Mount Panorama Circuit
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Mount Panorama Circuit () is a motor racing track located in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia. It is the home of the Bathurst 1000 motor race, held each October. The track is 6.213 kilometers long, and is technically a street circuit, as the Mountain is home to a number of residents.
The track is a very unusual design by modern standards, with a 174 metre 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 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. However, the factors that make the track so unusual, and tighter contemporary safety standards, make it unlikely that major race meetings in these categories will be held there again, and as such it has become the near-exclusive province of closed-bodied automobile racing cars.
The Circuit
The Main Straight
The main straight of Mount Panorama, which is adjacent to the pit complex, has a different start line and finish line. The start line is nearer towards Hell Corner, so that traffic does not go to far around Murray's Corner, while the finish line is underneath the overbridge.Hell Corner
Aptly named because of the crashes it has seen, Hell Corner is the first drivers meet on their way up the Mountain. It is a 90 degree left hand turn.Mountain Straight
Mountain Straight is a long straight that head up towards GTX Bend. Speeds can reach upto 250km/h as drivers go up and over the hill, before braking.GTX Bend
Although this is not the name of the corner now because of sponsorship, this is what many enthusiasts prefer to call it, because of its first sponsor. Drivers heading around this right hander have to be careful not to drift to far out and hit the wall upon exit.The Cutting
Referred for many years as "BP Cutting", this is a steep, left hand turn with a 1:6 grade. Overtaking is virtually impossible here, 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, after Murphy collided with Ambrose, while he was attempting to make a pass around the outside.Reid Park
After coming out of the Cutting, drivers have a right hand turn, heading up, then into a left hand turn. This is Reid Park. One of the most notable accidents here was from Kevin Bartlett, who clipped a wall and rolled over.Sulman Park
After Reid Park, drivers have a steep drop, followed by a left hand turn, then head back up the hill. The summit of this is the highest point of Mount Panorama, and is also the location of Sulman Park and the Nature Park up there.McPhilliamy Park
McPhilliamy Park is the downhill left hand turn onto skyline. Drivers have to stay close to the wall while turning so as not to go out wide upon exit. McPhilliamy Park is the home of the 'McPhilliamy Mob' a group of die hard enthusiasts who return year after year to watch the 1000km race. Other campers around the area should expect little sleep after this group have had a few Beers.Skyline
Now named 'Brock Skyline' after the legendary Peter Brock, Skyline is a smooth straight with an absolutely spectacular, or panoramic view. In 1986 Allan Moffat almost went over the wall and flying down the hill after crashing during practice.The Esses
The Esses are a tricky right left right sequence of corners before heading into the Dipper. Many times drivers have headed straight through the sand trap and into the wall.The Dipper
The Dipper is a sharp left hand corner that leads on to Forrest's Elbow. Many cars get two wheels off the ground in the pursuit of getting 11 tenths out of their car.Forrest's Elbow
'The Elbow' is another slow, left hander turn that leads onto the massive Conrod Straight. Drivers have to be careful not to straightline the corner and plough into the wall on the outside. This corner was the scene of Dick Johnson's 'through the trees' crash in 1983. Johnson clipped a tyre barrier on the outside wall, and subsequently got sent flying into a clump of trees, demolishing his car.Conrod Straight
Named because of its ability to ruin the conrods in a car, Conrod Straight is the fastest point of Mount Panorama, with cars just reaching 300km/h. While it is not flat, drivers have the chance to really stretch the legs of the car and see what speed it can reach.The Chase
Known for many years as 'Caltex Chase', this turn was added after the death of Mike Burgmann in 1986. It is a right hand bend of Conrod Striaght, followed by a left hand corner with speed of 100km/h. This corner was the scene of Peter Brock's only rollover in his motor racing career.Murray's Corner
Murray's Corner is the final corner before the main straight. It is a 90 degree left hand turn, which leads onto the main straight.External links
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