Bathurst asks for two cars in one lap. A missile for the straights and something small and precise for the top of the mountain.
No car is both. The Ford Mustang GT3 gets closest and it is the reference car here. The McLaren 720S GT3 Evo is four kilos behind.
Both were free updates. You only need the track pack.
The lap itself, corner by corner, is in my Mount Panorama track guide. If setups are new to you, read the ACC setup guide first. The car choice matters less than getting the pressures right.
The best cars at Bathurst: the short answer
| Car | Full Grip BoP | Layout | How you get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Mustang GT3 | 0 kg (reference) | Front engine | Free update |
| McLaren 720S GT3 Evo | -4 kg | Mid engine | Free update |
| Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II | -8 kg | Mid engine | Challengers Pack |
| Bentley Continental GT3 | -14 kg | Front engine | Base game |
| Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 | -17 kg | Mid engine | 2023 GT World Challenge Pack |
The numbers come from Full Grip Motorsport's BoP for Mount Panorama, read on 5 October 2026. It is a league balance built from hotlap pace, not the official one in the game.
It works with ballast. The quickest car at each track is the reference at 0 kg. Every other car runs lighter to keep up. The more weight a car has taken off, the further it is from the pace there. I only show their top five. The full table is on their site.
The first three are close. After that the table falls away quickly, which is unusual. Bathurst separates the cars more than most tracks.
1. Ford Mustang GT3
Mountain Straight and Conrod Straight are two of the longest full throttle runs in the game. The Mustang is strong on both.
What makes it the reference is that it does not lose that time back across the top. It is stable through the Cutting and over Skyline, where a nervous car puts you in the wall.
At Bathurst a stable car is a fast car. You cannot attack a corner when the wall is a metre from the kerb and you do not trust the rear.
2. McLaren 720S GT3 Evo
The McLaren makes its time across the top. From Reid Park to Forrest's Elbow the lap is a string of fast, blind corners, and downforce is confidence there.
It loses a little on Conrod. Four kilos is the difference, so it is very close. If you prefer a mid engine car this is the one.
3. Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II
Coach Dave's drivers name the Audi for Bathurst and the data has it third. It is quick in the fast sections and through the Chase.
It is also the one of the three that bites. The rear can step out over the crests at Skyline and through the Esses. Fast, but only if you can keep it out of the walls for a whole race.
Other cars that work at Bathurst
- Bentley Continental GT3 (-14 kg). A big front engine car that is calm at high speed. It is a lot of car to thread through the Dipper, but it is in the base game and it is strong on the straights.
- Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 (-17 kg). Drives much like the Audi. Agile across the top, a bit lively at the rear over the crests.
- Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT3 (-22 kg). The stable choice. Not the quickest, but it brakes straight into the Chase and Murray's and it does not surprise you between the walls.
What Bathurst rewards
Power, and a rear end you can trust.
The lap has three parts. The climb up Mountain Straight and through the Cutting. The run across the top between concrete walls, from Reid Park through Skyline and the Esses to Forrest's Elbow. Then Conrod Straight, the Chase and Murray's Corner.
The first and last parts are about engine and drag. The middle part is about precision. There is no run off anywhere up there. A small slide ends the race.
So set the car up for the top. A stable car that is two tenths slower on Conrod finishes. A loose one does not.
What the pro drivers say
Coach Dave Academy asked its pro drivers to rank the GT3 cars in April 2026. They put the Ford Mustang GT3 first everywhere and they name the Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II as one of the cars to pick for Bathurst.
Full Grip's numbers say the same thing. The Audi Evo II sits third in their table here at -8 kg. When a pro driver ranking and a hotlap based balance agree, I would trust it.
The best car for beginners at Bathurst
The Mustang again. It is the fastest car here and one of the most stable, and it is free. There is no reason to look further.
If you want something slower and calmer while you learn the walls, the Aston Martin V8 Vantage is in the base game and it is very steady on the brakes.
Whatever you pick, do twenty slow laps first. Bathurst is a track you learn before you race it.
Sprint races and endurance races
In a sprint race qualify well and stay out of trouble. Passing across the top is close to impossible. The moves happen into the Chase and into Murray's, after a tow down Conrod. Straight line speed is your weapon and your defence.
In a long race the car that finishes wins. One touch of the wall costs more than any pace advantage. I would pick the most stable car I own and take the fuel hit if that car is the Mustang.
Safety cars and incidents are common here in league racing. Keep a clean car and the result comes to you.
Pick the car you know
At Bathurst more than anywhere, confidence is lap time. If a slower car lets you commit across the top, it is the faster car for you. If you are still choosing, I go through the whole class in the fastest GT3 cars in ACC and through the way I would decide in how to choose a car in ACC.
Racing somewhere else next? See the best cars at Suzuka and the best cars at Imola.
FAQ
What is the fastest car at Bathurst in ACC?
In Full Grip Motorsport's track by track BoP, read on 5 October 2026, it is the Ford Mustang GT3, with the McLaren 720S GT3 Evo next at -4 kg. That is league data built from hotlap pace, not an official ranking.
Is the Ford Mustang GT3 the best car at Bathurst?
Yes, in this data. It is the reference car at Bathurst, and Coach Dave's pro drivers rate it the fastest GT3 car in the game overall. It is also a free update.
What is the best car for beginners at Bathurst?
The Ford Mustang GT3. It is the fastest car here, one of the most stable and a free update. The Aston Martin V8 Vantage is a calmer base game choice while you learn the walls.
Where can you overtake at Bathurst in ACC?
Into the Chase and into Murray's Corner, after a tow down Conrod Straight. Into Griffins Bend at the end of Mountain Straight is the other place. Across the top there is no room.
Is Bathurst a good track for beginners in ACC?
It is one of the hardest. There is no run off across the top and one mistake ends the race. Learn it slowly in a stable car before you race it online.
Do I need DLC to race at Bathurst?
Yes. It comes in the Intercontinental GT Pack, together with three other circuits.
Does the balance of performance change from track to track?
Yes. ACC uses a different balance for each circuit, which is why the fastest car is not the same everywhere. Leagues such as Full Grip Motorsport and Low Fuel Motorsport can run their own custom BoP on top of that.