View source for Mount Panorama Circuit

{{Short description|Motor racing circuit in New South Wales}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox motorsport venue
| Name           = Mount Panorama
| Nicknames      = The Mountain
| Location       = [[Bathurst, New South Wales]], [[Australia]]
| Coordinates    = {{Coord|33|26|51|S|149|33|23|E|type:landmark_region:AU-NSW_dim:2000|display=it}}
| Opened         = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1938|03|17}}
| FIA_grade      = 3
| Time           = [[UTC+10:00]]
| Image          = [[File:Mount Panorama Circuit Map Overview.PNG|200px]]
| Events         = '''Current:'''<br />'''[[Supercars Championship|Supercars]]'''<br />''[[Bathurst 1000]]'' (1963–present)<br />''[[Mount Panorama 500|Bathurst 500]]'' (1966, 1969–1970, 1972, 1995–1996, 2021, 2024)<br />'''[[Intercontinental GT Challenge]]'''<br />''[[Bathurst 12 Hour]]'' (1991–1994, 2007–2020, 2022–present)<br />'''Former:'''<br />[[TCR World Tour]] (2023)<br />[[Australian Grand Prix]] (1938, 1947, 1952, 1958)<br />[[Australian motorcycle Grand Prix]] (1940, 1946, 1952, 1966–1968, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988)<br />[[Bathurst 24 Hour]] (2002–2003)<br />[[Australian Drivers' Championship]] ''Bathurst 100'' (1940–1969)<br />[[Australian Tourist Trophy]] (1958, 1961)
| Layout1        = Current Circuit (1987–present)
| Length_km      = 6.213
| Length_mi      = 3.861
| Turns          = 23
| Record_time    = 1:59.2910<!--Official lap record is for race lap only - no qualifying or testing laps, Jenson Button's McLaren lap time was not 'officially' recorded. -->
| Record_driver  = {{flagicon|DEU}} [[Christopher Mies]]
| Record_car     = [[Audi R8 (Type 4S)#R8 LMS (GT3)|Audi R8 LMS]]
| Record_year    = 2018
| Record_class   = [[Group GT3|GT3 (unrestricted)]]
| Layout2        = Original Circuit (1938–1986)
| Length_km2     = 6.172
| Length_mi2     = 3.835
| Turns2         = 20
| Record_time2   = 2:09.7
| Record_driver2 = {{flagicon|AUS}} Niel Allen
| Record_car2    = [[McLaren M10|McLaren M10B]]
| Record_year2   = 1970
| Record_class2  = [[Formula 5000|F5000]]
}}

'''Mount Panorama Circuit''', officially '''Mount Panorama/Wahluu''' via [[Dual_naming#Australia|dual naming]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nsw.gov.au/visiting-and-exploring-nsw/locations-and-attractions/mount-panorama/wahluu|title=Mount Panorama/Wahluu|publisher=[[Government of New South Wales]]|accessdate=5 September 2024}}</ref> is a [[motor racing]] track located in [[Bathurst, New South Wales|Bathurst]], [[New South Wales]], [[Australia]]. It is situated on [[Mount Panorama, New South Wales|Mount Panorama]] and is best known as the home of the [[Bathurst 1000]] motor race held each October, and the [[Bathurst 12 Hour]] event held each February. The track is a {{convert|6.213|km|mi|abbr=on}} long [[street circuit]], which is used as a [[Road transport in Australia|public road]] when no racing events are being run, with many residences which can only be accessed from the circuit.

The track has an unusual design by modern standards, with a {{convert|174|m|ft|abbr=on}} vertical difference between its highest and lowest points, and grades as steep as 1:6.13. From the start-finish line, the track can be viewed in three sections; the short pit straight and then a tight left turn into the long, steep Mountain straight; the tight, narrow section across the top of the mountain itself; and then the long, downhill section of Conrod Straight, with the very fast Chase and the turn back onto the pit straight to complete the lap.

Historically, the racetrack has been used for a wide variety of racing categories, including everything from open-wheel racers to motorcycles.  With tighter safety regulations and less tolerance of risk, motorcycle racing is no longer conducted at the circuit, and open-wheel racing events did not occur for many years until a Formula 3 event was added as a support race for the [[Bathurst 12 Hour]] in 2012. It is registered as a Grade 3 racing circuit by the [[FIA]].<ref name="2023_October_list">{{cite web |title=LIST OF FIA LICENSED CIRCUITS |url=https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/circuits_fia20231022.pdf |work=[[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile|FIA]] |date=22 October 2023 |access-date=18 February 2024 }}</ref> Grade 3 racing circuits are permitted to hold FIA-sanctioned events with cars with a weight/power ratio of 2–3&nbsp;kg/hp,<ref name="fiagraderules">{{cite web |title=FIA track grades: Requirements to hold an F1 race, potential tracks |url=https://au.motorsport.com/f1/news/fia-track-grades-requirements-f1-potential/6508332/ |website=motorsport.com |date=14 May 2021 |access-date=25 December 2021}}</ref> which includes all current Australian domestic racing categories except S5000 (which were consequently modified to reduce maximum power for the event held there).

As a public road, on non-race days and when it is not closed off during the day as part of a racing event, Mount Panorama is open to the public. Cars can drive in both directions around the circuit for no charge. A strict speed limit of {{convert|60|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} is enforced, and police regularly patrol the circuit. The [[National Motor Racing Museum]] is located next to the Mount Panorama Circuit.

The venue's infield and pit parking served as the home of the [[2023 World Athletics Cross Country Championships]].

==Early history==
Prior to European settlement, the area was home to the [[Wiradjuri people]]. The Wiradjuri called Mount Panorama ''Wahluu'', meaning "to watch over", and it was an initiation site for young men. According to [[The Dreaming|the Dreamtime]], a warrior named Wahluu was killed by his brother in a dispute over a young woman – the bloodspill upset [[Baiame]], who caused a volcanic eruption around Wahluu's body to form the mountain of today.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://alc.org.au/newsroom/mt-panorama-wahluu-receives-dual-name-to-recognise-its-wiradjuri-roots/|title=Mt Panorama/ Wahluu Receives Dual Name to recognise its Wiradjuri Roots|publisher=[[NSW Aboriginal Land Council]]|date=5 May 2015}}</ref>

The area's racing history dates back to the 1900s. A man by the name of Dr. Machattie persuaded two local builders to drive from [[Melbourne]] to Bathurst- a {{cvt|793|km|mi|abbr=on}} drive in his steam-powered Thomson. Various circuits made up of public roads made up of dirt and tarmac were raced on starting in 1906. Until 1913, races took place on the {{cvt|20.5|mi|km|abbr=on|order=flip}} Peel-Limekilns circuit, then from 1914 to 1925 the {{cvt|15.5|mi|km|abbr=on|order=flip}} Yetholme circuit was used, then the incredibly long {{cvt|62.5|mi|km|abbr=on|order=flip}} Sunny Corner (also known as the Mount Horrible circuit) circuit was used from 1926 to 1930 and the {{cvt|7|mi|km|abbr=on|order=flip}} [[Vale Circuit]] was used from 1931 to 1937. Construction of the Mount Panorama circuit commenced in mid-1936.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://au.motorsport.com/v8supercars/news/bathurst-history-of-mt-panorama/1004563/|title=Bathurst: History of Mt. Panorama|website=au.motorsport.com|date=27 October 2002 |language=en|access-date=2019-04-09}}</ref> The first race meeting, for motorcycles, was held on 16 April 1938 and the first race, the 1938 Junior Tourist Trophy, was won by 20 year old Queenslander Les Sherrin<ref name="speedwayandroadracehistory">[http://www.speedwayandroadracehistory.com/bathurst-mount-panorama Mount Panorama: From Humble Beginnings, www.speedwayandroadracehistory.com] Retrieved 18 March 2019</ref> riding a [[Norton Motorcycle Company|Norton]].<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/17457887/1182051 T.T. Races, The Sydney Morning Herald, Monday, 18 April 1938, page 14, as archived at trove.nla.gov.au]</ref> The first car race, the [[1938 Australian Grand Prix]], was held two days later and was won by [[Peter Whitehead (racing driver)|Peter Whitehead]]<ref name="speedwayandroadracehistory"/> driving an [[English Racing Automobiles|ERA]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17452600|title=AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX.|date=1938-03-28|work=Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954)|access-date=2019-04-09|pages=15}}</ref>
[[File:Mount Panorama 1938-1986.png|thumb|Original layout of Mount Panorama Circuit used between 1938 and 1986]]

