The Repco Bathurst 1000 has roared around Mount Panorama, showcasing exhilarating motor racing and driving significant economic benefits to the region.
While Shane van Gisbergen and Garth Tander in their Holden claimed the chequered flag on the track, the businesses of Bathurst and the NSW Central West were the big winners with thousands of motorsports fans from across the world flocking to the iconic Mount Panorama over the four-day event despite the wet weather.
Deputy Premier, Minister for Regional NSW and Member for Bathurst Paul Toole said it never gets old seeing his home town on the world stage.
"Travelling to Bathurst for the great race is a rite of passage for many and it is a week many businesses spend the whole year preparing for. After having to scale-down crowd numbers, it was great to see fans brave the rain to return to the event this year," Mr Toole said.
"The Bathurst 1000 isn't just a win for the Central West, people travel from across the world to experience what NSW has to offer. That means booked out accommodation, full restaurants, cafes and pubs and more tourism dollars going back into the regions."
Minister for Tourism Ben Franklin said regional NSW came alive during the Bathurst 1000, providing a significant boost to the local economy.
"An estimated 20,000 visitors made the trip to Bathurst over the four-day event injecting $17 million in tourism dollars, with many fans extending their visit to the broader Central West," Mr Franklin said.
"The Bathurst 1000 is a signature event on the NSW events calendar and makes a vital social and economic contribution to regional NSW, creating and supporting thousands of jobs and small businesses.
"It is part of an incredible line-up of major events for NSW, which will bring millions of visitors into our state and deliver over $500 million of visitor expenditure to the NSW economy."
On the back of the Bathurst 1000, the Repco Supercars Championship tops and tails an impressive line-up of world-class sporting events for NSW over the coming spring and summer months, including The Everest, T20 Cricket World Cup, Sydney Super Cup, Sydney 7's, ATP Cup, SailGP and the Newcastle 500, which will open next year's Supercars Championship season.
