Team 18 is ready and rearing to go for the Bathurst 1000, the crown jewel of Australian motorsport.

The 6.21 kilometres of Mount Panorama will serve as the toughest challenge of the season for the team; a track defined by high speed, narrow and unforgiving walls, and a mechanical gauntlet for reliability and consistency, with 161 laps and 1000km of racing to try and secure the Peter Brock Trophy.

DEWALT Racing’s Anton De Pasquale heads to Bathurst with the sole focus of winning the Great Race, having already qualified for the Supercars Finals Series after finishing seventh in the Airtouch 500 at Tailem Bend.

De Pasquale has seen success in the past around the Mountain with a podium finish in 2023 but will be looking to improve on his 2025 result, where he was forced into the pits after a crash at The Esses and was classified 20th. De Pasquale is joined by 2021 Bathurst winner Lee Holdsworth, who moved over from the No. 20 car to return to the No. 18.

Snowy River Racing’s David Reynolds returns to the mountain where he and Holdsworth came home to finish second after the chaotic and rain-soaked 2025 event where they used the wet conditions to their advantage, almost passing Matt Payne for the lead on the final lap.

With Holdsworth partnering De Pasquale for 2026, Reynolds and 2010 Supercars champion James Courtney will now be attempting to do one better and challenge for the race win, and put their previous result at The Bend behind them, where contact damaged the steering arm and sent the Snowy River Chevrolet into the garage.

With 1,131 Supercars race starts and 39 Bathurst 1000 appearances between the two, Reynolds and Courtney will be the most experienced driver pairing on the grid. Reynolds has recorded three podiums at Mount Panorama, including his 2017 victory and runner-up finishes in 2012 and 2025. Courtney has stepped onto the podium at Bathurst four times prior with one runner-up finish and three third placings, but is still yet to stand on the top step.

For Bathurst, the team will swap their traditional Snowy River teal for a sparkling electric blue, and also be running the No. 48 to celebrate the launch of Snowy River Caravans’ new 48-volt power technology included across 2027 models. Reynolds will continue to run the No. 48 for Gold Coast and Sandown following Mount Panorama.

Reynolds also retains a slim mathematical chance of qualifying for the Finals, heading into Mount Panorama in 15th place, 285 points behind Jack Le Brocq. With 300 points available across the weekend, a victory and other necessary results could still secure the final place.

The 2026 Bathurst 1000 will be held on Sunday October 11, with coverage live and free on the Seven Network, in addition to Fox Sports and Kayo.

QUOTES

Anton De Pasquale – Driver, No. 18 DEWALT Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

“Very excited to get to the 1000, with Lee it should be really good.”

“I felt like we had a pretty good car there last year; obviously what with the rain, that changed everything… but I feel like the team this year has a good lead-in and we’re in a really good spot.”

“Having already locked myself into the Finals is a big relief, we can head to Bathurst without the consequence of being dropped out of the points if we come up unlucky.”

“It’s an easier position for us to be in, so we can put all our focus into winning the Great Race.”

Lee Holdsworth – Co-driver, No. 18 DEWALT Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

“There’s nothing quite like Bathurst, so I’m really looking forward to the week ahead with Anton and the team.”

“The goal is pretty simple – stay out of trouble, be there at the end, and give ourselves a chance when it matters most.”

“Even staying on track is always a massive challenge with everything this race throws at you, in the end The Mountain chooses the next winner.”

David Reynolds – Driver, No. 48 Snowy River Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

“Bathurst is the race everyone wants to be a part of and it’s the one we all want to win. Even after winning it once before I want to do it again every year.”

“I always say you don’t realise how much Bathurst means until you actually win it, and while I already know what that feeling is like, this year I’d really like to share that experience with JC.”

“The second place last year was a great result for the team, but it was also tough because we came so close. The weather changing meant I had to have a crack at the win in those conditions, and it didn’t fall our way.”

“I think the new electric blue Snowy River Camaro looks awesome, JC and I are going to be having a mini road trip of our own towing one of the new Snowy River caravans to Bathurst as part of the campaign for our new No. 48 car, so I’m sure that will provide plenty of entertainment!”

“It’s also great that we’ll continue running the livery at Gold Coast, another great track where I’ve also won in the past, and then Sandown.”

James Courtney – Co-driver, No. 48 Snowy River Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

“The result we had coming off the Bend obviously wasn’t what we wanted to achieve, but sometimes that’s just racing.”

“Working with Dave was as much fun as I expected. We had a great time together despite the result and worked really well as a duo. The refinements to our team means we’ve put The Bend behind us and we’re now focusing on tackling Bathurst and bringing our A-game for the Great Race.”

“To have won all the big events in my career and the championship, but not have won Bathurst is definitely something that has annoyed me, so hopefully this is the year I can scratch that itch.”

“The new electric blue colours for the car look fantastic. I think Bathurst is the perfect place for Snowy River to launch this livery, and the change to No. 48 is a great touch as well; I’m looking forward to messing around with Dave on the ride up.”