==The circuit==

It also has the fastest corner in [[touring car racing]],{{citation needed|date=January 2013}}, the kink at the entrance to the Chase. French sportscar driver [[Alexandre Prémat]], who later raced as a [[Supercars Championship|Supercars]] regular, once described the circuit as "A mix of the [[Nürburgring|(Nürburgring) Nordschleife]], Petit Le Mans ([[Road Atlanta]]) and [[WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca|Laguna Seca]]". [[Nürburgring 24 Hours]] winner [[Kévin Estre]] claimed that "half of the track is the Nordschleife, half of the track is [[Guia Circuit|Macau]]".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.radiolemans.co/2021/06/17/midweek-motorsport-s16-e24/|title=Midweek Motorsport s16 e24|publisher=Radio Show Ltd.|date=18 June 2021}}</ref>

===The Pit Straight===
[[File:Mount Panorama Pit Straight and Pit Lane 2015.JPG|thumb|Pit Straight and the pit lane as viewed from Hell Corner, with cars lined up on the starting grid in preparation for a race]]
The Pit Straight of Mount Panorama, which is adjacent to the pit complex, has a different start line and finish line. For the standing start only, the start line is {{cvt|143|m|yd|abbr=on}} closer to Hell Corner so that traffic does not go too far around Murray's Corner when the start grid is formed. The finish line is positioned such that all of the pit bays are located after it.

===Hell Corner===
The common misconception of nomenclature due to the accidents that happen at this turn are widespread. Hell Corner was named after a tree stump that existed on the apex of the turn. It was believed that any motorcycle riders who hit the stump would die in an act of folly and thereby be doomed to an eternity of birth.

===Mountain Straight===
Mountain Straight is a long straight that begins the climb up the mountain towards Griffins Bend. V8 Supercars reach speeds of up to {{convert|290|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} before the braking point for Griffins Bend {{Citation needed|date=October 2019}}. In the days before modern aerodynamics, drivers would have to lift off the throttle to prevent becoming airborne over the crest halfway up the straight.{{Citation needed|date=October 2019}} The crest also caused problems during the old Easter motorbike races at the circuit with a number of riders having serious crashes due to not lifting before the crest and their bikes becoming airborne.

Since late 2022 a campaign is being run to have Mountain Straight renamed to Moffat Mountain Straight or Moffat Straight, honouring the Ford driver [[Allan Moffat]] and his fierce competition with Holden's [[Peter Brock]], which personified the uniquely Australian Ford vs Holden rivalry. This rivalry popularised the annual 500 mile (later 1000KM) race and made it a national event, even for non motor sport followers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Neal |first=Timothy |date=2022-11-15 |title=The Moffat Mountain Straight? |work=Auto Action |url=https://autoaction.com.au/2022/11/15/the-moffat-mountain-straight |access-date=2022-12-04}}</ref>

===Griffins Bend===
Named after Martin Griffin, the Mayor of Bathurst whose vision it was to create the circuit, drivers heading around this right-hander have to be careful not to drift too far out of this negatively cambered turn and hit the wall upon exit. [[David Besnard]] suffered a fiery crash here in [[2011 Bathurst 1000|2011]] after he arrived at the corner in his [[Ford Falcon FG]] with insufficient front brake pressure having come straight out of the pit-lane with new brakes.

===The Cutting===
A pair of left hand corners leading into a steep 1 in 6 grade exit, overtaking in this section of circuit is difficult and it is very hard to recover from a spin here because of the narrow room and steep gradient. This corner was the location of the infamous 'race rage' incident between [[Marcos Ambrose]] and [[Greg Murphy]]. The pair collided when both drivers refused to give the other racing room late in the [[2005 Supercheap Auto 1000]], with the resulting incident partially blocking the circuit.

===Quarry Corner===
[[File:Mostert Morris 2014 Bathurst 1000.JPG|thumb|right|[[Chaz Mostert]] on the run between Quarry Corner and Reid Park]]
Sometimes confused with Griffins Bend, Quarry Corner is a right hander that immediately follows the Cutting.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.racingcircuits.info/australasia/australia/bathurst-mount-panorama.html|title=Bathurst Mount Panorama|publisher=RacingCircuits.info|date=18 June 2021}}</ref> The corner is named after the quarry below the outside wall of the corner, accessible via an access road between it and the Cutting. As the circuit briefly flattens at the apex, drivers are sometimes required to short-shift between gears to avoid wheelspin. One of the most famous incidents in the history of the Bathurst 1000 occurred on the exit of this turn when [[Dick Johnson (racing driver)|Dick Johnson]] crashed his [[Ford Falcon XD]] out of the lead on lap 18 of the [[1980 Hardie-Ferodo 1000]]. Johnson was unable to avoid a large rock that had been pushed from the spectator area as he was passing a quick-lift tow truck at the time and had nowhere else to go. The car was destroyed after running over the rock and hitting the outside concrete wall which the car almost leapt over (the wall had only been put in place prior to the [[1979 Hardie-Ferodo 1000]]; before then the fence had consisted of railway sleepers and fence posts), taking with it Johnson's means of supporting his racing ambitions. An emotional public appeal followed during the race's telecast which re-launched Johnson's career.

===Reid Park===
Following Quarry, there is a loaded right-hand turn followed by an open left-hand turn. This is Reid Park, named after the Bathurst City engineer Hughie Reid, who redesigned sections of the track to be more suitable for motor racing. At the [[1982 Bathurst 1000]], [[Kevin Bartlett (racing driver)|Kevin Bartlett]] had a tyre blow out in the right-hander and pitch him into the inside wall for the left-hander, rolling his [[Chevrolet Camaro (second generation)#1979|Chevrolet Camaro Z28]] onto its roof and skidding across the track. Another high-profile incident occurred in the [[2013 Bathurst 1000]] when four-time winner [[Greg Murphy]] crashed at the exit of the right-hander on a dirty and dusty track surface.

===Sulman Park===
After Reid Park, there is a steep drop which flows into a climbing left-hand turn, heading towards the highest point of Mount Panorama. This is the location of Sulman Park and its nature park. [[Peter Brock]] had his first major crash at Bathurst here when he crashed his [[Holden Racing Team]] [[Holden Commodore VP|Commodore VP]] into retirement on lap 138 of the [[1994 Tooheys 1000]]. [[Jason Bright]] crashed here in his [[Ford EL Falcon]] in practice during the [[1998 FAI 1000]]. The car was then rebuilt in time to scrape into qualifying in the dying minutes before Bright and [[Steven Richards]] went on to take victory in the race. This corner was also the scene of a crash in a [[V8 Supercars Dunlop Series|V8 Supercar Development Series]] race in 2006 that claimed the life of [[Mark Porter (racing driver)|Mark Porter]]. Sulman Park is also commonly nicknamed "Metal Grate" after a drainage grate on the outside apron of the sequence at the point of maximum lateral and longitudinal load.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGykmw1M_Y4&t=240 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/YGykmw1M_Y4 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=TENmotorsport There's nothing like it This is Mount Panorama This is Bathurst|publisher="BIZPIX1" on [[YouTube]]|date=11 October 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

===McPhillamy Park===
[[File:Mount Panorama McPhillamy and Skyline 2014.JPG|thumb|Cars on the run from McPhillamy Park to Brock's Skyline during the [[2014 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000|2014 Bathurst 1000]], with spectator areas at McPhillamy Park on the right]]
McPhillamy Park is a fast, downhill left-hand turn which is guarded by a crest prior to the turn-in point, rendering the corner blind to approaching drivers. Drivers have to stay close to the wall while turning so as not to run wide on exit. However, going too close may cause the car to clip the inside kerbing, which Allan Moffat did in practice for the [[1986 James Hardie 1000]], crashing the [[Holden Commodore SS Group A|Holden Commodore VK]], which he was sharing with long-time rival Peter Brock, head on into the concrete. British driver [[Win Percy]], driving [[Allan Grice]]'s [[Roadways Racing|Roadways]] [[Holden VL Commodore SS Group A|Commodore VL]], would complete an almost carbon copy of Moffat's crash in practice for the [[1987 James Hardie 1000]]. McPhillamy Park is the location of the longest-running campsite for those who camp at the track (sometimes for over a week in advance of a race). The park was named after Walter J. McPhillamy, a previous mayor of the Bathurst City Council and the owner of most of the land occupied by the Bald Hills/Mt Panorama which he donated to the people of Bathurst as a scenic picnic area.

