Motorsport: Pairings to watch at this year's bid to conquer mountain

Scott McLaughlin has the goods and the Volvo has the pace.

Formula One has the Monaco Grand Prix, sportscar racing has the Le Mans 24 Hours and IndyCar has its Indianapolis 500. As far as tin-top racing goes it's the Bathurst 1000 that everyone wants to win.

Twenty-six cars and 52 drivers will be going at it hammer and tongs on Sunday to see just who has the cojones, the car, the co-driver and the pit crew to keep going flat out on the ragged edge for six-plus hours to claim this year's bragging rights.

Here are Super Sport's picks to cross the line first.

Jamie Whincup and Paul Dumbrell

Defending series champion Jamie Whincup may have started the season with a bit of a stutter but he was soon back into his normal stride and now leads the championship. He has four Bathurst wins to his name and arrives at the Mountain having won the opening round of the Pirtek Enduro Cup at Sandown with co-driver Paul Dumbrell. The pair were pipped at the post last year by Mark Winterbottom, but Dumbrell will be even faster this year having spent time in the Dunlop Series - something he didn't do in 2013.

Craig Lowndes and Steve Richards

Whincup's teammate has a new co-driver in Steve Richards this year and Craig Lowndes has an envious pedigree at Bathurst. He has five trophies on his mantle piece at home and only been off the podium twice in his last 11 races at Mount Panorama. But his last win was back in 2010. This time around he's with Steve Richards, himself a three-time winner, and on the dreaded 'paper', are by the numbers the most successful pairing on the grid. Richards also just happen to be the defending race champion. having partnered Mark Winterbottom in 2013.

James Courtney and Greg Murphy

Four-time Bathurst winner Greg Murphy will be out to make amends for last year when a small lapse in concentration saw him smack into the wall so hard he ended main driver James Courtney's day. The Holden Racing Team appears to have got its house in order since the arrival of Adrian Burges in the garage and posted a great result at Sandown, finishing second. Courtney hasn't managed to get his name on the winner's trophy yet and, after three podium finishes so far, is keen to stand on the top step this year. The pair has the goods to steal a march on the rest of the field.

Mark Winterbottom and Steve Owen

Ford Performance Racing pilot Mark Winterbottom got a monkey off his back last year in winning his first Bathurst 1000 race. The problem of the 800kg gorilla in his car still remains while he struggles, yet again, to assert himself in the championship. He raced out to an early lead in the series but has slowly slipped back to third on the point's table, so will want to bag the lion's share of points this weekend. Co-driver Steve Owen has also been on the podium in the past, so if the pair can keep it together and stay out of trouble they'll be there, or there about.

Scott McLaughlin and Alex PrematIt

It was hard pushed to pick a clear fifth pairing to take the win but Scott McLaughlin and Alex Premat just edge out Garth Tander and Warren Luff. McLaughlin is one of the new young guns and has taken to the main game like the proverbial duck to water having already won in the regular season. He may not have been to the Mountain often in the main game, but he has managed to finish inside the top 10 each time. The Volvo has shown to have the pace to stay with the more established V8 Supercars teams and if it can stay the distance will be a real threat. Co-driver Alex Premat is also relatively new to the track but has proved to be fast and came close to standing on the podium last year. Outsiders with an inside chance of causing an upset.