Mount Panorama Circuit
Mount Panorama is the public road on a hill above Bathurst that turns into a racetrack a few times a year, most famously for the Bathurst 1000. The lap climbs 174 m up the mountain, threads along the top between walls, plunges through the Esses and then lets cars run flat out down the 1.9 km Conrod Straight. Here’s the name, the history, a lap corner by corner, the records, what races there and how to visit, or drive it yourself at 60 km/h.
Mount Panorama at a Glance
Length 6.213 km / 3.861 mi current layout, with The Chase since 1987
Turns 23 run anticlockwise, from Hell Corner to Murray’s Corner
Elevation change 174 m / 571 ft from Pit Straight up to Skyline
Opened March 17, 1938 as a scenic drive and racetrack
Location & owner Bathurst, NSW owned and run by Bathurst Regional Council
Race lap record 1:59.2910 Christopher Mies, Audi R8 LMS GT3, 2018
Mount Panorama, Wahluu or just “Bathurst”?
All three. The circuit is named after the hill it climbs, Mount Panorama, which since 2015 has officially carried the dual name Mount Panorama / Wahluu, using its Wiradjuri name. Race fans, though, mostly just say “Bathurst,” after the city at the foot of the mountain, and “going to Bathurst” means going to the October race.
The corner names are a history lesson of their own. Griffins Bend is named after the mayor who opened the circuit in 1938, and Skyline after the view: from the top you look out over the whole city and the plains beyond.
It’s also, for most of the year, a public road. Mountain Straight, the run across the top and Conrod Straight all carry everyday traffic at 60 km/h (37 mph), and people live on the mountain. The circuit belongs to Bathurst Regional Council, which closes the roads for race meetings.
Mount Panorama History
Mount Panorama was built in the 1930s as a scenic drive up the mountain that could also be used for racing. Motorcycles and cars raced there from the start, but its fame comes from the endurance race for production-based sedans that arrived in 1963 and became the Bathurst 1000, the race most Australians mean when they say “Bathurst.”
- 1938 Mount Panorama opens on March 17 as a scenic drive that doubles as a racetrack, on a 6.172 km layout with 20 turns.
- 1963 The Armstrong 500 endurance race for production cars moves to Bathurst from Phillip Island, starting the race that became the Bathurst 1000.
- 1972 Peter Brock wins for the first time. He goes on to win a record nine times, the last in 1987, and Skyline is now known as Brock’s Skyline.
- 1973 The race grows to 1,000 km.
- 1987 The Chase, a fast corner sequence on Conrod Straight, is added so the track meets FIA rules for a round of the World Touring Car Championship.
- 1991 The first Bathurst 12 Hour for production cars runs. After a break, the race returns in 2007, switches to GT3 cars in 2011 and joins the Intercontinental GT Challenge in 2016.
- 1997–98 A split in Australian touring cars means two separate Bathurst races in each of these years.
- 2018 Christopher Mies sets the official lap record, 1:59.2910, in an Audi R8 LMS GT3 during the 12 Hour.
- 2023 Plans for a second, separate circuit next to the mountain stall after federal funding is withdrawn.
- 2025 Matthew Payne and Garth Tander win the Bathurst 1000 for Grove Racing; it’s Tander’s sixth win.
- 2026 A record 55,231 fans see the Bathurst 12 Hour in February. In October, Brodie Kostecki and Todd Hazelwood win the fastest Bathurst 1000 ever after leader Anton de Pasquale runs out of fuel on the last lap.
Skyline and the Esses
Every lap of Mount Panorama builds to one moment. You come across the top of the mountain, through McPhillamy Park, and arrive at Skyline, where the track crests and the view opens up over Bathurst. Then the road falls away. Drivers can’t see the apex as they turn in, and the car goes light just as they need it to change direction.
T11
Skyline
The crest at the top of the mountain, where the road suddenly drops away in front of you.
T12–17
The Esses and The Dipper
A plunging left-right sequence between walls, ending in a steep, tight drop at The Dipper.