McPhillamy was the site of Bill Brown's rollover during the [[1971 Hardie-Ferodo 500]] when the front right tyre on his [[Ford XY Falcon GT|Ford Falcon XY GTHO Phase III]] blew at over {{Convert|100|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}}, sending Brown up an earth bank before barrel-rolling along the fence. A pair of marshals stationed at that point were lucky to escape being hit after taking evasive action. Amazingly, Brown suffered only minor cuts and bruises in the accident largely due to the driver's seat breaking in the initial impact.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLr9Y71ETHM?t=3m50s <!-- | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWtTue8yXLE gone due to copyright --> | title=Bill Brown's 1971 Bathurst Crash|website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead YouTube link|date=February 2022}}</ref> The famous corner was also the site of the crash between the Falcons of [[Bob Morris (racing driver)|Bob Morris]] and Christine Gibson that blocked the track and stopped the [[1981 James Hardie 1000]] on lap 120, 43 laps short of race distance, giving Dick Johnson and [[John French (racing driver)|John French]] the win.

In the interests of safety for both drivers and spectators at McPhillamy (and to open up the corner to avoid a repeat of the 1981 crash that blocked the track), the banking that had been just off the outside of the track was removed and pushed back approximately {{convert|30|m|yd|abbr=on}} on an angle to allow a sand trap and concrete retaining wall to be put in place prior to the [[1985 James Hardie 1000]].

===Brock's Skyline===
A short straight connects McPhillamy to the next corner. Skyline is a sharply descending right hand corner which signifies the beginning of the descent from the top of the circuit. The corner acquired the name from the visual effect of looking upwards at the corner from below, such is the sharpness of that initial plunge. During the [[1970 Hardie-Ferodo 500]], [[1969 Hardie-Ferodo 500|1969]] co-winner [[Tony Roberts (racing driver)|Tony Roberts]] lost control of his [[Ford XW Falcon GTHO Phase 1|Ford Falcon XW GTHO]] and launched over the Skyline backwards before tumbling down the hillside.

In late 1997 Skyline was renamed as Brock's Skyline to honour the nine time 500 mile (later 1000KM) race winner. Following his fatal crash in a Western Australian car rally, a statue of the driver many call "The King of the Mountain" stands outside the motorsport museum near Murray's Corner.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.v8sleuth.com.au/how-bathursts-corners-got-their-names/ | title=How Bathurst's corners got their names | date=4 October 2023 }}</ref>

===The Esses and The Dipper===
[[File:Forestelbow.jpg|thumb|The run down the mountain, looking from Forrest's Elbow to Skyline and beyond]]
The Esses are the series of corners which begin at Skyline and stretch down the Mountain towards Forrest's Elbow. There have been many notable accidents at this part of the circuit, including a blockage of the track in [[2003 Bob Jane T-Marts 1000|2003]] when [[Jason Bargwanna]] made contact with [[David Brabham]]. The most famous of the Esses, the Dipper (the third corner in the sequence), is a sharp left hand corner so named because, before safety changes were made, there was a dip in the road surface and a steep drop not far from the edge of the road, and many cars were able to get two wheels off the ground, which has often been compared to the Corkscrew at [[Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca|Laguna Seca]]. [[Chaz Mostert]] had a severe accident in the lower Esses during qualifying for the [[2015 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000|Great Race in 2015]]. Mostert clipped the inside wall on the run down to Forrest's Elbow, ricocheting the car into the outside wall before it eventually mounted a concrete barrier and clipped the roof of a [[Motorsport marshal|marshal]]s' post. The car then slid down the track and came to a halt at the apex of Forrest's Elbow. The accident saw the entry withdrawn from the event and caused qualifying to be red flagged and postponed. Mostert suffered season-ending leg and wrist injuries as his leg made contact with the floor shifter in the crash.

===Forrest's Elbow===
Forrest's Elbow is named after Arthur Ronald 'Jack' Forrest (19 February 1920 – 12 August 2002), an Australian motor cycle racer born in Wellington, New South Wales. 'Jack' crashed his Norton International during the first day of official practice during the October 1947 Bathurst meeting and ground the end off his elbow.  Following the crash, the corner initially described as 'The Elbow' or as 'Devil's Elbow' was re-dubbed as (Jack) Forrest's Elbow by fellow Australian rider Harry Hinton, much to the amusement of everyone (except for Jack) in the Mount Panorama pits. Forrest's Elbow is geographically positioned as a slow, descending left-hand turn that leads on to the long Conrod Straight. Alternatively it is described as a severely downhill and adverse camber left hander leading onto Conrod Straight. The corner's line drifts towards the outside wall on exit and drivers have to be careful of getting too close. It was on the exit of the corner that Dick Johnson clipped a tyre barrier during the top ten shootout for the [[1983 James Hardie 1000]], which broke the car's steering and sent Johnson off into a grove of trees and demolishing the car. This is also where Craig Lowndes aquaplaned into the tyre wall in 2001.

===Conrod Straight===
[[File:Bathurstconrod.jpg|thumb|The Chase (top left), followed by Murray's Corner and the Pit Straight]]
[[File:South Australia to New South Wales road trip (33251135275).jpg|thumb|Conrod Straight]]
Formerly known as Main Straight, Conrod Straight was so named because of a [[connecting rod|con-rod]] failure that ended the 1939 Easter race of Frank Kleinig in his Kleinig/Hudson racecar. At {{convert|1.916|km|mi|abbr=on}}, Conrod Straight is the fastest section of Mount Panorama, with V8 Supercars almost reaching {{convert|300|kph|mph|abbr=on}}. The straight is a roller-coaster ride featuring two distinct crests, the second of which was rebuilt in 1987. Conrod Straight has been the scene of six of the seven car racing deaths on the circuit – Reg Smith, Bevan Gibson, Tom Sulman, [[Mike Burgmann]], [[Denny Hulme]] and Don Watson. All except {{F1|1967}} Formula One World Champion Denny Hulme ([[myocardial infarction|heart attack]]) died in high-speed accidents. However, the chicane introduced into Conrod Straight reduced the top speed of cars going down the straight and has created one of the fastest corners in the world. Most drivers arrive at the initial part of the chicane at over {{convert|290|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}. Prior to the introduction of The Chase in 1987, Conrod Straight was a mile-long straight where the faster cars were getting airborne over the second hump, which was a contributing factor in Burgmann's accident.

The fastest ever speed recorded by a touring car on the old straight was by Scotland's [[Tom Walkinshaw]] driving a [[Jaguar V12 engine|V12]] [[Jaguar XJS]] during qualifying for the [[1984 James Hardie 1000]]. Walkinshaw was timed at {{convert|290|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}.{{Citation needed|date=November 2013}} Ironically, while the Chase was introduced in an effort to reduce terminal speeds on Conrod, by the [[1990 Tooheys 1000]], the turbocharged [[Ford Sierra RS500]]s were achieving higher speeds than pre-1987 with [[Tony Longhurst]] reportedly being timed at {{convert|295|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} during official qualifying for the race {{Citation needed|date=October 2019}}. Shane van Gisbergen would later hit a speed of {{convert|300.5|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} during a pre-race session for the [[2023 Bathurst 1000]].

===The Chase===
Known for many years as "[[Caltex]] Chase", this three-turn sequence was added in preparation for the [[World Touring Car Championship]] round in [[1987 James Hardie 1000|1987]] to comply with a FIA requirement that a straight could not exceed {{convert|1200|m|yd|abbr=on}}. It interrupts Conrod Straight with a fast right hand bend sometimes referred as "The Kink," based on international motorsport commentator [[Mike Joy]] comparing it to [[Road America]]'s Kink during a United States broadcast of the Bathurst 1000 in [[2011 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000|2011]],{{citation needed|date=December 2021}} descending to the right away from the crest prior to the spectator bridge, before a sharp {{convert|120|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} left-hand bend. A right-hand corner then returns the cars to Conrod Straight for the run down to Murray's Corner. The section was dedicated to Mike Burgmann, who died in an accident at the chicane's spot in the [[1986 James Hardie 1000|previous year]].

