Seven co-drivers to watch in 2021 Great Race

Co-drivers play a crucial role in the Great Race, and that will be no different at this weekend's Repco Bathurst 1000.

This year's race will be the first and only co-driver race in 2021, and the first since last October's Bathurst 1000.

Never before has there been a longer wait between two-driver races.

The 2021 drivers' and teams' titles may have been sewn up in Sydney - but that only leaves the door open for a highly competitive race on Sunday.

Ahead of the 61st running of the Great Race in Bathurst, Supercars.com runs its eye over seven co-pilots to watch.

Garth Tander (driving with Shane van Gisbergen)

It's impossible to look past the 2020 winners, but Tander has always risen to another level in Bathurst.

Tander has scored four Bathurst wins and has recorded a further three podiums.

The 2007 series champion will make his 23rd start and van Gisbergen his 15th, making for a fast and experienced pairing.

James Moffat (driving with Cameron Waters)

Son-of-a-gun Moffat is armed with arguably his best chance yet at emulating his famous father Allan, who won the Great Race four times.

Moffat junior has raced in a number of categories in 2021 and will step into a car which was fast in Bathurst in February.

If Tickford Racing can get the #6 Monster Energy Mustang in the window, Waters and Moffat will be hard to beat.

Thomas Randle (driving with James Courtney)

The 2020 Super2 series winner is a proven talent, and will be champing at the bit to make his third Great Race start.

Randle, who defied cancer earlier in the year, will share the #44 Boost Mobile Mustang with 2010 series champion James Courtney.

Courtney scored a top 10 last year, and has recorded four Bathurst podiums. With Randle in his corner, Courtney could finally break his Bathurst duck.

Warren Luff (driving with Bryce Fullwood)

Veteran Luff will make his 21st start in Bathurst, and has recorded six Great Race podiums.

Walkinshaw Andretti United has had Luff on its books since 2014, and the team has got the most out of its seasoned pro.

Luff is almost 'Mr Order-A-Podium'; he has finished on the Bathurst rostrum six times in his last nine starts.

Lee Holdsworth (driving with Chaz Mostert)

Holdsworth missed out on a 2021 full-time drive, and WAU swooped in to secure his services.

The 2009 podium finisher has always been a factor at Mount Panorama, and scored provisional pole last year.

Mostert and Luff finished third last year. With Holdsworth by his side, 2014 winner Mostert will be a handful.

Jack Perkins (driving with Will Brown)

Larry Perkins won the Great Race six times, and left an indelible mark on the event.

Son Jack finally reached the podium with WAU in 2019, having made his debut in 2006.

Perkins junior has been paired with arguably the most exciting young talent on the grid in Will Brown.

Brown and Erebus Motorsport returned to the winners' circle in Sydney last month.

Perkins will be stepping into a fast car alongside a fast driver. Don't look away.

Michael Caruso (driving with Mark Winterbottom)

Caruso finished third alongside Holdsworth in 2009 for Garry Rogers Motorsport.

He raced for Tickford Racing in 2019 and 2020, and has found a new home at Team 18 for 2021.

With 2013 winner and 2015 series champion Mark Winterbottom desperate to return to the podium, Caruso will have plenty of ammunition to attack on Sunday.

Supercars will hit the track on Thursday for Practice 1 at 10:00am AEDT. Click here to view the track schedule.

Every session of the event will be broadcast live on Foxtel (Fox Sports 503) and streamed on Kayo.

The Seven Network will provide live free to air coverage of the event. Tickets for the event are on sale now.