kangaroo bathurst 12 hour Page 1045

At the Bathurst 12 Hour, a kangaroo on track is the most Australian safety feature since the pie warmer—spectacular to watch, terrible for lap times.

Mount Panorama backs onto bushland, so roos occasionally breach the fencing despite spotters, improved barriers and wildlife crews on duty.

When Skippy appears, race control throws yellows or a Safety Car (and sometimes a red flag) until the track is clear and everyone’s heart rate settles.

It’s Bathurst in a nutshell: brutally quick with a wild side, and the organisers work hard each year to protect drivers and animals while keeping the show on the boil.