This corner was the scene of [[Peter Brock]]'s only rollover in his motor racing career when he rolled his [[Opel Vectra#Vectra B (1995–2002)|Vauxhall Vectra]] during practice for the [[1997 AMP Bathurst 1000]]. The Chase has been the scene of numerous other rollover accidents: [[Tomas Mezera]] during the [[1997 Bathurst 1000]], [[John Cleland (racing driver)|John Cleland]] during the [[2004 Bathurst 1000]] after he clipped a slower car he didn't see until too late, Len Cave during the [[2008 WPS Bathurst 12 Hour]], Allan Letcher in a [[V8 Ute Racing Series|V8 Utes]] race during the [[2009 Bathurst 1000]] event and [[Fabian Coulthard]] during the [[2010 Bathurst 1000]] because of a left-rear tyre issue.  Another notable accident to happen in the area is when [[Scott McLaughlin]] made contact with [[Garth Tander]] on a redress attempt late in the [[2016 Bathurst 1000]].
[[File:Murray's Corner Mount Panorama.jpg|thumb|Murray's Corner]]
Don Watson was killed in an accident at the Chase during qualifying for the [[1994 Bathurst 1000]] when his [[Holden VP Commodore]] blew a brake disc when he attempted to slow for the kink, leaving him without brakes and limited steering. His car failed to slow and take the right hand kink, instead continuing at undiminished speed across the sand trap before hitting the tyre wall head on and flipping on to its roof, coming to rest on the wall. Watson initially survived the crash but later died from his injuries in Bathurst Base Hospital. The accident occurred in front of former race winners Peter Brock and England's [[Win Percy]], who described it as a "major accident".<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8uXz347HD4 1994 Bathurst 1000 Don Watson fatal crash]</ref>

===Murray's Corner===
Murray's Corner is the final corner before Pit Straight and the lowest point of the circuit. It is a 90-degree left hand turn, and is a good overtaking spot as drivers hold braking duels for the corner. It was previously called Pit Corner before Bill Murray crashed his Hudson racing car there in 1946.
{{clear}}

==Lap records==
[[File:No 59 Tekno Autosport McLaren 650S GT3.jpg|thumbnail|[[Shane van Gisbergen]] in the McLaren 650S GT3 which held the lap record from 2016 to 2018.]]

{{As of|2025|04}}, the official lap record is held by [[Christopher Mies]], who set a time of 1:59.2910 at the 2018 Challenge Bathurst event driving an unrestricted [[Audi R8 (Type 4S)#R8 LMS (GT3)|Audi R8 LMS]].<ref name="MiesOfficial1">{{cite web |title=The Unexpected Bathurst Lap Record Showdown |url=https://www.v8sleuth.com.au/the-unexpected-bathurst-lap-record-showdown/ |website=V8 Sleuth |last=Dale |first=Will |date=17 February 2024 |access-date=25 February 2024}}</ref><ref name="MiesOfficial2">{{cite web |title=New Bathurst Lap Record: Under 2 Minutes |url=https://www.v8sleuth.com.au/the-unexpected-bathurst-lap-record-showdown/ |website=V8 Sleuth |last=Dale |first=Will |date=16 November 2018 |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref> The fastest race lap is held by James Golding, who set a time of 1:59.8375 during the 2021 Bathurst 1000 event on 2 December 2021, driving a [[Ligier Automotive#Models|Rogers AF01/V8]]. The fastest lap on the original circuit layout was a 2:09.7 set by [[Formula 5000]] driver Niel Allen in 1970, driving a [[McLaren M10B]]-[[Chevrolet small-block engine|Chevrolet]].<ref name='mountpanorama_fl_records'>{{cite web |title=Mount Panorama Records |url=https://www.mount-panorama.com.au/history/records/35-mount-panorama-records |website=Mount Panorama Circuit |access-date=29 November 2022}}</ref><ref name="outright">{{cite news |title=Bathurst lap records: what you need to know |url=https://www.v8sleuth.com.au/bathurst-lap-records-what-you-need-to-know/ |publisher=V8 Sleuth |last=Bartholomaeus |first=Stefan |date=27 November 2021 |access-date=21 May 2022}}</ref>

Faster laps have been recorded at Mount Panorama but are not recognised as lap records as they were not set during an officially sanctioned session. As part of publicity for the [[2011 Australian Grand Prix]], [[McLaren]] provided a [[McLaren MP4-23|MP4-23]] [[Formula One]] car for [[Jenson Button]] and [[Craig Lowndes]]. Button recorded a time of 1:48.88.<ref name='outright'/><ref>{{cite web |title=Jenson Button breaks Bathurst lap record |url=http://www.speedcafe.com/2011/03/22/jenson-button-breaks-bathurst-lap-record |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231029150948/https://www.speedcafe.com/2011/03/22/jenson-button-breaks-bathurst-lap-record/ |publisher=[[Speedcafe]] |date=22 March 2011 |archive-date=29 October 2023 |access-date=25 February 2024 |url-status=dead}}</ref> During a demonstration at the [[2019 Bathurst 12 Hour]], [[Luke Youlden]] recorded a lap time of 1:58.694 in a [[Brabham BT62]].<ref name='mountpanorama_fl_records'/> A day before the [[2024 Bathurst 12 Hour]], [[Jules Gounon]] bettered this by over two seconds, setting a 1:56.6054 in an unrestricted [[Mercedes-AMG GT#Motorsport|Mercedes-AMG GT3]].<ref name="GounonRecord">{{cite web |title=Gounon Breaks Bathurst Lap Record In Unrestricted AMG GT3 |url=https://www.dailysportscar.com/2024/02/17/gounon-breaks-bathurst-lap-record-in-unrestricted-amg-gt3.html |website=Dailysportscar |last=Zalavari |first=Michael |date=17 February 2024 |access-date=17 February 2024}}</ref> On 25 February 2024, merely a week after Gounon's effort, [[Romain Dumas]] set a 1:56.3247 in the electric [[Ford Supervan#SuperVan 4.2 Electric|Ford SuperVan 4.2]], unofficially the fastest time ever recorded by a closed car at the track.<ref>{{cite web |title=VIDEO – Romain Dumas breaks the lap record at Bathurst with the Ford SuperVan 4.2 |url=https://www.autohebdof1.com/actualites/autres-courses/romain-dumas-explose-le-record-du-tour-a-bathurst-avec-le-ford-supervan-4-2.html |website=AutoHebdo |last=Grangier |first=Dorian |date=25 February 2024 |access-date=25 February 2024}}</ref>
 
[[Kevin Bartlett (racing driver)|Kevin Bartlett]] set the first ever {{Convert|100|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} lap of the Mount Panorama Circuit at the Easter meeting in 1967 driving a [[Brabham|Repco Brabham BT11A]], recording a 2:17.7 lap. For his achievement he was awarded 25 bottles of [[champagne]]. Later in the weekend he won the NSW State Road Racing Championship and lowered his lap record to 2:17.4, which earned him another 100 bottles. With a time of 2:17.8, [[Allan Grice]] set the first {{cvt|100|mph|km/h|abbr=on|order=flip}} lap of the circuit for a touring car (under [[Group C (Australia)|Group C]] regulations) during qualifying for the [[1982 James Hardie 1000]] driving a [[Holden V8 engine|V8]] powered [[Holden Commodore (VH)|Holden VH Commodore SS]]. Four years later at the [[1986 James Hardie 1000]], Grice also set the first 100&nbsp;mph lap in a [[Group A]] touring car driving a [[Holden Commodore (VL)|Holden VK Commodore SS Group A]], recording a 2:16.16 in official qualifying.

