Racing got underway at Mount Panorama Bathurst at 9am AEST with pole sitter James Scott leading the field to turn one followed by Andrew Gilliam & Ethan Warren. The field managed to file through the opening sequence of corners without issue, as drivers focused on finding their rhythm early, settling into the opening stint of the race.

Alexander Bird found himself under pressure early, tasked with starting Josh Anderson’s Trans Tasman Racing #51 entry. Bird found himself amongst the thick of the action, sliding to 7th before the beginning of lap 4, then re gaining his composure, before putting up an excellent fight against some highly rated primary drivers.

James Scott would continue to set the pace at the front of the pack, with Andrew Gilliam well and truely in tow, just 1 second from the lead. Ethan Warren continued to bring up the tail of the podium, putting in some solid times in Brady Meyers #22 Trans Tasman Racing commodore.

Down the field, Ric Kuznetsov was making headway early, charging his 9ine 5ive SimSports Commodore through the pack after missing the grid set procedure earlier in the morning. Kuznetsov would go on to make up a staggering 17 positions in the opening 11 laps, in what undoubtedly was one of the great opening Bathurst stints in series history.

Calm would only remain for a further few laps, with the first Safety Car intervention coming on lap 16 for the stranded car of Michael Healey. Partnering with Richard Hamstead, Healy found himself in trouble at the exit of the dipper, loosing control and firing into the fence as a result. Although still operational, the #28 was wedged in the fence, unable to get out. Drivers would take this first Safety Car period to make the first of their pit stops, many taking this opportunity to complete their first driver swaps of the day also. Winning the race off pit road, James Golding would strap into the #201 Altus Esports entry for the first time, with Brady Meyers & Shane Van Gisbergen both also taking the reins of their respective vehicles.

Green flag racing would resume on lap 20, with Golding leading the field into turn 1. Brady Meyers didn’t waste any time making his dash for the lead, quickly offloading Golding into turn 2, followed by Van Gisbergen who made his way past into 2nd before the completion of the 20th lap of the race.

Drivers again were tasked with finding their rhythm’s as teams headed closer to the middle portion of the race. Meyers lead Van Gisbergen followed by Madison Down, Dylan Rudd, Dylan O’Shea, Ethan Grigg-Gault, Wayne Bourke, Harley Haber, Tom Freer & Josh Anderson who rounded out the top ten after the completion of the 35th lap.

It wouldn’t take long for the Safety Car to be called upon again, Coby Jones detonating an engine in the chase on lap 40, putting an end to both his & Jordan Ross’ day. Many again took this as an opportunity for a driver change, as team’s began funnelling into the lane for their second unscheduled pit stop of the day. Ethan Warren would jump back into the #22, winning the race out of pit lane ahead of James Scott & Corey Shepherd.

Warren would resume in the lead on lap 42, with Scott & Shepherd behind.

It didn’t take long for Chaos to ensue behind in the mid pack, Joshua Thomas finding himself rotated on the exit of the chase on lap 45, involved in an untimely incident with Alexander Bird in the #51 entry. Bird would be penalised for the infringement, later serving his penalty.

Ethan Warren continued to impress at the front, leading the train of cars as teams started to approach the half way point of the 2023 Motorsport Australia Logitech G Pro Invitational Cup Bathurst 1000. James Scott continued to sit 2nd with Corey Shepherd in a comfortable 3rd, onboard the championship leading car he was sharing with Madison Down.

Corey Macfarlane was also a driver showing signs of form, similar to the form he displayed at Sandown onboard the #19, keeping himself in touch with the lead along with Stablemate Dylan Rudd, both putting on an excellent display for 9ine 5ive SimSports.

Again drivers would see the return of the Logitech G Safety Car on lap 57. This time though, many opted to keep their non primary drivers in the car, with the hope of clearing the 54 lap minimum required. Fuel and tyres for most, it would be Corey Shepherd cycling to the front with an excellent pit stop, jumping from third position. Warren would drop into second followed by Shane Van Gisbergen in 3rd, taking over from James Scott.

Leading the field to green on lap 60, Corey Shepherd would set about maintaining the lead for Madison Down, working well with Ethan Warren behind to stay in front of Van Gisbergen.

