Jaxon Evans: Bathurst’s final lap will decide it all

Jaxon Evans knows that at Bathurst, a strong race can come down to one moment.

As he prepares to return to Mount Panorama for this weekend’s Great Race, he says the mountain can still change everything before the chequered flag falls.

The New Zealand professional driver of Fijian-Rotuman heritage will share the No. 2 Toyota GR Supra with Kiwi Ryan Wood for Walkinshaw TWG Racing in Sunday’s 2026 Repco Bathurst 1000.

“You know, it’s the week that we’re all looking forward to most in the year. I guess it’s the pinnacle of Australian and New Zealand motorsport,” Evans said in an interview with The Inside Line Motorsport podcast on Wednesday.

“It’s the race we all want to win. It’s the race we all stop to watch when we’re growing up as kids. So, it’s an awesome week and really looking forward to getting started.”

Evans has raced at Bathurst four times, twice as a co-driver and twice as a primary driver.

Mount Panorama hosts the Repco Bathurst 1000, one of the biggest events on the Australian and New Zealand motorsport calendar, with the 1000km race starting at 1.30pm NZ time on Sunday. Photo/motorsport.org.au

He knows that experience counts but it cannot guarantee a result on the demanding 6.2km circuit.

“I think everyone goes through their struggles in the lead-up to the event or even during the race, and I certainly feel like the mountain does decide. It’s not always obvious who it’s going to decide because as we’ve seen in the past few years, things can change right up until the last lap.

So, we all go there with the intention of winning. But in the end, you’re only as good as the last lap and where you’re positioned in that. I think the mountain decides who wins. It really does when the chequered flag flies.”

This time, Evans returns to the co-driver’s seat for the 161-lap endurance race.

He says the role brings its own pressure as the priority is to keep the car safe and hand it back to the primary driver in a competitive position.

“When you go there as a co, your job is to be safe and make sure you’re giving the car back to the main driver in a reasonable position, not causing any accidents and not involved in anyone’s carnage. So, with that comes a bit of pressure.

“I think both roles provide a lot of pressure and different opportunities. Going back as a co in a really strong team alongside Wood is an exciting opportunity. Although there’s a little bit of pressure to come with it, that’s what we’re paid to do.”

Evans describes the pressure as “50-50” for a co-driver while the primary driver must give almost 110 per cent on every lap. The pair will need to manage the demands of a long race as well as the risks that can undo a team’s chances late in the day.

The challenge has become more immediate for the pair after Wood crashed during Friday practice, damaging the No. 2 Toyota.

Jaxon Evans behind the wheel as he prepares to take on Mount Panorama in the No. 2 Toyota GR Supra with Ryan Wood at the 2026 Repco Bathurst 1000. Photo/Supercars.com

Wood apologised to his team for the extra work needed to prepare the car for qualifying. “The boys will work pretty hard and that's what I feel stink about, it's given them so much work that they really didn't need,” he told the ABC.

The 2026 Repco Bathurst 1000 also marks 20 years since the emotionally charged 2006 race, held a month after the death of nine-time winner Peter Brock. Craig Lowndes won that race with Jamie Whincup in a result that became part of Bathurst history.

The event is also expected to draw around 200,000 fans across race week, although organisers have not confirmed a separate estimate for Sunday’s race-day crowd. Bathurst Regional Council Mayor Ben Fry said fans were already arriving in the city ahead of the weekend.

Practice began on Thursday with Boost Mobile Qualifying on Friday and the Top Ten Shootout on Saturday. Sunday’s 1000km race will decide the Enduro Cup, shape the Finals picture and award the Peter Brock Trophy.

The Bathurst 1000 starts at 1.30pm NZ time.

Elton Lonaratha Jnr, a journalism student at Wintec, is currently completing a six-week internship at PMN News.