Seven drivers will be confronted with their maiden starts in the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 this year.
Of the debutants, brothers Drew and Aaren Russell will share the first wildcard entry while Renee Gracie and Simona de Silvestro will combine in the #200 Harvey Norman-backed Supergirls Falcon FG X.
Mcauley Jones and Jack Le Brocq are set for their maiden outings in V8 Supercars’ showpiece 1000km race for Brad Jones Racing and Erebus Motorsport respectively.
IndyCar regular Sebastien Bourdais will be initiated with Mount Panorama for the first time as co-driver alongside Lee Holdsworth in the #18 Commodore.
While having tasted success in a V8 Supercar beside Jamie Whincup previously in the Gold Coast 600, Bourdais had a tough initiation to his three-race Pirtek Enduro Cup campaign at the Wilson Security Sandown 500 recently.
Without question the most under-prepared Bathurst rookie will be one-time Sauber Formula 1 tester and IndyCar part-timer de Silvestro.
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The 27-year-old Swiss racer is behind the wheel of her Prodrive Racing Australia Falcon for the first time in a test at Winton today after only previously having run in a Gracie’s Dunlop Series V8.
The Russell brothers receive their first shot at the Great Race, both armed with plenty of experience in the second tier and fuelled by a high work ethic.
As seen in the 2014 Bathurst 1000 shock results are never far away while the highly experienced Brit Alex Buncombe achieved a solid result alongside Todd Kelly in the Jack Daniel’s Altima to finish seventh.
So who will be the leading rookie in the 2015 edition of the Great Race? Have your say on the poll below.
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