As of April 2025, the fastest official race [[Glossary of motorsport terms#L|lap records]] at Mount Panorama Circuit are listed as:<ref name='mountpanorama_fl_records'/><ref name='outright'/><ref name='bathurst_fl_comparison'>{{cite web |title=Mount Panorama Fastest Lap Comparison |url=https://www.driverdb.com/circuits/fastestlaps/bathurst-mount-panorama/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230301011512/https://www.driverdb.com/circuits/fastestlaps/bathurst-mount-panorama/ |archive-date=1 March 2023 |access-date=12 November 2023 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>[http://racing.natsoft.com.au/results/#1 Natsoft Race Results]</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%"
|-
! Class
! Driver
! Vehicle
! Time
! Date
|-
! colspan=5 | Current Circuit: 6.213&nbsp;km (1987–present)
|-
| [[Group GT3|GT3 (unrestricted)]]
| {{flagicon|DEU}} [[Christopher Mies]]
| [[Audi R8 (Type 4S)#R8 LMS (GT3)|Audi R8 LMS]]
| '''1:59.2910'''<ref name="MiesOfficial1"/><ref name="MiesOfficial2"/><ref name="outright"/>
| style="text-align:right"| 16 November 2018
|-
| [[Australian S5000 Championship|S5000]]
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[James Golding (racing driver)|James Golding]]
| [[Ligier Automotive#Models|Rogers AF01/V8]]
| '''1:59.8375'''<ref name='bathurst_fl_comparison'/><ref name=s5000>{{cite web |title=2021 S5000 Tasman Series Bathurst Race 1 Result |url=https://s5000.com.au/result/bathurst/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202053408/https://s5000.com.au/result/bathurst/ |website=S5000 |date=2 December 2021 |archive-date=2 December 2021 |access-date=3 December 2021 |language=en |url-status=live}}</ref>
| style="text-align:right"| [[2021 S5000 Tasman Series|2 December 2021]]
|-
| [[Group GT3|GT3]]
| {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Shane van Gisbergen]]
| [[McLaren 650S#GT3|McLaren 650S GT3]]
| '''2:01.5670'''<ref name="outright"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Liqui Moly Bathurst 12 Hours – 2016 |url=http://www.raceresults.nu/uitslagen//2016/Australia/Liqui%20Moly%20Bathurst%2012%20Hours%20-2016/12%20Hour%20-%20Liqui%20Moly%20Bathurst%2012%20Hour.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160207220903/http://www.raceresults.nu/uitslagen//2016/Australia/Liqui%20Moly%20Bathurst%2012%20Hours%20-2016/12%20Hour%20-%20Liqui%20Moly%20Bathurst%2012%20Hour.pdf |publisher=RaceResults.nu |date=7 February 2016 |archive-date=7 February 2016 |access-date=9 February 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name='bathurst_fl_comparison'/>
| style="text-align:right"| [[2016 Liqui Moly Bathurst 12 Hour|7 February 2016]]
|-
| [[Formula Three]]
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Simon Hodge]]
| [[Mygale F3 car|Mygale M11]]
| '''2:02.6701'''<ref name='bathurst_fl_comparison'/>
| style="text-align:right"| [[2014 Australian Drivers' Championship|20 April 2014]]
|-
| [[Australian Production Car Championship|Production Sports]]
| {{flagicon|DEN}} {{ill|Benny Simonsen|de}}
| [[Ferrari 488#488 GT3|Ferrari 488 GT3]]
| '''2:03.419'''<ref name="2016BMF">{{cite web |title=2016 Bathurst Motor Festival Results |url=http://www.bathurstmotorfestival.com.au/event-info/2016-results |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329002841/http://bathurstmotorfestival.com.au/event-info/2016-results |work=Bathurst Motor Festival |date=27 March 2016 |archive-date=29 March 2016 |access-date=28 March 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| style="text-align:right"| [[Bathurst Motor Festival|27 March 2016]]
|-
| [[Australian Sports Sedan Championship|Sports Sedan]]
| {{flagicon|AUS}} Jordan Caruso
| [[Audi A4#Motorsport|Audi A4]]
| '''2:03.6473'''
| style="text-align:right"|7 October 2023
|-
| [[Supercars Championship]]
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Chaz Mostert]]
| [[Ford Mustang (sixth generation)|Ford Mustang GT]]
| '''2:04.7602'''<ref name="outright"/><ref name='bathurst_fl_comparison'/><!-- OFFICIAL LAP RECORD CAN ONLY BE SET IN THE RACE -->
| style="text-align:right"| [[2019 Bathurst 1000|13 October 2019]]
|-
| [[Porsche Carrera Cup]]
| {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Harry King (racing driver)|Harry King]]
| [[Porsche 911 GT3#992 GT3 Cup (2021–)|Porsche 911 (992) GT3 Cup]]
| '''2:05.4074'''<ref>{{cite web |title=Porsche Carrera Cup Australia - Round 6, 2023: Bathurst - Race 3 Results |url=https://www.carreracup.com.au/results/ |access-date=8 October 2023}}</ref>
| style="text-align:right" | [[2023 Porsche Carrera Cup Australia|8 October 2023]]
|-
| [[Radical Sportscars#One-make series|Radical Cup]]
| {{flagicon|AUS}} Neale Muston
| [[Radical SR8]]
| '''2:06.5982'''<ref>{{cite web |title=2021 Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour - Mount Panorama - Bathurst - Radical Australia - Race 2 Results |url=http://racing.natsoft.com.au/639413517/object_290836.79d/Result?34 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241109062024/http://racing.natsoft.com.au/639413517/object_290836.79d/Result?34 |date=4 April 2021 |archive-date=9 November 2024 |access-date=9 November 2024 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| style="text-align:right"| 4 April 2021
|-
| [[Super2 Series]]
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Paul Dumbrell]]
| [[Holden Commodore (VE)#Motorsport|Holden VE Commodore]]
| '''2:06.7352'''<ref name="outright"/>
| style="text-align:right"| [[2015 V8 Supercars Dunlop Series|10 October 2015]]
|-
| [[Group CN]]
| {{flagicon|AUS}} John-Paul Drake
| [[Wolf GB08|Wolf GB08 Mistral]]
| '''2:07.1295'''<ref name='bathurst_fl_comparison'/>
| style="text-align:right"| 12 November 2022
|-
| [[Ferrari Challenge]]  
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Antoine Gittany]] 
| [[Ferrari 296#296 Challenge|Ferrari 296 Challenge]]
| '''2:09.3540'''<ref>{{cite web |title=2025 Meguiar's Bathurst 12 Hour - Ferrari Challenge Race 1 - Final Classification |url=https://cdn.ferrari.com/cms/network/media/img/2025-ferrari-challenge-australasia-bathurst-race2.PNG |date=1 February 2025 |access-date=2 February 2025}}</ref>
| style="text-align:right"| [[2025 Ferrari Challenge Australasia|1 February 2025]]
|-
| [[Australian National Trans-Am Series|Trans-Am Australia]]
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Aaron Seton]]
| [[Ford Mustang (sixth generation)#Motorsport|Ford Mustang Trans Am]]
| '''2:10.5053'''<ref name="outright"/><ref name='bathurst_fl_comparison'/><ref>{{cite web |title=2021 Trans Am - Bathurst - Race 1 Results |url=https://transam.com.au/result/bathurst-international-bathurst-6-hour/ |access-date=12 February 2023}}</ref>
| style=text-align:right| 3 April 2021
|-
| [[TCR Touring Car]]
| {{flagicon|AUS}} Bailey Sweeny
| [[Hyundai i30 N TCR]]
| '''2.13.9023'''<ref name='bathurst_fl_comparison'/><ref>{{cite web |title=2022 Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour - TCR Australia - Round 3 Results |url=https://tcraustralia.com/result/hi-tec-oils-bathurst-6-hour/ |access-date=28 April 2022}}</ref>
