Mount Panorama Circuit – The Mountain
(6.213 km | 23 corners | Legendary Australian road circuit | FIA Grade 3)
Bathurst is one of motorsport’s most demanding and iconic venues — a breathtaking road circuit that climbs, drops, and twists around Mount Panorama with no room for error. It combines high-speed bravery, blind crests, narrow walls, and a punishing rhythm that makes every lap feel like a qualifying lap.
Built as a public road for much of the year, Mount Panorama has an old-school character that modern circuits can’t replicate. It’s famous for touring car endurance racing, especially the Bathurst 1000, where traffic, tire management, and driver discipline all matter just as much as outright pace.
In the sim, Bathurst is pure intensity — from the steep climb through Mountain Straight to the nerve-shredding descent of The Esses and the Dipper. The track rewards commitment, but it also has no mercy for overdriving. One small mistake can end a lap instantly, especially with the concrete walls waiting inches away.
Key Track Stats
Length: 6.213 km
Corners: 23
Direction: Clockwise
Elevation Change: Massive — steep climbs, blind crests, and dramatic drops
Record Lap: 1:59.291 (Supercars) / hypercar laps typically around 2:02–2:08 depending on sim and BoP
Surface: Mixed road-style asphalt with elevation-induced bumps and camber changes
Tires: Punishing on the left-front over the mountain section; rears work hard exiting The Chase and final corners
Pit Lane: Tight and strategic — manageable in sprint races, costly in endurance
In the Simulator Feel
Bathurst is a precision and bravery circuit. It blends full-throttle commitment with technical car placement, and the road narrows just when the speed starts to build. The mountain section is all about trust in the car, while the Conrod Straight and The Chase punish poor exits with lost top speed and unstable braking.
Flow & Rhythm:
Mountain Straight → Long uphill launch into the first major braking zone.
Hell Corner → Tight, slow opening hairpin where patience matters.
Mountain Section → Fast, blind, and flowing through Griffin’s Bend, The Cutting, Reid Park, and Sulman Park.
The Esses & The Dipper → Iconic downhill sequence that demands confidence and perfect placement.
Forrest’s Elbow → Critical corner for exit speed onto Conrod Straight.
Conrod Straight → Huge top-speed run where slipstream and drafting become vital.
The Chase → Major braking zone after the straight; one of the toughest overtaking points.
Final Corner Complex → Late-race pressure section where exits decide the lap.
Driving Characteristics:
Braking: Heavy and often downhill — confidence under braking is everything.
High-Speed Corners: Demanding blind crests and compressions reward total commitment.
Low-Speed Corners: Traction-sensitive, especially in the final sector.
Elevation: Constantly changing and a major part of the lap’s challenge.
Overall: Fast, technical, and mentally exhausting — one of the most rewarding circuits to master.
Driving Style Tip: Focus on clean exits out of slow corners so you can maximize speed on the mountain and down Conrod Straight. Be patient through the blind sections, avoid overusing curbs, and trust the car over the crests. At Bathurst, smooth inputs and absolute concentration are worth more than aggression.
Mount Panorama delivers a uniquely Australian kind of thrill — part road course, part mountain attack, all adrenaline. It’s a circuit that tests nerve, respect, and precision every single lap, and that’s exactly why it’s unforgettable.