2021 Supercars Mount Panorama 500 session times and preview
The 2021 Supercars season kicks off this weekend with a single-driver sprint round at the famous Mount Panorama circuit.
Unlike the two-driver Bathurst 1000, the Mount Panorama 500 will feature a pair of 250-kilometre sprints.
The grids for those races will be determined by a 15-minute qualifying session followed by a Top 10 Shootout on each day.
There won't be a repeat champion in Supercars this season, with reigning three-time series winner Scott McLaughlin now racing in IndyCar.
That's left Triple Eight pair Jamie Whincup and Shane van Gisbergen as the overwhelming favourites heading into the season, while the likes of Cam Waters (Tickford Racing) and Dick Johnson Racing's new recruit Anton De Pasquale are expected to be in the mix.
DJR, which won the last three titles with McLaughlin, has an all-new line-up for the first season of the post-Penske era, Will Davison joining De Pasquale in the Shell-backed Mustangs.
Other changes include David Reynolds moving to Kelly Grove Racing, Fabian Coulthard and Garry Jacobson heading to Team Sydney, and Erebus fielding an all-rookie line-up of Will Brown and Brodie Kostecki.
Tickford has slimmed back from three cars to four, Lee Holdsworth missing out as Waters, Jack Le Brocq and James Courtney kept their seats.
The new Blanchard Racing Team, which will field a Mustang for Tim Slade, will share a pit boom with Tickford on race weekends.
Brad Jones Racing, Team 18 and Walkinshaw Andretti United will carry unchanged line-ups into the new season.
2021 Supercars Mount Panorama 500 session times
All times local (GMT +11)
Friday February 26
7:20-7:40 Aussie Racing Cars – Practice 1
7:50-8:10 Touring Car Masters – Practice 1
8:20-8:40 Toyota 86 Racing Series – Practice 1
8:55-9:35 Super2/Super3 – Practice 1
9:50-10:10 Aussie Racing Cars – Qualifying
10:20-10:40 Touring Car Masters – Qualifying
12:00-13:00 Supercars – Practice 1
13:35-13:55 Toyota 86 Racing Series – Practice 2
14:05-14:25 Touring Car Masters – Trophy Race
14:35-14:55 Aussie Racing Cars – Race 1
15:10-15:50 Super2/Super3 – Practice 2
16:05-17:05 Supercars – Practice 2
Saturday February 27
7:25-7:45 Aussie Racing Cars – Race 2
7:55-8:15 Toyota 86 Racing Series – Qualifying
8:30-8:50 Super2/Super3 – Qualifying
9:05-9:25 Supercars – Qualifying
9:55-10:15 Aussie Racing Cars – Race 3
10:30-10:50 Touring Car Masters – Race 1
12:10-12:50 Supercars – Top 10 Shootout
13:05-13:25 Toyota 86 Racing Series – Race 1
13:40-14:10 Super2/Super3 – Race 1
15:00-16:50 Supercars – Race 1
Sunday February 28
7:30-7:50 Toyota 86 Racing Series – Race 2
8:05-8:25 Touring Car Masters – Race 2
8:40-8:55 Super2/Super3 – Qualifying
9:10-9:25 Supercars – Qualifying
10:00-10:20 Aussie Racing Cars – Race 4
10:30-10:50 Toyota 86 Racing Series – Race 3
12:10-12:50 Supercars – Top 10 Shootout
13:05-13:25 Touring Car Masters – Race 3
13:40-14:10 Super2/Super3 – Race 2
15:00-16:50 Supercars – Race 2
Related video
Previous article
Rolling sponsorship for Supercars rookie
Next article
2021 Mount Panorama 500 – Start time, how to watch, channel & more
About this article
| Series | Supercars |
| Event | Bathurst |
| Author | Andrew van Leeuwen |
Supershots Sandown
Supershots Bathurst
Sam Brabham drives BT-19 at Mount Panorama
Can DJR still be a Supercars powerhouse after Penske?
Roger Penske's whirlwind Australian Supercars sojourn is over. After six seasons, three drivers' titles, three teams' championships and a Bathurst 1000 crown, The Captain has sold his controlling stake in Dick Johnson Racing back to the squad and walked away from the category.
Can Whincup be Triple Eight's ruthless leader?
Supercars' most successful team of the past 15 years is set for a radical shakeup next year when Jamie Whincup retires from driving and takes over the reins at Triple Eight. But does he have what it takes to be the new Roland Dane?
How a lifetime Supercars deal broke down in one year
David Reynolds inked what was effectively a lifetime deal with Erebus in 2019 – only to walk out a year later. What went wrong?
Why Supercars now needs a new "human salt harvester"
Scott McLaughlin has been a controversial figure in Supercars over the past few years but, as he heads off to a fresh challenge in IndyCar, the Australian tin-top series needs to find someone else to fill his drama-filled boots as the category enters a new era...
Why 2020 isn't McLaughlin's greatest title
Scott McLaughlin was quick to describe his third Supercars title as his best yet. But even though it didn't match the dramatic backstory of his 2018 triumph, there's a good reason for him wanting to control the narrative this time around.
Why a Bathurst finale is risky business for Supercars
The Bathurst Grand Final may provide Supercars its greatest spectacle yet – but there's a risk it will force the series to face a hard truth.
Why Scott McLaughlin must become an IndyCar driver
Scott McLaughlin, two-time and current Supercars champion, should have been making his NTT IndyCar Series debut for Team Penske at the GP of Indianapolis, but the Covid-19 pandemic forced a rescheduling that has put the brakes on his career switch. But David Malsher-Lopez explains why the New Zealander deserves this opportunity as soon as possible.
Tickford's 10-year wait for James Courtney
When the Supercars season resumes James Courtney will be a Tickford Racing driver – but it's not the first time the star driver has flirted with the famous Ford squad.