174 m
Elevation change
The climb from Pit Straight to Skyline, which the lap gives back in a few hundred meters on the way down.
From Skyline the track snakes down through the Esses, with walls on both sides and almost no margin for error, then hits The Dipper, a steep, twisting drop that throws the car from one side to the other. It’s the section every driver talks about after their first lap, and the one where a small mistake turns into a big crash.
Mount Panorama Track Guide: A Lap, Corner by Corner
The lap runs anticlockwise over 6.213 km and 23 turns, and it splits into three very different parts: the climb up Mountain Straight and The Cutting, the narrow run across the top, and the drop back down to Conrod Straight. Gradients reach about 1 in 6 in places, and the start and finish lines are in slightly different places so the Bathurst 1000 is exactly 1,000 km.
T1
Hell Corner
A tight left at the end of Pit Straight. On lap one the whole field funnels into it, and a good exit matters because the climb starts straight away.
Climb
Mountain Straight
A 1.111 km uphill run where cars draft each other and pass into the next braking zone.
T2–4
Griffins Bend and The Cutting
A right at the top of Mountain Straight, then the steep, narrow climb through The Cutting, where cars slow right down between the rock and the wall.
T5–9
Reid Park and Sulman Park
The run across the top of the mountain: blind crests, close walls and no real run-off. Commitment here separates the quick drivers from the rest.
T10
McPhillamy Park
A fast left over a crest, with one of the most popular camping and viewing areas right beside it.
T11–17
Skyline, the Esses and The Dipper
The plunge off the top of the mountain, described above, with the steepest drops on the lap.
T18–19
Forrest’s Elbow
A slow left at the bottom of the mountain onto Conrod Straight. Get it right and you carry speed for nearly two kilometers.
Conrod
Conrod Straight
A 1.916 km downhill blast. Shane van Gisbergen was timed at 300.5 km/h (187 mph) here in 2023.
T20–22
The Chase
A fast sequence added to Conrod Straight in 1987 to break it up. Cars brake hard here from top speed, which makes it the main overtaking spot at the end of the lap.
T23
Murray’s Corner
The final, slow left onto Pit Straight. The National Motor Racing Museum sits just outside it.
Mount Panorama Lap Records
Only laps set in a race count as official lap records, which is why the outright record belongs to a GT3 car rather than the quicker demonstration and qualifying laps. GT3 cars have gone faster in practice and qualifying since, and the Ford SuperVan 4.2 electric van lapped in 1:56.3247 in 2024, but none of those count.
1:59.2910
Official lap record
Christopher Mies set it in an Audi R8 LMS GT3 during the 2018 Bathurst 12 Hour.
2:04.7602
Supercars race lap record
Chaz Mostert’s lap in a Ford Mustang during the 2019 Bathurst 1000.
2:03.3783
Fastest Supercars lap
Scott McLaughlin’s lap in a Mustang in the 2019 Top 10 Shootout. It’s not a race lap, so it isn’t the official record.
1:48.88
Fastest lap ever
Jenson Button drove a McLaren MP4-23 Formula 1 car around the mountain in a 2011 demonstration. Impressive, but unofficial.
Races and Events at Mount Panorama
Because the circuit is a public road, it only hosts a handful of events a year, and each one is a big deal. The Supercars Championship Bathurst 1000 in October is the headline, the Bathurst 12 Hour brings international GT3 teams in February, and the Bathurst 6 Hour runs at Easter. Challenge Bathurst, a week of track time for road-registered performance cars, fills a slot in November.
October
Bathurst 1000
Supercars Championship The Great Race
The big one. In 2026 Brodie Kostecki and Todd Hazelwood won for Dick Johnson Racing in a Ford Mustang, the fastest Bathurst 1000 ever, after Anton de Pasquale ran out of fuel while leading on the last lap. Matthew Payne and Garth Tander won in 2025.
