It is perfect news for drivers and teams, and more importantly, the fans.

(ABC News: Brian Hirst)

The weather forecast for the Bathurst 1000 is sunny, with a high temperature around  27 degrees Celsius.

There is virtually no chance of rain, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

So, we will not be having the wet weather chaos that befell the Great Race last year.

Good for the heart rate. Not so great for the tension and theatre.

G'day Anni.

Thanks for joining me on the ABC Sport live blog.

The Ford vs Holden debate will live forever, even if Holden has been consigned to the past (it still hurts).

But don't forget, we have Toyota at the mountain for the first time in decades, and that really is great.

It's been a treat to watch Toyota return to the Supercars, and it is wonderful to see them at Bathurst.

It's been 20 years since Peter Brock, the King of Mount Panorama, died in a crash in Western Australia.

Brock, arguably the most beloved Australian motor racer, won the Bathurst 1000 a record nine times.

AAP produced this nice story with his long-time friend Craig Lowndes at the start of the weekend.

Matt Payne was the toast of the Supercars last year when he and co-driver legend Garth Tander won at Mount Panorama.

Payne is the reigning champion, and this year he has former winner Will Davidson as his co-driver.

The drivers have been on their parade lap, waving to the fans.

Payne joined the television broadcast and said he has been enjoying his time in the spotlight as last year's winner.

"The support from the fans has been insane.

"Obviously, it's been busy from my side, a lot of commitments, but I've enjoyed every one.

"I've really been enjoying driving around it this year.

"I've been looking forward to this weekend for the whole year, and it's finally here."

Zach Bates has qualified on pole for Sunday's Bathurst 1000, topping the time sheets during the Top 10 Shootout at Mount Panorama.

Qualifying king Brodie Kostecki failed to become the first driver to snare four straight pole positions, finishing second.

Catch up on yesterday's Top 10 Shootout by tapping the link below.

1. 10: Zac Bates/Aaron Seton — Matt Stone Racing, Chevrolet
2. 17: Brodie Kostecki/Todd Hazelwood — Dick Johnson Racing, Ford
3. 18: Anton De Pasquale/Lee Holdsworth — Team 18, Chevrolet
4. 99: Cooper Murray/Lochie Dalton — Erebus Motorsport, Chevrolet
5. 4: Jack Le Brocq/Harri Jones — Matt Stone Racing, Chevrolet
6. 888: Will Brown/Scott Pye — Triple Eight Race Engineering, Ford
7. 31: Jayden Ojeda/David Russell — PremiAir Racing, Chevrolet
8. 48: David Reynolds/James Courtney — Team 18, Chevrolet
9. 7: James Golding/Richie Stanaway — Blanchard Racing Team, Ford
10. 19: Matthew Payne/Will Davidson — Grove Racing, Ford
11. 26: Kai Allen/Tim Slade — Grove Racing, Ford
12. 88: Broc Feeney/Nick Percat — Triple Eight Race Engineering, Ford
13. 55: Thomas Randle/Reuben Goodall — Tickford Racing, Ford
14. 6: Cam Waters/Mark Winterbottom — Tickford Racing, Ford
15. 8: Andre Heimgartner/Bryce Fullwood — Brad Jones Racing, Toyota
16. 1: Chaz Mostert/Fabian Coulthard — Walkinshaw TWG Racing, Toyota
17. 9: Jobe Stewart/Jarrod Hughes — Erebus Motorsport, Chevrolet
18. 3: Aaron Cameron/Zak Best — Blanchard Racing Team, Ford
19. 14: Cameron Hill/Brad Vaughan — Brad Jones Racing, Toyota
20. 96: Macauley Jones/Jordan Boys — Brad Jones Racing, Toyota
21. 34: Nathan Herne/James Moffat — Garry Rogers Motorsport, Chevrolet
22. 15: Craig Lowndes/Bayley Hall — Team 18, Chevrolet
23. 777: Declan Fraser/Nash Morris — PremiAir Racing, Chevrolet
24. 11: Jackson Walls/Jack Perkins — SCT Motorsport, Ford
25. 38: Rylan Gray/Tony D'Alberto — Dick Johnson Racing, Ford
26. 2: Ryan Wood/Jaxon Evans — Walkinshaw TWG Racing, Toyota

• 11:30am AEDT: NSW, Victoria, ACT, Tasmania
• 11am ACDT: South Australia
• 10:30am AEST: Queensland
• 10am ACST: Northern Territory
• 8:30am AWST: Western Australia
• 1:30pm NZDT: New Zealand

Good morning, Australia.

Welcome to ABC Sport's live digital coverage of the 2026 Bathurst 1000.

The Great Race is one of the best sporting events in Australia, and today's showdown on Mount Panorama promises to be a beauty.

Zach Bates and Aaron Setonare on pole for the number 10 Matt Stone Racing team, while there are heaps of driver combos who will fancy their chances to claim victory by the end of 1,000 kilometres.

Join me throughout the day, leave your thoughts in the comment section, and be part of the fun as we enjoy the Great Race.