Bathurst 500 weather forecast
By Thomas Miles
Date posted: 22 February 2024
The 2021 Bathurst 500 may had been held under mostly bright blue skies, but weather may cause some headaches when the Mountain hosts the 2024 Supercars season opener.
One week after weather had a massive impact at the Bathurst 12 Hour, showers are forecast for both Friday and Saturday of this weekend’s Bathurst 500.
The biggest impact will be on Friday with an 80 percent chance of 0-6mm of rain, which could significantly hamper teams’ practice plans to get to know the revised aero of the Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang.
“High chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening,” reads the Bureau of Meteorology description.
With Friday’s two 60-minute sessions being the only chance to practice before Saturday morning qualifying, teams could be going into the vital session that sets the grid from positions 10-24 blind.
However, rain may also be a factor on Saturday when the first of two 40-lap races will be held.
A 60 percent chance of 0-3mm has been forecast and if it comes could throw a spanner in the works during the cuthroat Qualifying and Top 10 Shootout sessions that precede the first 250km contest.
“High chance of showers on and east of the ranges, medium chance elsewhere. The chance of a thunderstorm in the morning,” the Bureau of Meteorology reported.
However, Sunday’s second 40-lap race should be held under blue and sunny skies just like at the 2021 Bathurst 500 with a maximum of 29 degrees forecast.
The 2024 Bathurst 500 begins the season with practice at 12.20 AEDT Friday morning.
Image: Peter Norton EPIC Sports Photography
2024 Bathurst 500 Supercars schedule
Friday, February 23
Practice 1: 12.20-13.20
Practice 2: 16.20-17.20
Saturday, February 24
Qualifying: 10.20
Top 10 Shootout: 13.05
Race 1 (40 laps): 16.10
Sunday, February 25
Qualifying: 09.30
Top 10 Shootout: 12.05
Race 1 (40 laps): 15.05
There is also lots more loaded into a bumper edition of AUTO ACTION magazine, on sale at newsagents Thursday and available digitally here. For more of the latest motorsport news, subscribe to AUTO ACTION magazine.
Latest Podcast: Gentlemen Start your Engines – It’s Supercar Season on the Auto Action RevLimiter!
This is it folks, there’s no more posturing and no more of the who did what to whom talk, this weekend Supercars gets to fight fair in the opening round of the season at the Bathurst 500. Who can win, who will win, we dissect the season and tell you what we think on the latest podcast.
Listen to our latest episode on your podcast app of choice or here
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