AUSCAR: Bathurst 1000 Preview

The famous Bathurst 1000 has been reconstructed with a new powerful V8 category for next October's Great Race.

In a deal announced today, promoters Advantage Australia International, the Bathurst City Council and the Seven Network have introduced a new class of car - the Millennium Auscar - to join the prestige Super Tourers.

As a result, this year's October long weekend event will be a competition between the New Millennium Auscar AU Falcon and VT Commodore V8's with some 400 horsepower and the Audi, BMW, Ford Mondeo, Holden Vectra, and Volvo Super Tourers. The new Auscar class will also introduce many new drivers, crews, and sponsors to the famous circuit at Mt Panorama

The New Millennium Auscars should first be seen at the Eastern Creek round of the BCC Gases Championship in late July. They will thrill thousands of fans who have waited for the return of the big more affordable V8s to the October long weekend.

The promoter of the Bathurst 1000 - which will again enjoy national live coverage on the Seven Network - will be Advantage International.

The new category of race car and the new promoter were given enthusiastic endorsement today by the Mayor of Bathurst, Cr Ian MacIntosh. "The new arrangements of on-going support by the Seven Network fulfill the City Council's obligations to Bathurst and the region to secure optimum utilisation of one of the world's best touring car circuits", he said.

The Director of Sport at Seven, Mr Harold Anderson, confirmed that the network will provide a minimum of 14 hours live coverage over the Bathurst weekend and will begin a new Motorsport show hosted by Mike Raymond and Allan Moffat early next month. "We are delighted to be back at Bathurst with such an exciting new category of Australian Motorsport doing battle with the Super Tourers. The lead up to the great weekend will begin with our new show 'Start Your Engines', on Saturday June 5". Mr Anderson said.

Advantage International is part of the giant international communications company The InterPublic Group and will manage the event for the next five years on Seven's behalf. The Managing Director of Advantage, Mr Steve Frazer. said "This is an exciting development and we are looking forward to a full grid and big crowds at the 37th staging of the Great Race".