RACE teams are setting up their temporary home at Mount Panorama ahead of Sunday's Great Race, which is tipped to be an exciting finale to the Supercars season.
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While the teams have arrived, the mountain is certainly quieter than usual with the absence of campers and only limited fans able to attend over the coming days.
Triple Eight and Kelly Racing revealed their liveries at the Mount on Wednesday, both of which are tributes to fans, ahead of cars hitting the track for the first time on Thursday morning.
Councillor Warren Aubin expects it will be an exciting race, touting the calibre of the field this year.
"There's some pretty good combinations in there," he said.
"... Cam Waters, he's been flying under the radar, I think he's a pretty fair chance. Mostert, he's been going okay. I tell you, it's only got to be a little hiccup with the top teams, like McLaughlin's and Whincup's, and it's anyone's game.
"It's anyone's now. Yeah, McLaughlin is a class of his own, but it's anyone's race to win this year. I think it's going to be a really good race."
While disappointed the championship was decided before Bathurst, Cr Aubin thinks the element of 'nothing to lose' could spice up the race even more.
"It's open slather. The championship is over and teams want to win Bathurst, and they're gearing up to make sure they've got a fair shot at it," he said.
With a reduced crowd, a key element of this week's event will be to promote Bathurst as a destination.
Supercars has confirmed it will be airing packages on television promoting Bathurst, as it has done at other places the championship has visited this year.
Mayor Bobby Bourke said people can expect to see lots of content over the coming days, stressing how important it is when there will be a massive television audience watching the race this year.
"A lot will happen on Sunday, it will [be broadcast] to 20 million people worldwide, Mount Panorama will be showcased as the premier racing track in Australia and that's great for Bathurst to be acknowledged as that," he said.
"... We've got to continue to promote Bathurst and Mount Panorama. It's so very important.
"Last year we had $25 million going into the economy and we'll get nothing near that this year, so it'll have an ongoing effect to businesses and the region, but we'll be back bigger and better next year."
On track action will start at 8.55am on Thursday, with Supercars cutting their first laps from 9.30am.
