IN OCTOBER Will Brown could not help but smile after topping a co-driver practice session during the Bathurst 1000 and on Tuesday he was back at Mount Panorama with that same grin.
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This time it was because Brown was thinking about competing at Bathurst's new fifth event, which will be staged by the Australian Racing Group at the iconic circuit for the first time next December.
"It's going to be a pretty wicked event," Brown said.
"It's pretty cool, the more events here the better, it's a spectacular circuit and we probably take it for granted a little bit us Australians.
"It's world renowned and everyone talks about it overseas and all the drivers over there want to come here. So to race these TCRs and S5000s here, all these cool categories at another event here, is awesome and I'm really looking forward to it."
While Brown's efforts behind the wheel of an Erebus Commodore as Anton de Pasquale's co-driver during the Supercars Enduro Cup over the past two years has earned him plenty of praise, it is by no means the only series he has impressed in.
In September he was crowned the 2019 Australian TCR champion, while he also raced in the inaugural S5000 Australia series. They are two of the categories will feature at the fifth Bathurst event, joining the Touring Car Masters, LMP3 and TA2s on the card.
Though Brown is still considering his options for 2020, he would love the chance to race his Hyundai i30 N at Mount Panorama as part of the TCR series as well as the opener-wheeler S5000.
"I'm enjoying the TCR series and enjoying having fun going racing, that's the main thing and I think they'd be wicked around here," the 21-year-old enthused.
"They're not the fastest car I've driven but they are quite technical, so it's going to be one of those things where you have to get the grip on them pretty quick at this circuit.
"The S5000s will be wicked, the Touring Car Masters are cool, the TA2, they've got 40 cars in that category now and I'm sure for the TCR, we're going to have those numbers as well here.
"At this stage, I'm not exactly sure what I'm racing next year, however, if there's the right opportunity, I will definitely do TCR again."
The Australian Racing Group event, which is expected to run from December 4-6 next year, is one Brown feels will prove a hit with not just drivers but spectators as well.
"I think anything that comes to Bathurst the public get behind don't they?," he said. "But it's December a lot of people are winding down then and getting ready for holidays, so hopefully it's at a time that people can get away from work and come and be part of the awesome event with us.
"We've got nothing without spectators, we love having them here and it really brings an atmosphere to the track, so hopefully everyone gets behind it. The pedigree of drivers who will take part is fantastic."
In the meantime Brown will continue to work towards his goal of securing a full-time Supercars seat, which would ensure he gets to tackle Mount Panorama in the Bathurst 1000 each year.
"That's the plan, that's what I've always wanted to do since I was a kid and I'll be pushing hard to try and do that," he said.