Andrew Gilliam meanwhile was back on the move onboard the #201 Altus Australia entry, lifting himself back up through the order, reaching the top 10 by lap 73. Although back on the march, Gilliam would find himself hit with a 15 second penalty moments later, for contact on lap 69 with the Moloney/Mugford entry entering the chase. With work still to do, Gilliam kept his eyes forward, picking off as many cars as he could before having to serve his penalty.

Lap 78 would prove to be critical, with the #269 Synergy Sim Racing Machine of Jamie McKnight bringing out caution number 4 of the day. Many took the chance to dive in for fresh fuel & tyres, with teams forced to keep their drivers in for another stint due to drive time requirements.

Out of sync Glen Postlethwaite would lead the field back to green on lap 80, quickly being swallowed up by both Ethan Warren & Shane Van Gisbergen. The restart wasn’t without drama, Richie Stanaway finding contact with the rear of the #201 Altus Esports entry of James Golding, causing damage to multiple cars in the process. Uncharacteristic for Stanaway, he’d be forced to serve a drive through penalty for the infringement.

Pressure was boiling at the front of the field, with a slight mistake for Ethan Warren opening the door for Van Gisbergen to attack on lap 90. With the gap down to less than a second, spectators were settling in for the epic showdown to come. The move for the lead would come on lap 102, with Van Gisbergen completing the pass on Warren into Griffins Bend. Taking the lead of the race with 59 laps remaining.

Warren responded to this move laps later, filing into the lane to hand his car over to Brady Meyers. Van Gisbergen followed suit on lap 105, followed by Corey Shepherd. A blistering Outlap from Brady Meyers saw the #22 Trans Tasman Racing driver re take the effective lead, with James Scott re joining the circuit in second. Dylan Rudd would sit third after pit lane transitions, followed by Madison Down & Marcello Rivera rounding out the top 5.

Racing intensified at the front on lap 109, James Scott surprising Brady Meyers with a lunge at Griffins Bend, bringing Dylan Rudd back into the fight heading towards the cutting. Brady would hang strong, re establishing track position behind James Scott, setting about continuing the fight for the race lead. Madison Down managed to make a move on Rudd stick a lap later, moving himself into third position behind Meyers.

Meyers again would bid for the lead on lap 112, replicating James Scott’s move from earlier, plunging his #22 Commodore down the inside at Griffins, also allowing Down to slip through into second, displacing Scott on the run to the cutting. Meyers set about building the gap behind, with Down on the other hand choosing to return the favour to Scott, backing the #088 up, saving some fuel in front. This strategy working perfectly, Meyers was able to focus on maintaining his lead, eventually building a gap up to four seconds total.

The lead though wouldn’t eventuate for Meyers, with a late race caution being called on lap 124 with Drivers opting to pit for fuel and tyres. Meyers would win the race off pit road, followed by Trans Tasman Racing stablemate Down, with Scott filing into 3rd position for the restart. Rudd & Grigg-Gault made up the top 5.

Pushing towards the closing stages, it was clear it would be a shootout between the front 3 cars. Scott chipped away at Meyers, all while dragging Down along for the ride. Closing to the bar of Meyers on lap 144, Scott would throw a high risk move heading into Murray’s corner, diving down the inside of Meyers. Contact was made between the pair, Brady finding himself dislodged at the apex and fed out wide. This allowed Madison Down through to second, beginning his pursuit of the #088 Synergy Sim Racing Commodore.

With final pit stops being made in the closing segments of the race, all three leaders found themselves within a second of one another heading into the final laps of the race, Scott would lead, with Meyers jumping to second after the final stop, followed by Madison Down. It was clear, nobody was willing to back down in their pursuits of Australia’s greatest Sim Race.

Lap 150 provided heart stopping entertainment, Meyers throwing it all on the line in the chase, going for a chance move on race leader James Scott, contact between the pair was made in the chase, Scott finding himself out of control on entry to the braking Zone. Amazingly, Scott was able to re gain control, only to shoot off the circuit and through the grass. Somehow avoiding a massive incident, He was able to rejoin the circuit ahead of Meyers, maintaining the race lead. Down managed to get past Meyers on lap 155, now setting his sights on chasing down a Bathurst 1000 crown.