BATHURST 1000 WILL BE ONLY TWO-DRIVER RACE IN 2021
By Bruce Williams
Date posted: 26 November 2020
Bathurst 1000 will be the only two-driver race in 2021 – Photo: InSyde Media
While we await the 2021 Supercars calendar, one thing is certain – there will be only one two-driver endurance race.
By MARK FOGARTY
That will be the Bathurst 1000, natch.
The October 7-10 classic will again be the sole two-driver enduro because teams have demanded it.
They want to save money and reducing the number of long-distance races from three to one is an easy cost cut.
Pre- and post-Bathurst enduros were dumped this year to save money amid the COVID-19 crisis.
Co-drivers took pay cuts this year because of the pandemic-reduced schedule and will feel more financial pain next year.
Even the most desirable co-drivers like Garth Tander and Craig Lowndes had their fees slashed this year because they were only needed for Bathurst rather than the traditional three enduros.
The Pirtek Enduro Cup was axed as the Sandown and the Gold Coast rounds were dropped.
The Bend in SA could’ve hosted a pre-Bathurst two-driver enduro, but teams vetoed the idea on cost grounds.
Similarly, they demanded that the Bathurst 1000 was the only event on the 2021 calendar requiring co-drivers.
Ironically, the move will increase the premium for experienced drop-ins who raced full-time relatively recently.
Desirables will still command top rate, but that will be less than before.
Generally, on a one-off race basis, top co-driver stipends will drop from a couple of hundreds of thousands of dollars to barely $100,000. Still good pay if you can get it.
Overall, experienced second drivers at Bathurst will be sought after, but they will still earn much less than before.
Triple Eight’s Bathurst co-drivers are locked in – Tander with Shane van Gisbergen and Lowndes with Jamie Whincup.
The next best seats are at Dick Johnson Racing.
Scott McLaughlin will return for Bathurst, presumably paired with Will Davison in the #17.
AA understands De Pasquale’s co-driver has been secured, to be announced in the coming weeks
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