PETER PREVIEWS THE BATHURST 1000
If it were not for the fact that we have been preparing for this one all year long, it would be almost unbelievable that it is already this time of year again – time to go racing on the Mountain.
As much as each and every event on the Supercars calendar is important, the Mountain is in a league of its own. No matter where you are in pit lane, what your championship chances are, how new or established you are, there is no bigger race in our orbit than the Bathurst 1000.
From the extreme elevation changes and unforgiving nature of the unique 6.213km layout to the strenuous requirements of the enduro format, the 1000 absolutely demands respect and commitment, and it has both of those things in spades from each and every person on the PremiAir Racing roster.
It also holds our hopes – it is no secret that this year has been a challenging one for us so far, but a strong result at Bathurst could turn everything around for a strong finish to 2025.
Success on the Mountain is something enduring for teams and drivers alike, and something that would no doubt provide not only a highlight to our season and our Supercars story to date but also provide a much needed boost as we face the final events of the year.
To have any chance of a strong result here you need a lot of preparation and some luck – of course only one of those things is in our control, but I can promise you that before the cars were loaded into the truck last Friday to begin their journey, we dotted every I and crossed every T ten times over to make sure we have not left anything to chance. And we will do it all again once we set-up in pit lane.
All that aside, this event is something very special to me on a personal level as well – I have watched every Bathurst race since I was a boy, and with this year marking my fourth as a team owner, I head into this weekend more determined and excited about our potential than ever.
I also can’t wait to see our 2025 enduro liveries hitting the track – designed by the legendary Peter Hughes, the design celebrates the heritage of Holden, bringing the feel of the cars we loved back in the day together with a modern twist. For me, it is a real feel good livery and they really do look incredible.
We also head into this race with some wisdom from a legend of this great race, after Jimmy took 81-year-old former Bathurst racer, Henk Woelders, on a hot lap back in Darwin.
Henk raced at Bathurst with none other than the Holden Dealer Team (HDT) back in 1969 and his love of the sport is still as strong as ever. It was a great pleasure to be able to host him in Darwin and we were all sure to take on his advice as we prepared for this year’s 1000.
As well as really firing us up for this year’s great race, speaking with Henk also reminded us of the fact that Bathurst is more than just a date on the calendar – it is a shared passion, a rite of passage, and a place where every lap tells a story. An event that creates connections across generations of Australian motorsport. A place that is truly unforgettable.
As excited as I am to see the PremiAir Racing Camaros rolling out onto Mount Panorama in a few days’ time, I also cannot help but feel disappointed in the fact that I will not be doing so personally this year as the V8 Sleuth Heritage Revival support category – which I absolutely loved being a part of in 2024 – is not featured in this year’s program.
As much as I wish this was not the case, I won’t have much time to dwell on that fact with an action-packed schedule from the moment we arrive in Bathurst with pre-event promotions all day Wednesday and then a heavy program of on-track and promotional commitments from Thursday.
As the countdown continues to tick down to this incredible event, I want to once again recognise every member of our crew for their exceptional preparation and hard work leading into this event.
I also want to send a shout out to you, our fans, for your enduring support across the year – we look forward to keeping you updated throughout the event on our social platforms and also on our special WhatsApp Channel, proudly sponsored by Air & Allied Sales, which will feature live race coverage and exclusive team and behind the scenes updates (join now at https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaEGGiJ2kNFlJu5eeo1H).
Let’s go racing!
Peter Xiberras
PremiAir Racing Team Owner
For more information on PremiAir Racing, please visit www.premiairracing.com or follow the team on its social media platforms at www.facebook.com/PremiAirRacing/, www.instagram.com/premiair_racing/, www.linkedin.com/company/premiairracing/ and www.x.com/premiairracing