| style=text-align:right| [[2022 TCR Australia Touring Car Series|17 April 2022]]
|-
| [[Group A#Touring car racing|Group 3A]]
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Dick Johnson (racing driver)|Dick Johnson]]
| [[Ford Falcon (EB)#Motorsport|Ford Falcon (EB)]]
| '''2:14.1458'''
| style=text-align:right| [[1994 Tooheys 1000|2 October 1994]]
|-
| [[SRO GT4|GT4]]
| {{flagicon|AUS}} Lochie Dalton
| [[Mercedes-AMG GT#AMG GT4 (2017–present)|Mercedes-AMG GT4]]
| '''2:14.2385'''<ref>{{cite web |title=2024 Supercheap Auto Bathurst International - Mount Panorama - Bathurst - 2024 Monochrome GT4 Australia Series - Race 2 |url=https://gt4australia.com.au/images/results/6/MPB_10_11_2024_1050_Race_R12_GT4_STD_P_1.pdf |date=10 November 2024 |access-date=10 November 2024}}</ref>
| style="text-align:right"| [[2024 GT4 Australia Series|10 November 2024]]
|-
| [[Australian Nations Cup Championship|Nations Cup]]
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Garth Tander]]
| [[Holden Monaro 427C]]
| '''2:14.3267'''<ref name='mountpanorama_fl_records'/>
| style="text-align:right"| 17 November 2002
|-
| [[Group A#Touring car racing|Group A]]
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Mark Skaife]]
| [[Nissan Skyline GT-R#Third generation (1989–1994)|Nissan Skyline GT-R R32]]
| '''2:14.50'''<ref name='bathurst_fl_comparison'/><ref>{{cite web |title=Tooheys 1000 Bathurst 1991 |url=http://touringcarracing.net/Races/1991%20Bathurst.html |date=6 October 1991 |access-date=12 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Australia's Greatest Motor Race 1960–1999 |last=Greenhalgh |first=David |author2=Thomas B. Floyd |author3=Bill Tuckey |publisher=Chevron Publishing Group |year=2000 |isbn=1-875221-12-3 |page=479}}</ref>
| style="text-align:right"| [[1991 Tooheys 1000|6 October 1991]]
|-
| [[Touring Car Masters]]
| {{flagicon|NZ}} [[Angus Fogg]]
| [[Ford Mustang (first generation)|Ford Mustang Fastback]]
| '''2:14.8525'''<ref name='bathurst_fl_comparison'/>
| style="text-align:right"| 13 October 2019
|-
| Formula Xtreme
| {{flagicon|AUS}} {{ill|Kevin Curtain|it}}
| [[Yamaha YZF-R1]]
| '''2:15.45'''<ref name='mountpanorama_fl_records'/>
| style="text-align:right"| 23 April 2000
|-
| [[Superbike racing|Superbike]]
| {{flagicon|AUS}} {{ill|Kevin Curtain|it}}
| [[Yamaha YZF-R1]]
| '''2:15.83'''<ref name='mountpanorama_fl_records'/>
| style="text-align:right"| 23 April 2000
|-
| [[Super Touring]]
| {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Jason Plato]]
| [[Renault Laguna#First generation|Renault Laguna]]
| '''2:16.8034'''<ref name='bathurst_fl_comparison'/><ref>{{cite web |title=1997 AMP Bathurst 1000 Australian Racing Drivers Club |url=http://www.natsoft.com.au/cgi-bin/results.cgi?05/10/1997.ARDC.E7 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050317142828/http://www.natsoft.com.au/cgi-bin/results.cgi?05%2F10%2F1997.ARDC.E7 |publisher=National Software |date=5 October 1997 |archive-date=17 March 2005 |access-date=19 April 2008 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
| style="text-align:right"| [[1997 AMP Bathurst 1000|5 October 1997]]
|-
| [[Formula Ford]]
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Anton De Pasquale]]
| [[Mygale#Racing cars|Mygale SJ08a]]
| '''2:17.9144'''<ref name='mountpanorama_fl_records'/><ref name='bathurst_fl_comparison'/>
| style="text-align:right"| [[2012 Australian Formula Ford Championship|5 October 2012]]
|-
| [[Stock car racing]]
| {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Jim Richards (racing driver)|Jim Richards]]
| [[Chevrolet Lumina]]
| '''2:18.1027'''<ref name='mountpanorama_fl_records'/><ref name='bathurst_fl_comparison'/>
| style="text-align:right"| 24 February 1996
|-
| [[Group 3J Improved Production Cars|Improved Production]]
| {{flagicon|AUS}} Adam Poole
| [[Holden Monaro]]
| '''2:18.1913'''
| style="text-align:right"| 31 March 2024
|-
| [[Group 3E Series Production Cars|Group 3E Series Production]]
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Cameron Crick]]
| [[BMW M2#Motorsport|BMW M2]]
| '''2:21.5712'''<ref>{{cite web |title=2024 Supercheap Auto Bathurst International - Mount Panorama - Bathurst - 2024 Australian Production Car Series - Race 2 |url=http://racing.natsoft.com.au/641226688/object_263474.79D/Result?33 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241110071206/http://racing.natsoft.com.au/641226688/object_263474.79D/Result?33 |publisher=National Software |date=10 November 2024 |archive-date=10 November 2024 |access-date=10 November 2024 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| style="text-align:right"| 10 November 2024
|-
| [[Australian Formula Ford Championship|Formula Ford (1600)]]
| {{flagicon|AUS}} Neil McFayden
| [[Van Diemen RF93|Van Diemen RF94]]
| '''2:24.1300'''
| style="text-align:right"| 11 October 2002
|-
| [[Australian GT Production Car Championship|GT Production]]
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Neil Crompton]]
| [[Ferrari F355]]
| '''2:24.6065'''
| style="text-align:right"| 14 November 1998
|-
| Group Nc
| {{flagicon|AUS}} Vince Macri
| [[Chevrolet Camaro (sixth generation)#Motorsports|Chevrolet Camaro]]
| '''2:28.070'''<ref name='mountpanorama_fl_records'/><ref name='bathurst_fl_comparison'/><ref name="2016BMF"/>
| style="text-align:right"| 27 March 2016
|-
| [[SuperUtes Series]]
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Cameron Crick]]
| [[Ford Ranger (T6)|Ford Ranger]]
| '''2:28.5520'''
| style="text-align:right"| 13 October 2024
|-
| Group Nb
| {{flagicon|AUS}} Jamie Tilley
| [[Ford Mustang (first generation)|Ford Mustang]]
| '''2:29.3172'''
| style="text-align:right"| 3 April 2021
|-
| [[Aussie Racing Cars]]
| {{flagicon|AUS}} Kody Garland
| [[Aussie Racing Cars|ARC Mustang Yamaha ]]
| '''2:29.3418'''<ref>{{cite web |title=2024 Thrifty Bathurst 500 - Battery World Aussie Racing Cars Super Series - Race 4 |url=http://racing.natsoft.com.au/641799566/object_665323.81e/Result?28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225074426/http://racing.natsoft.com.au/641799566/object_665323.81e/Result?28 |publisher=National Software |date=25 February 2024 |archive-date=25 February 2024 |access-date=10 November 2024 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| style="text-align:right"| 25 February 2024
|-
| [[Australian Mini Challenge|Mini Challenge]]
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Jason Bargwanna]]
| [[Mini Hatch#Second generation (R56/57; 2006)|Mini Cooper S]]
| '''2:30.2732'''<ref name='bathurst_fl_comparison'/><ref>{{cite web |title=Supercheap Auto 1000 - 2008 V8 Supercar Championship Rd10 Mount Panorama - Bathurst Fujitsu V8 Supercars - Race 2 |url=http://www.natsoft.com.au/cgi-bin/results.cgi?12/10/2008.MOUN.R5  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015180143/http://www.natsoft.com.au/cgi-bin/results.cgi?12%2F10%2F2008.MOUN.R5 |publisher=National Software |date=11 October 2008 |archive-date=15 October 2008 |access-date=18 October 2008 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
| style="text-align:right"| [[2008 Australian Mini Challenge|11 October 2008]]
|-
| Sidecar
