Additional co-driver practice at Bathurst likely

Co-driver milage will be well down heading into the 2020 running of the Great Race, with most not having driven a Supercar since the pre-season test in February thanks to test and co-driver sessions having been canned due to the pandemic.

Race miles in general are down for the co-drivers as well, thanks to limited running for the likes of TCR Australia, Super2 and Carrera Cup.

Supercars has looked to partly rectify that with a limited co-driver inclusion at this weekend's second round at The Bend. The short rookie session before Practice 1 can be used by co-drivers who have made less than three Bathurst starts.

None of the Melbourne-based drivers will be able to take part, however, as they begin quarantine procedures to get access to New South Wales.

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To help level the playing field it's expected that more of the practice time during Bathurst week will be limited to co-drivers.

Last year there were two hour-long dedicated co-driver sessions from a total of seven practice hit-outs, with that number likely to grow this time around.

According to seven-time series champion Jamie Whincup, the amount of pre-race running at Bathurst should give co-drivers time to prepare.

"The saving grace is that there's seven hours of practice, including warm-up and everything, before we get to the race," he said. "And in the race there's six hours.

"From what a birdie told me there'll be a few more co-driver sessions, maybe three or four of that seven hours will be co-driver only. So they'll get heaps of running at the circuit they're going to race at before the big race.

"While most co-drivers haven't done anywhere near the amount of laps they would normally do in a normal year, they'll probably get a little bit more at Bathurst."

Whincup added that the primary drivers will be able to sacrifice some practice running at Bathurst, thanks to a hectic schedule that has included six race weekends over seven weeks.

"We'll be more ready than ever," he said. "We've done more racing in the last couple of months [than normal], so we'll be race fit come the Mountain. So it's probably a good idea to give the co-drivers a bit more time."

The majority of the 2020 Bathurst 1000 field has been set, with the remaining confirmations expected in the coming days.

2020 Bathurst 1000 entry list