Bathurst 1000: How to watch, race start time and weather forecast

The most famous race on the Supercars calendar is here, with thousands of fans flocking to Mount Panorama in regional New South Wales for the Bathurst 1000.Fifty-four drivers across 27 cars will battle over the 1,000-kilometre endurance race in an event that always produces drama.Here is what you need to know about this weekend's Bathurst 1000, including when the race begins and how you can follow the action.When is the Bathurst 1000?The Great Race will be held this Sunday, October 11, at Mount Panorama in Bathurst.There will be four days of action culminating in the 1,000km race on Sunday.Here is when each of the key sessions begins in your state or territory.Bathurst 1000 race, Sunday, October 1111:30am AEDT: NSW, Victoria, ACT, Tasmania11am ACDT: South Australia10:30am AEST: Queensland10am ACST: Northern Territory8:30am AWST: Western Australia1:30pm NZDT: New ZealandTop 10 Shootout, Saturday, October 105:05pm AEDT: NSW, Victoria, ACT, Tasmania4:35pm ACDT: South Australia4:05pm AEST: Queensland3:35pm ACST: Northern Territory2:05pm AWST: Western Australia7:05pm NZDT: New ZealandQualifying (top 10 advance to shootout), Friday, October 94:10pm AEDT: NSW, Victoria, ACT, Tasmania3:40pm ACDT: South Australia3:10pm AEST: Queensland2:40pm ACST: Northern Territory1:10pm AWST: Western Australia6:10pm NZDT: New ZealandHow can I watch the Bathurst 1000?In Australia, you can watch the race on both free-to-air and pay television, as well as streaming platforms.The Seven Network is the free-to-air broadcaster, and you can watch it on Channel 7 or via the online streaming platform 7plus.Foxtel and its streaming platform Kayo will also be broadcasting the race. On Foxtel, the race will be shown on Fox Sports channel 506.In New Zealand, you can watch the race through Sky Sport.ABC Sport will have live blog coverage of the Great Race from 10am AEDT on Sunday.Who is driving in the Bathurst 1000?There will be 54 drivers across 27 cars contesting this year's Bathurst 1000.Along with the usual 24 cars across 12 teams that contest every round of the Supercars Championship, the wildcard entries in this year's Bathurst 1000 are: 5 Ben Gomersall/Campbell Logan, 15 Craig Lowndes/Bayley Hall and 34 Nathan Herne/James Moffat.NumberMain driverCo-driverTeamCar1Chaz MostertFabian CoulthardWalkinshaw TWG RacingToyota2Ryan WoodJaxon EvansWalkinshaw TWG RacingToyota3Aaron CameronZak BestBlanchard Racing TeamFord4Jack Le BrocqHarri JonesMatt Stone RacingChevrolet5Ben GomersallCampbell LoganTickford RacingFord6Cam WatersMark WinterbottomTickford RacingFord7James GoldingRichie StanawayBlanchard Racing TeamFord8Andre HeimgartnerBryce FullwoodBrad Jones RacingToyota9Jobe StewartJarrod HughesErebus MotorsportChevrolet10Zac BatesAaron SetonMatt Stone RacingChevrolet11Jackson WallsJack Perkins SCT MotorsportFord14Cameron HillBrad VaughanBrad Jones RacingToyota15Craig LowndesBayley HallTeam 18Chevrolet17Brodie KosteckiTodd HazelwoodDick Johnson RacingFord18Anton De PasqualeLee HoldsworthTeam 18Chevrolet19Matthew PayneWill DavidsonGrove RacingFord20David ReynoldsJames CourtneyTeam 18Chevrolet26Kai AllenTim SladeGrove RacingFord31Jayden OjedaDavid RussellPremiAir RacingChevrolet34Nathan HerneJames MoffatGarry Rogers MotorsportChevrolet38Rylan GrayTony D'AlbertoDick Johnson RacingFord55Thomas RandleReuben GoodallTickford RacingFord88Broc FeeneyNick PercatTriple Eight Race EngineeringFord96Macauley JonesJordan BoysBrad Jones RacingToyota99Cooper MurrayLochie DaltonErebus MotorsportChevrolet777Declan FraserNash MorrisPremiAir RacingChevrolet888Will BrownScott PyeTriple Eight Race EngineeringFordWhat weather is forecast for the Bathurst 1000?Sunday is set to be sunny at Bathurst, but rain threatens to cause chaos at Mount Panorama on Saturday. (Getty Images: Robert Cianflone)Rain affected last year's Bathurst 1000, leading to a wild and thrilling finale at Mount Panorama.For now, the 2026 drivers can breathe a sigh of relief based on the current forecast.Sunday at Mount Panorama is expected to be sunny, with a maximum temperature of 26 degrees Celsius.However, there is a 90 per cent chance of rain on Saturday, which could have a massive effect on the starting grid.The fifth and sixth practice sessions will be held on Saturday, then the iconic Top 10 Shootout from 5:05pm, local time.The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting: "High chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. The chance of a thunderstorm in the morning and afternoon".That could make Saturday a very wild and eventful day.*Forecast from the Bureau of Meteorology correct as of Wednesday, October 7Who won the Bathurst 1000 last year?Matt Payne and Garth Tander won an extraordinary edition of the Bathurst 1000 in 2025, despite crossing the line second.The duo started 18th on the grid, and Payne only took the lead with five laps to go. Payne was overtaken on the last lap by James Golding, who was carrying a time penalty for taking out Cooper Murray late in the race.Golding took the chequered flag, but dropped to third with the penalty, as Payne and Tander were promoted to the win. It was Tander's sixth Bathurst 1000 win, while it was Payne's maiden triumph on Mount Panorama.But the late chaotic finale barely touches the surface of what was an unbelievable race that was one of the all-time greats.You can relive the drama of last year's Bathurst 1000 by tapping this link.