| {{flagicon|AUS}} G. Biggs/{{flagicon|AUS}} L. Genova
| [[Louis Christen Racing|LCR]] Krauser
| '''2:30.28'''<ref name='mountpanorama_fl_records'/>
| style="text-align:right"| 10 April 1993
|-
| [[Commodore Cup]]
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Steve Owen (racing driver)|Steve Owen]]
| [[Holden Commodore (VS)|Holden VS Commodore]]
| '''2:30.7639'''<ref>{{cite web |title=Bathurst Motor Festival 2011 Australian Commodore Cup Series - Race 2 |url=http://www.natsoft.com.au/cgi-bin/results.cgi?24/04/2011.MOUN.R18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421051822/http://www.natsoft.com.au/cgi-bin/results.cgi?24%2F04%2F2011.MOUN.R18 |publisher=National Software |date=24 April 2011 |archive-date=21 April 2012 |access-date=25 April 2011 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
| style="text-align:right"| 24 April 2011
|-
| [[V8 Ute Racing Series]]
| {{flagicon|AUS}} Kris Walton
| [[Ford Falcon (FG)|Ford FG Falcon XR8 Ute]]
| '''2:31.1318'''<ref name='bathurst_fl_comparison'/>
| style="text-align:right"| 12 October 2014
|-
| Group Sc
| {{flagicon|AUS}} Geoff Morgan
| [[Porsche 911 (997)|Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7]]
| '''2:32.9968'''<ref name='mountpanorama_fl_records'/><ref name='bathurst_fl_comparison'/>
| style="text-align:right"| 3 February 2018
|-
| [[GR Cup]]
| {{flagicon|AUS}} James Lodge
| [[Toyota 86#Second generation (ZN8/ZD8; 2021)|Toyota GR86]]
| '''2:35.4214'''
| style="text-align:right"| 13 October 2024
|-
| [[Australian Saloon Car Series|Saloon Cars]]
| {{flagicon|AUS}} Shawn Jamieson
| [[Holden Commodore (VT)|Holden VT Commodore]]
| '''2:35.9685'''<ref name='bathurst_fl_comparison'/><ref>{{cite web |title=Bathurst Motor Festival 2011 Ashely Cooper 2011 Saloon Car Challenge - Race 1 |url=http://www.natsoft.com.au/cgi-bin/results.cgi?24/04/2011.MOUN.R7 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421053301/http://www.natsoft.com.au/cgi-bin/results.cgi?24%2F04%2F2011.MOUN.R7 |publisher=National Software |date=23 April 2011 |archive-date=21 April 2012 |access-date=25 April 2011 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
| style="text-align:right"| 23 April 2011
|-
| Group Sb
| {{flagicon|AUS}} Terry Lawlor
| [[Shelby GT350]]
| '''2:40.8391'''
| style="text-align:right"| 2 February 2018
|-
| Nissan Pulsar
| {{Flagicon|AUS}} Joshua Craig
| [[Nissan Pulsar (N14)]]
| '''2:42.9216'''
| style="text-align:right"| 8 April 2023
|-
| [[Formula Vee]] (1600)
| {{flagicon|AUS}} Benjamin Porter
| Checkmate JP02 Volkswagen
| '''2:43.2401'''<ref name='bathurst_fl_comparison'/><ref>{{cite web |title=2011 Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour Mount Panorama Formula Vee - Race 3 |url=http://www.natsoft.com.au/cgi-bin/results.cgi?06/02/2011.MOUN.R12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110416111731/http://www.natsoft.com.au/cgi-bin/results.cgi?06%2F02%2F2011.MOUN.R12 |publisher=National Software |date=5 February 2011 |archive-date=16 April 2011 |access-date=12 February 2023 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
| style="text-align:right" | 5 February 2012
|-
| Group Sa
| {{flagicon|AUS}} Brian Duffy
| [[Austin-Healey 3000|Austin-Healey 3000 MkI]]
| '''2:48.837'''
| style="text-align:right"| 26 March 2016
|-
| Circuit Excels
| {{flagicon|AUS}} Tyler Collins
| [[Hyundai Accent#X3|Hyundai X3 Excel]]
| '''2:50.9713'''<ref>{{cite web |title=2025 Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour - Mount Panorama - Bathurst - 24/7 Roadservices Australia Circuit Excel - Race 3 - Final Classification |url=http://racing.natsoft.com.au/639201623/object_920319.81Q/Result?35 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250420090417/http://racing.natsoft.com.au/639201623/object_920319.81Q/Result?35 |publisher=National Software |date=20 April 2025 |archive-date=20 April 2025 |access-date=20 April 2025 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| style="text-align:right"| 20 April 2025
|-
| Formula Vee (1200)
| {{flagicon|AUS}} Paul Sherman
| Spectre Volkswagen
| '''2.55.7162'''
| style="text-align:right"| 21 February 2009
|-
| HQ Holden
| {{flagicon|AUS}} Peter Holmes
| [[Holden Kingswood#Second generation (1971–1984)|HQ Holden]]
| '''2:56.0330'''<ref name='bathurst_fl_comparison'/><ref>{{cite web |title=Primus 1000 Classic Mt Panorama - Bathurst |url=http://www.natsoft.com.au/cgi-bin/results.cgi?19/10/1997.BATH.R4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070910041048/http://www.natsoft.com.au/cgi-bin/results.cgi?19%2F10%2F1997.BATH.R4 |publisher=National Software |date=19 October 1997 |archive-date=10 September 2007|access-date=19 April 2008 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
| style="text-align:right"| 19 October 1997
|-
| Group Na
| {{flagicon|AUS}} K. Smith
| [[MG Magnette#Magnette ZA|MG ZA Magnette]]
| '''3:21.3310'''
| style="text-align:right"| 11 April 2009
|-
! colspan=5 | Original Circuit: 6.172&nbsp;km (1938–1986)
|-
| [[Formula 5000]]
| {{flagicon|AUS}} Niel Allen
| [[McLaren M10|McLaren M10B]]
| '''2:09.7'''<ref name='mountpanorama_fl_records'/>
| style="text-align:right"| 30 March 1970
|-
| [[Group C (Australia)]]
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Peter Brock]]
| [[Holden Commodore (VK)#Motor racing|Holden VK Commodore SS]]
| '''2:15.13'''<ref>{{cite book |title=Australia's Greatest Motor Race 1960–1999 |last=Greenhalgh |first=David |author2=Thomas B. Floyd |author3=Bill Tuckey |publisher=Chevron Publishing Group |year=2000 |isbn=1-875221-12-3 |page=472}}</ref>
| style="text-align:right"| [[1984 James Hardie 1000|30 September 1984]]
|-
| [[Group C (Australia)#Group C Improved Production Touring Cars|Group C Improved Production Touring Cars]]
| {{flagicon|CAN}} [[Allan Moffat]]
| [[Boss 302 Mustang#Australian touring cars|Ford Boss 302 Mustang]]
| '''2:22.4'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ian "Pete" Geoghegan's Super Falcon |url=http://www.bowdensown.com.au/collection/ian-pete-geoghegans-super-falcon |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104015444/http://www.bowdensown.com.au/collection/ian-pete-geoghegans-super-falcon |access-date=2 November 2016 |archive-date=4 November 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| style="text-align:right"| 3 April 1972
|-
| [[Formula Libre]]<ref name=Bathurst_Prog_1967>Official Programme, Bathurst National Open Meeting, Mount Panorama, Bathurst, Monday, 27th March 1967, page 33</ref>
| {{flagicon|NZL}} Jim Palmer <ref name=Bathurst_Prog_1967/>
| [[Repco Brabham]]<ref name=Bathurst_Prog_1967/>
| '''2:25.7'''<ref name=Bathurst_Prog_1967/> 
| style="text-align:right"| 27 March 1967
|-
| [[Group E Series Production Touring Cars|Group E Series Production]]
| {{flagicon|CAN}} [[Allan Moffat]]
| [[Ford XY Falcon GT#GTHO Phase III|Ford Falcon XY GTHO Phase III]]
| '''2:36.5'''<ref>{{cite book|title=Australia's Greatest Motor Race 1960–1999|last=Greenhalgh|first=David|author2=Thomas B. Floyd |author3=Bill Tuckey |publisher=Chevron Publishing Group|year=2000|isbn=1-875221-12-3|page=460}}</ref>
| style="text-align:right"| 1 October 1972
|-
|}

