Due to the pandemic, the 2021 Bathurst 12 Hour was cancelled, giving Supercars the opportunity to move its booking to late February and kick off its championship on Mount Panorama.

READ MORE: Bathurst 500: Mount Panorama hosts Supercars season launch

Instead of replicating the Great Race, the Bathurst 500 was designed to offer two 250-kilometre Supercars races, as well as bring several other categories to the track.

Fans fully embraced the sprint format of the event, with thousands attending over the three days of the event.

And, on Sunday, some could say with confidence that they wanted to see the format again in the future.

Bathurst resident Marianne Stockdale definitely thinks it should be worked into the calendar again.

She is an avid race fan, who typically camps at Mount Panorama race events despite living locally, and enjoyed the fast-paced action on track at the 500.

"I think the sprint race, the difference is they go hard straight up and right to the end," Ms Stockdale said.

"Even the ones that are at the back of the race are still going hard because anything in a sprint race can change so quickly. The longer race, they sort of take their time.

"It's just an overall faster, more competitive race."

READ ALSO: Giving fans a bird's-eye view of the Bathurst 500 action

She also liked that that the event brought quality support categories with it, particularly the Toyota 86s.

Cessnock's Tim Connell, who was at the event with Ms Stockdale, also thought the event was good, but he would have favoured a similar event at Newcastle.

While there were plenty of visitors to Bathurst for the 500, there were quite a few locals who went up to Mount Panorama to see the action.

Among them were mates Jack Rumball and Jordan Rice.

They don't follow Supercars closely, but always watch the racing when it's at Mount Panorama.

Both of them would like to see the 500 return in future years.

"It's good having heaps of little races. You don't have to be sitting there the whole time," Mr Rumball said.

Although the fans love the idea of the Bathurst 500, it appears unlikely that it will be held again.

READ MORE: The first Bathurst 500 might also be the last

Speedcafe quoted Supercars CEO Sean Seamer as saying "No, I don't think so" when asked whether the category would consider having two parallel Supercars events at Mount Panorama again.

"I think that this is special. It's great that we're able to start the season this way, but the intention is the [Bathurst] 12 Hour would stay at the start and then, as you know, we've got Newcastle as the first round from next year," he said.

"You'd never have a Mount Panorama 500 and roll into Newcastle. That's a lot in one state in one period in time."