Sons of guns returning famous names to Mount Panorama

A number of famous Supercars names will return to Mount Panorama across Supercars and the Dunlop Series this weekend.

Motorsport is strong with family legacies in Australia, with Bathurst a key part of their respective stories.In the Bathurst 1000 and Dunlop Series grids, there are six surnames synonymous with Great Race victory, with three returning in Super3 alone.

The Bathurst-winning surnames of Johnson, Kelly and McLeod will return to the Supercars fold this weekend, with Jett, Mason and Cameron to follow in the footsteps of their elders.

Jett Johnson, the son of 2007 podium-finisher Steven and grandson of three-time winner Dick, will turn his first Supercar laps at Mount Panorama this weekend. Supercars Hall of Famer Dick won the Great Race in 1981, 1989 and 1994, with Steven narrowly missing out on victory in 2007.

Two years earlier, Todd Kelly won the 2005 Great Race — the year son Mason was born. Teenager Mason will race the same Nissan Altima Supercar his father made his last Bathurst start in in 2017.

Then, there’s Cameron McLeod, son of racer Ryan and grandson of 1987 Great Race winner Peter. Peter and Ryan raced together three times in 1994, 1995 and 1996.

Outside the Supercars and Dunlop Series grids, Ronan Murphy, son of four-time Bathurst winner Greg, will make a cameo appearance in the National Sport Sedans.

The Bathurst-winning surnames of Perkins and Moffat are also on the Great Race grid, courtesy of Jack Perkins (son of six-time winner Larry) and James Moffat (son of four-time winner Allan).

The late Lex Davison, grandfather of Will and Alex Davison, won the 1958 Australian Grand Prix at Mount Panorama. He also won Class A of the Armstrong 500, forerunner of the Bathurst 1000, in 1960.

Macauley Jones, racing the #96 Pizza Hut Camaro with Jordan Boys, is the son of six-time Bathurst podium-finisher Brad. Aaron Seton, racing for Gomersall Motorsport in Super2, is the son of touring car legend Glenn.

The fathers of Tim Blanchard, David Russell and Warren Luff also raced at Mount Panorama.

A second-generation racer, Russell’s father Geoff drove finished sixth at the Bathurst 1000 in 1984. Luff’s father Ian also made starts in the Great Race, and won in class in the Bathurst 24 Hour in 2002 and 2003.

John Blanchard, father of Tim and co-owner of Blanchard Racing Team, notably raced BMWs in the early 1990s, finishing third in class in 1994.

Supercars and Dunlop Series action commences at Mount Panorama on Thursday.