A 24-HOUR race as the fifth major event at Mount Panorama now seems unlikely after Bathurst Regional Council selected a shortlist from the six expressions of interest.
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It was no great surprise to see the 24 Hours of Lemons Australia bid cut from the field as council was never going to accept a charity event the Mount's final major event.
But also gone are the bids from Ontic Sports and Creventic International, which has provided more clues about what the fifth event won't be rather than what it will be.
Industry insiders believed Creventic, in particular would have been interested in a 24-hour race on the Mount but they're gone now.
There was also speculation that Supercars Australia, which remains in the running, would pitch a 24-hour race but officials have rejected those claims in the past day or so, saying Supercars was looking to bring "something different" to the Mount.
"What I can tell you is won't be a sprint race out there and it won't be another 1000 or endurance race," Supercars CEO Sean Seamer told speedcafe.com.
So what does that leave?
A popular theory seems to be Goodwood-style festival of motor racing to be held at the Mount.
The annual Goodwood Festival of Speed, held in the grounds of a West Sussex estate about 100 kilometres from London, combines racing attractions including a hillclimb, soapbox challenge, forest rally, Supercar run and auto show and brings in crowds of around 100,000 on each of the festival's three days.
If such a festival was to work on Mount Panorama, though, it would need to be tweaked to give it an Australian feel rather than trying to directly copy something that is already working so well. But it could probably be done.
Outside of a festival - and with a 24-hour race apparently off the table - it seems a super sprint event is another missing link in the Mount's schedule. Or what about a round of the World Touring Car Cup?
A fifth event is the last golden ticket allowed under legislation and council needs to be sure its decision is the right one.
The last three bidders are all major players in the world of motor sport and all seem very keen to make the last event their own.
That speaks volumes for council's reputation to make major events happen, and volumes for the drawing power of Mount Panorama.