Coming back to The Mountain after winning the event in 2017, he was quickest in the only dry practice session of the week and followed it up in the Top Ten Shootout, with one of the fastest laps around Mt Panorama.

In the race, Reynolds led all day.

No-one could get near him with the Boy from Albury on the brink of doing the unthinkable - winning back-to-back races at Bathurst.

But with 134 laps gone and only 27 to go, his pace slowed.

Frantic radio calls to his pit relayed that he was cramping up and having trouble feeling the pedals.

With one pit stop left the team decided against bringing in co-driver Luke Youlden, instead opting to give Reynolds plenty of electrolytes to alleviate his failing physical condition.

Reynolds' condition continued to deteriorate, and he was forced o come in for a driver change, dropping him down the order and well out of contention.

"I just didn't take care of myself that week" lamented Reynolds.

"Being the winner from last year, the media and personal appearance commitments were huge, and we didn't manage it well."

Anyone who knows Reynolds will testify to the fact that he is one of the friendliest drivers on the circuit and never says no to a fan who wants a chat or a sponsor who wants an appearance.

"A big learning experience, big learning experience," he said.

"I've been close to winning Bathurst before and the car has broken or I something else out of your control has gone wrong and you cop that, but this was just our lack of experience - it won't happen again.

"You can still do off-track stuff but make sure you get the sleep and nutrition you need to get the job done Sunday afternoon.

"I'm much better prepared this year.

Reynolds is in the best form of his career this year with his Erebus Commodore one the quickest cars in the championship.

The last four rounds have been challenging though, with one bad result in each round - not of his own doing - seeing him slip from third in the championship to sixth.

He is one of the favourites to win his second Bathurst this weekend.

Reynolds will again team up with Luke Youlden for the endurance races with both on hand last Tuesday for a test day at Winton.

This is Youlden's third year with Reynolds.

"It's the happiest I have ever been heading into Bathurst," Youlden said.

"We have spent a lot of time working on driver comforts, and although there is always compromise, it's a lot better.

"We are approaching Bathurst the same as we always have, but getting these things right is more important because we don't have a second chance like we have had before with Sandown now being after Bathurst.

"We went through a lot of things at Winton.

"It's the most confident I have felt heading into the enduros."