February
Bathurst 12 Hour
Intercontinental GT Challenge GT3
Australia’s international GT3 enduro. The 2026 race was won by Maro Engel, Mikaël Grenier and Maxime Martin in a Mercedes-AMG in front of a record crowd. The 2027 event runs February 11–14 and grows to four days.
Easter
Bathurst 6 Hour
Production cars Endurance
An endurance race for production cars over the Easter weekend. Thomas Randle, Michael Kavich and Ben Kavich won the 2026 race in a BMW M2 Competition.
Mount Panorama Race Calendar: 2026 and 2027
The mountain only closes for racing a few times a year, so here’s the full list of major events. Dates marked TBA haven’t been announced yet; the 2027 Supercars calendar, including the Bathurst 1000 date, hadn’t been published at the time of writing.
2026 season
| Dates | Event | Series | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 13–15 | Bathurst 12 Hour | Intercontinental GT Challenge | Done |
| Mar 6–8 | AutoFest | Car festival | Done |
| Apr 5 | Bathurst 6 Hour | Production cars (Easter weekend) | Done |
| Oct 8–11 | Bathurst 1000 | Supercars Championship | Done |
| Nov 19–22 | Challenge Bathurst | Track days and sprints | Upcoming |
2027 season
| Dates | Event | Series | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 11–14 | Bathurst 12 Hour | Intercontinental GT Challenge | Upcoming |
| Easter (TBA) | Bathurst 6 Hour | Production cars | Date TBA |
| TBA | Bathurst 1000 | Supercars Championship | Date TBA |
| Oct 29–31 | GT World Challenge Australia and GT4 Australia | GT racing (provisional date) | Provisional |
Mount Panorama Weather by Season
Bathurst sits on the inland side of the Blue Mountains, so it gets bigger temperature swings than Sydney: hot summer days, cold winter nights and plenty of chilly mornings even in spring. The figures below are long-term Bureau of Meteorology averages for Bathurst Agricultural Station. The top of the mountain is higher and more exposed than the town, so expect it to feel cooler and windier.
26–28°C / 79–83°F
Summer · Dec–Feb
Warm days with highs of 26–28°C (79–83°F) and mild nights around 12–14°C (54–57°F). This is also the wettest stretch, with 58–68 mm (2.3–2.7 in) of rain a month, often in storms. The 12 Hour runs in February heat.
16–25°C / 60–77°F
Autumn · Mar–May
Highs fall from about 25°C (77°F) in March to 16°C (60°F) in May, and nights get cold fast, dropping to around 3°C (38°F) by May. Pack layers for the Easter 6 Hour.
11–13°C / 52–55°F
Winter · Jun–Aug
Cold: highs of just 11–13°C (52–55°F) and lows of about 1°C (33–35°F), so frost is common. There’s no major racing, but the mountain drive is still open.
16–24°C / 61–74°F
Spring · Sep–Nov
Highs climb from about 16°C (61°F) to 24°C (74°F). October, Bathurst 1000 month, averages about 20°C (68°F) by day but only 6°C (43°F) at night, so campers need warm sleeping bags.
Visiting Mount Panorama: Camping, Getting There and Tips
Bathurst is a pilgrimage for Australian race fans, and the camping on the mountain is as much a part of the 1000 as the race itself. Plan early: the more than 7,000 campsites for the 2026 Bathurst 1000 sold out in under 90 minutes.
Where to watch
- McPhillamy Park and Skyline. The famous camping area at the top of the mountain, with views of cars cresting Skyline and diving into the Esses.
- Reid Park and the top of the mountain. Get close to cars running between the walls across the top.
- Forrest’s Elbow and Conrod. Watch cars fire onto Conrod Straight; a 1.7 km boardwalk runs from Griffins Bend toward Forrest’s Elbow for walking between viewpoints.
- The Chase and Murray’s Corner. Late-lap overtaking, with the pits and Pit Straight grandstands nearby.
