With 2009 Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button in Bathurst tomorrow for the Vodafone King of the Mountain Driver Swap, it will be interesting to gauge his opinion on our mighty Mount Panorama as a possible venue for F1 racing.
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Three-time F1 world champion Sir Jackie Stewart, in Bathurst as a guest of Goodyear in 1976 to
evaluate Mount Panorama as an F1 circuit, enthusiastically said that one day the Bathurst circuit could host a world championship Grand Prix.
Racing Car News editor Max Stahl reported Stewart at the time as saying: “This is without doubt one of the finest road circuits in the world.
“There is so much variety and yet so many places where you can have a brief rest and collect your thoughts. It’s a lot of fun and I’d love to have the Tyrell [the Tyrell was the car in which he won his F1 world titles in 1971 and 73] here for a few laps.
“Of course, there’s a lot of work to be done before it meets Formula 1 and FIA standards. But with
modern technology and equipment I’m sure it can be done.”
He pointed out what needed to be done to bring the circuit up to the F1 and FIA standard.
This included proper fencing on both Conrod and Mountain straights, and concrete walls at most places on the inside of the
circuit from Reid Park to the Skyline – which has all been done since.
He also suggested catch fences in front of spectator areas at the top and bottom of the circuit and said the escape road at Murray’s Corner should be straightened up.
There was one section of the
circuit he emphatically pleaded with council not to touch.
“But don’t do anything to those Esses – or Dipper; they’re just
fantastic. I’ve never seen anything like that,” he said.
The Dipper is one of the sections of the circuit expected to cause a problem to the much more modern McLaren F1 car at the promotion.
It should be remembered this was before the addition of Caltex Chase to Mount Panorama, yet,
surprisingly, the notorious humps on Conrod Straight were not
mentioned.
A reasonable crowd from Sydney and locally gathered to watch the action on the circuit, which was closed for two hours, as Stewart did several laps of the circuit in a Ford Falcon XC taking lucky members of the media – including this scribe – with him.
Leading Australian drivers Kevin Bartlett and Max Stewart also gave very fast demonstration laps in their Lola Formula 5000s, with Stewart – an Orange car dealer – turning in a 1m12.00 lap and clocking 170mph on Conrod Straight.
Following the on-track activities, Stewart was special guest at a civic reception hosted by the Mayor Les Wardman and his council.
