PREPARATIONS for the 2013 Bathurst 1000 are well underway, with most of the major work on the Mount Panorama circuit almost complete.
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The new catch fence which runs the length of Pit Straight has been installed and the spectator fence is now being erected. The same fence on Murray’s Corner is also nearing completion.
Other changes including the sealing of roads on Mount Panorama campgrounds and the changes to the exit of The Chase have already been finished.
Now the attention will turn to normal pre-race preparation including the beautification of the track and general maintenance.
Bathurst Regional Council engineering services director Doug Patterson is pleased to see progress being made.
“We are still working on the debris fence on Murray’s Corner and that is due for completion next week. The spectator fence along Pit Straight is also being worked on and that will be completed soon,” he said.
There is bad news for the detractors of the imposing new fence, with more of it due to go up around the circuit in the future.
“Following the V8 race and into next year, there will be more debris fencing put up in spectator areas. We will have to consult with CAMS [Confederation of Australian Motorsport], but a decision will be made based on the height of spectator areas compared to the track,” he said. “There isn’t any advantage to having a fence where the spectator area is much higher than the track like Reid Park, but further round at Sulman Park, that’s a place where we would look at putting it.”
Work to be carried out after the Bathurst 1000 includes the complete resurfacing of the track, and late next year a major new roundabout will be built at the entry to the track.