==Notable races==
[[File:Bathurst 1000 2005 3.jpg|thumb|Cars on track during the [[2005 Bathurst 1000]]]]
{{Main article|List of Mount Panorama races}}

===Motorcycles===
The inaugural race held at the Mount Panorama Circuit was the 1938 Junior Tourist Trophy for motorcycles.<ref name=speedwayandroadracehistory/> Mount Panorama hosted the [[Australian motorcycle Grand Prix]] nine times in the era before the event became part of the [[Grand Prix motorcycle racing|world championship]].

===Australian Grand Prix===
{{See also|Australian Grand Prix}}
The [[Australian Grand Prix]] was held at the circuit in [[1938 Australian Grand Prix|1938]], [[1947 Australian Grand Prix|1947]], [[1952 Australian Grand Prix|1952]] and [[1958 Australian Grand Prix|1958]]. The 1938 race was the first major event held at the circuit after opening. The circuit also hosted the first post-[[World War II]] Australian Grand Prix in 1947, with the event then rotating between Australian [[States of Australia|states]] before returning in 1952 and 1958.

====Winners====
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
! Year
! Driver
! Constructor
! Report
|-
! 1938
| {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Peter Whitehead (racing driver)|Peter Whitehead]]
| [[English Racing Automobiles|ERA]]
| [[1938 Australian Grand Prix|Report]]
|-
! 1947 
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Bill Murray (auto racer)|Bill Murray]]
| [[MG Cars|MG]]
| [[1947 Australian Grand Prix|Report]]
|-
! [[1952 Grand Prix season|1952]]
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Doug Whiteford]]
| [[Talbot-Lago]]
| [[1952 Australian Grand Prix|Report]]
|-
! [[1958 Australian Drivers' Championship|1958]]
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Lex Davison]]
| [[Ferrari]]
| [[1958 Australian Grand Prix|Report]]
|}

===Bathurst 1000===
{{See also|Bathurst 1000}}
The circuit has been home to one of the world's classic [[Endurance racing (motorsport)|endurance]] events, the [[Bathurst 1000]], since [[1963 Armstrong 500|1963]]. This was the continuation of the event which began in 1960 at the [[Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit]] in [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]]. The race was 500 miles between its start at Phillip Island in 1960, and from 1963 to 1972 at Bathurst, before being changed to its current 1000&nbsp;km format in 1973. Since 1999, the Bathurst 1000 has also become a round of the V8 Supercars (formerly [[Australian Touring Car Championship]]) calendar.

===ATCC sprint rounds===
{{See also|Mount Panorama ATCC sprint round}}
In addition to the Bathurst 1000, the circuit has hosted seven sprint rounds of the ATCC; in [[1966 Australian Touring Car Championship|1966]], [[1969 Australian Touring Car Championship|1969]], [[1970 Australian Touring Car Championship|1970]], [[1972 Australian Touring Car Championship|1972]], [[1995 Australian Touring Car Championship|1995]], [[1996 Australian Touring Car Championship|1996]], and [[2021 Supercars Championship|2021]]. The 1972 round has been considered one of the greatest races in championship history due to the close battle between [[Ian Geoghegan]]'s [[Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III]] and [[Allan Moffat]]'s [[Ford Boss 302 Mustang]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fogarty |first1=Mark |title=The best of the V8 Supercars 500 |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/motorsport/the-best-of-the-v8-supercars-500-20160415-go7qvp.html |access-date=30 June 2019 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=15 April 2016 |language=en}}</ref>

===Endurance events===
{{See also|Bathurst 24 Hour|Bathurst 12 Hour|Bathurst 6 Hour}}
In more recent years, the circuit has also hosted longer endurance races including the [[Bathurst 24 Hour]] (2003–04) and the [[Bathurst 12 Hour]] (1991–94, 2007–2020, 2022-) Since 2011, the Bathurst 12 Hour has become a [[Group GT3|FIA GT3]] race, and became a part of the inaugural [[Intercontinental GT Challenge]] in 2016. The other major event currently held at the circuit is the [[Bathurst 6 Hour]] at [[Easter]].

===Other events===
The first motorsport event was a speed [[Hillclimbing|hillclimb]] held from Mountain Straight up to Reid Park. This event is still held today as a round of the New South Wales Hillclimb Championship.

In 2008, the circuit hosted the [[IGSA Gravity Sports World Championships]]: [[skateboard]] downhill and [[street luge]] downhill. The race began at Skyline and ended at Conrod Straight.

==Event list==

; Current

* February: [[Intercontinental GT Challenge]] ''[[Bathurst 12 Hour]]'', [[Ferrari Challenge|Ferrari Challenge Australasia]]
* April: [[Bathurst 6 Hour]], [[Australian National Trans-Am Series]], [[TA2 Racing Muscle Car Series]], [[Australian Prototype Series]]
* October: [[Supercars Championship]] ''[[Bathurst 1000]]'', [[Super2 Series]], [[SuperUtes Series]], [[Touring Car Masters]], [[Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Championship]], [[GR Cup]]

; Former

* [[24H Series]] (2013)
* [[Aussie Racing Cars]] (2006–2007, 2011–2012, 2014–2015, 2020–2022, 2024)
* [[Australian Drivers' Championship]]
** ''Bathurst 100'' (1940–1969)
* [[Australian Formula 3|Australian Formula 3 Championship]] (2012–2014)
* [[Australian Formula Ford Championship]] (1995–1996, 2012, 2024)
* [[Australian Grand Prix]] (1938, 1947, 1952, 1958)
* [[Australian Mini Challenge]] (2008)
* [[Australian motorcycle Grand Prix]] (1940, 1946, 1952, 1966–1968, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988)
* [[Australian Nations Cup Championship]] (2000)
* [[Australian One and a Half Litre Championship]] (1965, 1968)
* [[Australian Production Car Championship|Australian Production Car Series]] (2007, 2010, 2017, 2022–2024)
* [[Australian Suzuki Swift Series]] (1995, 2014–2015)
* [[Australian Tourist Trophy]] (1958, 1961)
* [[Bathurst 24 Hour]] (2002–2003)
* [[GT World Challenge Australia]] (1960, 2006–2007, 2009–2011, 2013, 2019–2024)
* [[National Sports Sedan Series]] (1992, 2023–2024)
* [[Porsche Sprint Challenge Australia]] (2009–2010, 2022–2023)
* [[Tasman Series|S5000 Tasman Series]] (2021)
* [[Supercars Championship]]
** ''[[Mount Panorama 500|Bathurst 500]]'' (1966, 1969–1970, 1972, 1995–1996, 2021, 2024)
* [[TCR Australia Touring Car Series]]
** ''Supercheap Auto Bathurst International'' (2021–2024)
* [[TCR World Tour]] (2023)
* [[V8 Ute Racing Series]] (2008–2017)
* [[World Touring Car Championship]]
** ''[[1987 James Hardie 1000|James Hardie 1000]]'' (1987)

==Racing deaths at Mount Panorama==
Sixteen competitors have died during racing associated with Mount Panorama, including [[1967 Formula One Season|1967]] World Drivers' Champion Denny Hulme who died after suffering a fatal [[Myocardial infarction|heart attack]] while at the wheel of his car. Two spectators were also killed in 1955 after being struck by a crashing car.
* 17 April 1949 Jack Johnson, MG TC, Easter races
* 6 April 1953 Billy Raymond Baldry Motorcycle race, Easter races
* 5 April 1958 Barry Halliday, Motorcycle, Bathurst Tourist Trophy
* 2 October 1960 Reg Smith, Porsche, Australian GT Championship
* 7 April 1969 Bevan Gibson, Elfin 400 Repco, Mount Panorama Trophy
* 30 March 1970 Tom Sulman, Lotus Eleven Climax, Sir Joseph Banks Trophy
* 2 April 1972 Lan Hog, sidecar, Bathurst tt race 
* 17 April 1976 Ross Barelli, Suzuki RG500, Easter races
* 15 April 1979 Ron Toombs, Yamaha TZ 350F, Easter races
* 4 April 1980 Alec Dick, Easter motorcycle races
* 6 April 1980 Rob Moorhouse, Easter motorcycle races
* 5 October 1986 [[Mike Burgmann]], Holden Commodore VK SS Group A, James Hardie 1000
* 4 October 1992 [[Denny Hulme]], BMW M3 Evolution, Tooheys 1000
* 2 April 1994 Jim Colligan, Sidecar, Australian Tourist Trophy
* 2 April 1994 Ian Thornton, Sidecar, Australian Tourist Trophy
* 30 September 1994 Don Watson, Holden Commodore VP, Tooheys 1000
* 8 October 2006 [[Mark Porter (racing driver)|Mark Porter]], Holden Commodore VZ, Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons|Mount Panorama Circuit}}
*[http://www.mount-panorama.com.au/ Official Website]
*[http://www.bathurst-nsw.com/MtPanoramaStatistics.html Take a drive around Mt Panorama Circuit] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200214174512/http://www.bathurst-nsw.com/MtPanoramaStatistics.html |date=14 February 2020 }}

{{V8 Supercar tracks}}
{{Australian GT circuits}}
{{24H Series circuits}}
{{Australian Superbike Championship circuits}}
{{Tasman Series circuits}}
{{WTCC circuits}}

[[Category:Motorsport venues in New South Wales]]
[[Category:Supercars Championship circuits]]
[[Category:Motorsport in Bathurst, New South Wales]]
[[Category:Bathurst, New South Wales]]
[[Category:Australian Grand Prix]]
[[Category:World Touring Car Championship circuits]]