Getting there
Bathurst is about 200 km (125 miles) west of Sydney, roughly two and a half to three hours by car over the Blue Mountains. NSW TrainLink trains also run to Bathurst from Sydney. In town, the circuit is just south of the city center, and on race weekends the roads on the mountain are closed to normal traffic.
Tips
Don’t skip the National Motor Racing Museum at Murray’s Corner (400 Panorama Avenue), which tells the story of the Great Race with cars that won it. It’s open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed Tuesdays outside school holidays, and adult entry is A$15. And whatever the season, bring warm clothes for the evening; Bathurst nights get cold.
Can You Drive Mount Panorama?
Yes, and for free. Outside race events the circuit is a public road with two-way traffic, NSW road rules and a 60 km/h (37 mph) speed limit. You can drive up Mountain Straight, through The Cutting, over Skyline and down Conrod at legal speeds. The police patrol it with radar, so treat it as the road it is.
If you want to drive it at speed, Challenge Bathurst is the main way in. Running since 2016, it gives experienced drivers with road-registered performance cars several days on the closed circuit, with sprints, regularity runs, hot laps and club track sessions, and more than 400 cars take part each year.
On screen, Mount Panorama is everywhere: it’s in Gran Turismo 7, iRacing (since 2012), Assetto Corsa Competizione’s Intercontinental GT Pack and Forza Motorsport. Sim laps are a good way to learn the blind crests across the top before you see them for real.
Talk Mount Panorama With Other Enthusiasts
Planning your first trip to the Bathurst 1000, booking Challenge Bathurst or chasing a sim lap time? Share what you know, ask questions and find people camping on the mountain the same weekend in the AutoGathering community.
- Bathurst 1000 camping
- Best viewing spots
- Bathurst 12 Hour trips
- Driving the mountain
- Challenge Bathurst
- Great Race history
- Sim racing lap times
- Skyline photos
Mount Panorama FAQ
How long is Mount Panorama?
The circuit is 6.213 km (3.861 miles) long with 23 turns. The Bathurst 1000 is 161 laps, and the start and finish lines are set apart so the race is exactly 1,000 km.
Can you drive on Mount Panorama?
Yes. Outside race events it’s a public road with a 60 km/h speed limit and two-way traffic, and it’s free to drive.
What is the lap record at Mount Panorama?
The official lap record is 1:59.2910, set by Christopher Mies in an Audi R8 LMS GT3 during the 2018 Bathurst 12 Hour.
Who won the 2026 Bathurst 1000?
Brodie Kostecki and Todd Hazelwood won for Dick Johnson Racing in a Ford Mustang on October 11, 2026, after Anton de Pasquale ran out of fuel while leading on the last lap.
Who has won the most Bathurst 1000s?
Peter Brock, with nine wins between 1972 and 1987. Skyline is known as Brock’s Skyline in his honor.
When is the 2027 Bathurst 12 Hour?
February 11–14, 2027. The event grows to four days in 2027.
How far is Bathurst from Sydney?
About 200 km, or roughly two and a half to three hours by car over the Blue Mountains. Trains also run from Sydney.
What is Wahluu?
Wahluu is the Wiradjuri name for the mountain. Since 2015 it has officially been known as Mount Panorama / Wahluu.
Explore More Racing Circuits
Mount Panorama is one of 24 venues in our Oceania racing directory. Closer to Sydney, Sydney Motorsport Park at Eastern Creek is a permanent circuit you can visit year-round, and our Albert Park guide covers the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
Photo credits
- Header image: Kytabu, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Map of the 6.213 km Mount Panorama…: Will Pittenger, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped and resized.
- Touring cars on the climb from McPhillamy…: Kytabu, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Supercars in front of a packed grandstand…: Dushan Hanuska from Sydney, Australia, CC BY-SA 2.0, cropped and resized.
- A Porsche 911 GT3 R over the…: Ted Barrett, CC BY 2.0, cropped and resized.
- A road car on the Mount Panorama…: Nadia, CC BY-SA 2.0, cropped and resized.