DRIVING at Mount Panorama - it is something Australian Formula 1 star Daniel Ricciardo dreamed about when he was a kid and now he's revealed he is "working on" making it a reality. Speaking on the Australian Grand Prix's In The Fast Lane podcast this week, Ricciardo said he had talked to McLaren chief executive officer Zak Brown about the possibility of racing at the iconic Bathurst circuit. Brown is set to be Ricciardo's boss in 2021, but his links with the motor sport industry extend beyond Formula 1. He is also involved with the Supercars series as a part-owner of Walkinshaw Andretti United. "I've already had some conversations about Bathurst with him, actually," Ricciardo said. "Yeah. Working on it, working on it." Though Ricciardo's primary goal will be to make an impact for his new team, this is not the first time he has hinted he'd like to test himself at Mount Panorama. Four years ago he admitted his desire to race there, saying "Bathurst has always been a bit of a childhood dream I guess" and after spending time behind the wheel of Rick Kelly's Nissan Altima Supercar at Calder Park in 2019, his interest was sparked again. "Driving that, [Bathurst] would be pretty cool. I'll never say never. I'd give it a good 50-50 at the moment," he said. READ MORE: McLaughlin will return to Bathurst as a 'more rounded racer' READ MORE: Collier is promising an action-packed Bathurst 6 Hour READ MORE: Supercars confirm season-opener and Bathurst 1000 for Mount Panorama Ricciardo also told the podcast he'd like the chance to cut a lap of the 6.213 kilometre circuit in a Formula 1 car, something Jenson Button and Craig Lowndes did in 2011. "Yes, if they raised the ride height, yes, absolutely," he said. Brown has previously stated that he would consider a Bathurst 1000 wildcard entry for Ricciardo and another of his McLaren drivers in Lando Norris. "I think they'd both love to do it and I think people now know I'm a little bit different to most of the team bosses in F1, I like to see our drivers go out give it go at Daytona or Le Mans, things of that nature," Brown said on Supercars Sidetracked earlier this year. "I'd love to see them do it there, so let's see. "I think it will just come down to schedule, whether they can fit it in the schedule because historically it [Bathurst] conflicts with Japan." If a Bathurst 1000 wildcard seat does come for Ricciardo, it won't be in 2021 as the Great Race is scheduled for October 7-10 and the Japanese Grand Prix October 8-10.
THE DREAM: Australian Formula 1 star Daniel Ricciardo says he is "working on" a Bathurst drive. Inset: REVVED PHOTOGRAPHY
DRIVING at Mount Panorama - it is something Australian Formula 1 star Daniel Ricciardo dreamed about when he was a kid and now he's revealed he is "working on" making it a reality.
Speaking on the Australian Grand Prix's In The Fast Lane podcast this week, Ricciardo said he had talked to McLaren chief executive officer Zak Brown about the possibility of racing at the iconic Bathurst circuit.
Brown is set to be Ricciardo's boss in 2021, but his links with the motor sport industry extend beyond Formula 1. He is also involved with the Supercars series as a part-owner of Walkinshaw Andretti United.
"I've already had some conversations about Bathurst with him, actually," Ricciardo said.
"Yeah. Working on it, working on it."
Though Ricciardo's primary goal will be to make an impact for his new team, this is not the first time he has hinted he'd like to test himself at Mount Panorama.
Four years ago he admitted his desire to race there, saying "Bathurst has always been a bit of a childhood dream I guess" and after spending time behind the wheel of Rick Kelly's Nissan Altima Supercar at Calder Park in 2019, his interest was sparked again.
"Driving that, [Bathurst] would be pretty cool. I'll never say never. I'd give it a good 50-50 at the moment," he said.
Ricciardo also told the podcast he'd like the chance to cut a lap of the 6.213 kilometre circuit in a Formula 1 car, something Jenson Button and Craig Lowndes did in 2011.
"Yes, if they raised the ride height, yes, absolutely," he said.
Brown has previously stated that he would consider a Bathurst 1000 wildcard entry for Ricciardo and another of his McLaren drivers in Lando Norris.
"I think they'd both love to do it and I think people now know I'm a little bit different to most of the team bosses in F1, I like to see our drivers go out give it go at Daytona or Le Mans, things of that nature," Brown said on Supercars Sidetracked earlier this year.
"I'd love to see them do it there, so let's see.
"I think it will just come down to schedule, whether they can fit it in the schedule because historically it [Bathurst] conflicts with Japan."
If a Bathurst 1000 wildcard seat does come for Ricciardo, it won't be in 2021 as the Great Race is scheduled for October 7-10 and the Japanese Grand Prix October 8-10.
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