MARK WINS BATHURST 2001
The Bathurst 1000 is the biggest race of the year in Touring Cars. A 1000 km,
161-lap endurance race, complete with compulsory pit stops for fuel, tyres, brake
pads, and driver changes around Mt Panorama, one of the toughest racing tracks
in the world, the Bathurst 1000 is certainly not for the faint-hearted.
The 2001 Bathurst 1000, complete with hail, 8 Safety Car periods and the inevitable
incidents, was no exception.
The Holden Racing Team made the most of the situation, and with a superb race
and pit strategy, brought home the Number 1 Commodore of Mark Skaife and
Tony Longhurst in the Number 1 position.
Mark Skaife and Tony Longhurst on the podium, celebrating their win.
"This photo comes from the official AVESCO Site"
Here is a summary of the Race.....
The top grid positions were determined by the Top Fifteen Shootout, where Mark qualified
the car in 5th Position. Mark also started the race.
On Lap 1, Mark got up to 4th Position after passing Marcos Ambrose up Mountain Straight.
Lap 2, and Mark passed team-mate Jason Bright going down the Dipper, moving him into
3rd Position. He then passed Paul Radisich on Lap 3 through the Chase. On Lap 5, he passed
Glenn Seton up through Griffin's Bend, moving him into 1st Position.
On Lap 12, Mark's lead over Jason Bright was 5.14 seconds.
Lap 18, and John Bowe passed Mark up through Griffin's Bend, moving him back to 2nd.
Then on Lap 23, Greg Murphy passed him down Conrod Straight, and Russell Ingall passed
him up through Griffin's Bend, moving Mark down to 4th Position.
The Safety Car came out on Lap 30. During this time Mark came in for a pit stop, and Tony
Longhurst took over.
The race restarted on Lap 34 with Tony in 2nd Position.
The Safety Car came back out again on Lap 35, until the restart again on Lap 39.
On Lap 43, Tony passed Todd Kelly coming down Conrod Straight, taking over the lead. But
Todd Kelly passed him back on Lap 52 on the inside of Griffin's Bend.
Lap 57, and Tony was passed by Steven Johnson in Murray's Corner, which moved him
down to 3rd.
The Safety Car again came out on Lap 61. Tony went in for a pit stop, Mark got back in the
car, and they rejoined the race in 5th. Mark came into the pits again during this Safety Car
period, and rejoined in 3rd Position.
The race restarted again on Lap 67 then Glenn Seton pitted from 1st, moving Mark up to
2nd Position.
On Lap 74, Mark was leading, after passing Greg Murphy up Mountain Straight.
On Lap 76, Craig Lowndes passed Mark in the Chase, moving him back to 2nd Position. Then
on Lap 80, Greg Murphy passed him again in the Chase, moving him down to 3rd.
On Lap 87, Craig Lowndes crashed at Forrests' Elbow, moving Mark into 2nd, before the Safety
Car came out.
The race restarted on Lap 93.
Lap 94, and Mark passed Greg Murphy on the inside of Hell Corner, giving him 1st Position.
But on Lap 96, Greg Murphy passed him back again, down Conrod Straight, putting him
back to 2nd again. Then on Lap 97, Brad Jones passed Mark up the inside of Griffin's Bend.
Greg Murphy pitted on Lap 99, handing the car over to Todd Kelly, which moved Mark into
2nd. The Safety Car came back out again on Lap 100. Mark went into the pits,Tony took
over, and he rejoined in 3rd.
Lap 101 and the race restarted.
On Lap 104, Tony was in 4th Position. He was passed by Steven Richards on Lap 107, in
Forrests' Elbow, moving him down to 5th.
The Safety Car then came out on Lap 109. The race restarted on Lap 112, with Tony in 4th.
Greg Ritter passed Tony in the Cutting on lap 113, putting him down to 5th. Tony then
passed Jason Bargwanna on Lap 115, in the Chase, giving him 4th Position back.
The Safety Car again came out on Lap 120 and the race restarted on Lap 124.
On Lap 125, Larry Perkins passed Tony in Forrests' Elbow, moving him down to 5th.
Then, around Lap 129, Steven Richards and Todd Kelly went off in the Chase, and Larry Perkins
pitted. Tony also came into the pits, handing the car back over to Mark. The Safety Car came
out, and Mark rejoined the race in 1st Position.
The race restarted again on Lap 134, and Cameron McLean took the lead from Mark up
Mountain Straight, until Mark passed him back on Lap 135 on the Start Straight.
Mark retained the lead from this point until the end of the race.
On Lap 140, his lead over Brad Jones, who was now in 2nd was 0.92 seconds. On Lap 152
it was 2.58 seconds and on Lap 155 and his lead had gone out to 3.88 seconds.
Lap 161, the final lap, Mark crossed the line in First Position, and, with Tony Longhurst, won
his first Bathurst 1000 in a V8!! He finished with a 2.27 second lead over Brad Jones. He
crossed the line with only 5 Litres of fuel left. As Mark crossed the line, he said on the pit to
car radio "Thanks boys, that was unbelieveably good!!".
Tony Longhurst and Jeff Grech's comments after the race.....
** Tony Longhurst,, "Fantastic. What a team!! They've made me feel so
welcome and secure throughout the week. It's just wonderful. Mark's a
brilliant driver, he's so good. I can't tell you how good he is " **
** Greg Rust (to Jeff Grech),, "How are you feeling? " **
** Jeff Grech,, "Absolutely over the moon, Rusty, I think the whole team
is. You know, we've worked hard to try and get another Bathurst
victory and you know, sometimes, you know, luck's gotta go your way.
It's all credit to the guys. All credit to Mark and Tony. Absolutely, you
know, Tony and Mark just did a fantastic job " **
The Number 1 Holden Racing Team Commodore of Mark Skaife and
Tony Longhurst making its way across the mountain.
"This photo comes from the official AVESCO Site"
Mark and Tony's Interview with Mark Oastler on the Podium.....
** Mark Oastler, "Tony, what a magnificent moment, 1988 you were standing
up here last time, it's been a long time, but what a fantastic drive" **
** Tony, "Yeah, what a fantastic team and Mark Skaife is an incredible driver,
incredible team. They've made me feel so welcome all weekend and
certainly do get the best out of you" **
** Mark Oastler , "A magnificent moment for Holden. Let's get Mark Skaife
in, Skaifey " **
** Mark (to the crowd), "Thank you, thank you, fantastic!!" **
** Mark Oastler, "You're a hero amongst the Holden fans. You've won
Bathurst twice in a turbo-charged car, but this is the first time you've
won it in a Holden V8, what a great feeling " **
** Mark, "Just unbelieveable Mark, I mean the car today was just faultless.
The guys did a great job. Tony did not make a mistake all day, and it was
a bloody tough race and congratulations to Brad and the Murph and the
other guys because that's the way that racing should be run, hard and
fast like that all day. Fantastic" **
** Mark Oastler, "Cheer the Champions, Mark Skaife and Tony Longhurst!! " **
The traditional champagne spray on the podium.
(From Left to Right:- Greg Murphy, Todd Kelly and Mark Skaife)
"This photo comes from the official AVESCO Site"
** The Official Holden Racing Team Site **
*********** Mark Skaife "There Goes My Hero" ************