Mount Panorama

The track at a glance

The Mount Panorama Circuit is in Bathurst, New South Wales, about three hours west of Sydney. It is 6.213 km long with 23 turns, runs anticlockwise, and the Bathurst 1000 is 161 laps. The first race was held in 1938.

The lap climbs from the pits up the Mountain Straight, winds along the top through a run of blind, narrow corners, then drops back down through the Esses and the Dipper. The final third is the Conrod Straight, where cars reach close to 300 km/h before the Chase.

Mount Panorama is a public road when it is not in use for racing, with a 60 km/h speed limit. People live on the mountain, and you can drive the lap yourself.

A lap of Bathurst, corner by corner

Most corners on the mountain have names. This guide follows nine key places around the lap. Their numbers match the map.

1. Hell Corner

   A slow, 90° left at the end of the pit straight that starts the climb up the mountain.

2. Griffins Bend

   A right-hander at the top of the Mountain Straight, after a long uphill drag.

3. The Cutting

   A steep, tight corner through a cutting in the hillside, one of the slowest parts of the lap.

4. Reid Park

   A fast run along the top of the mountain, with walls close on both sides.

5. McPhillamy Park

   A blind left over the crest at the top of the mountain, taken fast with no view of the exit.

6. Skyline and the Esses

   The track drops off the top of the mountain at Skyline and snakes down through the Esses and the Dipper.

7. Forrest’s Elbow

   A slow left at the bottom of the hill. The exit sets up the whole of Conrod Straight.

8. The Chase

   A fast chicane added in 1987 to break up Conrod Straight.

9. Murray’s Corner

   A slow left onto the pit straight, and a last chance to pass before the line.

Racing on the mountain

Mount Panorama was built as a scenic drive in the 1930s, and racing began almost straight away.

• 1938The circuit opens, and the first race meeting is held at Easter.
• 1963The annual long-distance touring car race moves to Mount Panorama.
• 1987The Chase is added part way down Conrod Straight.
• 2018The lap record is set at 1:59.291 by a GT car.
• 2023A touring car is timed at 300.5 km/h on Conrod Straight.

Designed by the mountain

Mount Panorama’s character comes from its height. The climb rewards power, the narrow top section rewards bravery and precision, and the long descent rewards a car that is stable on the brakes. The walls are close, so there is little room for error.

It is very different from a modern, flat circuit with wide run-off. For more on how hills shape a lap, read designing for elevation change or see our list of the greatest race tracks.

Ideas for your remaster

The Remaster button opens the traced layout in the designer. You can move any point and the lap time, speed trace and corner analysis update as you go. A few places to start:

Rework the Chase. Take the chicane out, or move it. How fast is Conrod Straight without it, and where would cars pass?

Widen the mountain. The top section is narrow and bordered by walls. Try adding width and run-off without losing the character.

Name the corners. Group and name the turns in the designer, and they will show on your exports and share link.

Finish it properly. Add track width, kerbs, run-off and a pit lane so it reads like a modern venue.

When you’re happy with it, share your version with its own link. The original stays here for the next person to remaster.

Frequently asked questions

Layout traced from OpenStreetMap data, © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), via open-racetrack-db. Circuit facts: Wikipedia. RaceTrackDesigner is not affiliated with the circuit, its owners or any racing series.