Matthew Payne this year shares car 19 with Will Davidson.
Why qualifying matters
Supercars.com race engineer Scott Sinclair says getting into the Shootout is the first goal. Over the past 25 years, 84 per cent of race winners started in the top 10.
He adds that overtaking is hard at Bathurst, so track position is valuable. Over the same period, the winner had the fastest car on only 13 occasions.
What it means for you
If you are watching at home, you can follow the race on Seven, 7plus, Fox Sports 506 or Kayo, with the ABC live blog as a backup. Because session times differ by state, check your local timetable.
Saturday's wet forecast could shuffle the grid, so keep an eye on the weather before Sunday. If you are heading to the mountain, pack for both rain and sun.
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Quick answers
Where can I watch the Bathurst 1000 for free?
Channel 7 and the 7plus streaming platform are showing it free-to-air. The ABC will also run a free live blog.
Will it rain on race day?
The current forecast says Sunday will be sunny. The rain risk is on Saturday, which has a 90 per cent chance.
How many drivers are in the race?
There are 54 drivers across 27 cars. That includes three wildcard entries.
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