WATCH: “There’s blood all up the track,” Shane van Gisbergen stuns Dale Earnhardt Jr. with a bizarre Bathurst 1000 revelation 

The Bathurst 1000 is one of Australia's most famous and difficult races held annually motor at Mount Panorama Circuit in October.

WATCH: “There’s blood all up the track,” Shane van Gisbergen stuns Dale Earnhardt Jr. with a bizarre Bathurst 1000 revelation 

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Left) and Shane van Gisbergen (right)

Australia’s iconic Bathurst 1000 race has its fair share of thrills and chills. But there’s an unexpected factor drivers like Shane van Gisbergen must navigate in the iconic Supercars race– kangaroo encounters. Following his stunning debut at the Chicago Street race, van Gisergen sat down for a podcast with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and shared an eye-opening insight into this bizarre phenomenon.

The Kangaroo mayhem isn’t exactly the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a high-octane race, but as van Gisbergen highlighted, these marsupials have made their presence felt. SVG said in Dale Jr. Download podcast, “Kangaroos you gotta worry about.” He then added that “They don’t show it on TV, but you go out for the next stint and you can see where it’s been hit and there’s blood all up the track. It’s nuts!” 

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Earnhardt Jr., unfamiliar with such an odd obstacle, humorously admitted, “I never ran across Kangaroos that weren’t in captivity, I guess.” The reality, though, is that these encounters are no laughing matter. These unpredictable animal intrusions further amplify the Bathurst track’s challenging nature.

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The Bathurst 1000 race isn’t just about speed; it’s a dance between drivers and their environment. As Earnhardt Jr. mused, “Mount Panorama and Bathurst are the most challenging, treacherous, dangerous [ones]” Even though he’s only driven a rental car on the track, he acknowledged the intensity it holds.

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Shane van Gisbergen winning the Bathurst 1000
Shane van Gisbergen winning the Bathurst 1000 (Credits Fox Sports)

van Gisbergen boasts an impressive track record at the iconic Bathurst 1000 circuit, having clinched victory twice. His fastest lap times are equally impressive, but it’s not just about speed records. “But when you do that race and you’ve got the whole track to yourself and the place is packed [it is exciting]” And when Mike Davis asked whether you hold your breath, the Kiwi replied, “Across the top, yeah. You get to the straight and you just like hanging on and then have a little break.”

Compilations of these incidents have surfaced online, showcasing the unexpected interactions between these bounding marsupials and the high-speed racing machines. While kangaroos grab the spotlight, they aren’t the sole animal actors on this racetrack. Birds and possums have also been known to join the spectacle

Thankfully, efforts have been made to mitigate these kangaroo disruptions. A kangaroo fence now encircles the Mount Panorama Circuit, aiming to keep the marsupials at bay and ensure the safety of both drivers and the creatures. Kangaroo encounters have even become a quirky hallmark of the Bathurst 1000 race. 

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