Bathurst 12 Hour 2014.

by **JamieWhincup#1** Mon Sep 02, 2013 11:37 am

Just thought I would start a thread to post any news about next years 12 hour.

44 ENTRIES RECIEVED FOR 2014 LIQUI MOLY BATHURST 12 HOUR RACE

44 ENTRIES have been received for the 2014 Event at the conclusion of the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour's 'Early Bird' entry period on 31 July 2013.

The provisional entry list released today is seven cars larger than at the same period last year, with a capacity field of 55 cars now anticipated by Event organisers following enhanced interest from teams both in Australia and overseas.

49 cars started the 2013 race, won by Erebus Motorsport in a Mercedes Benz SLS AMG GT3 – a car that is listed as the No.1 entry for the 2014 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour.

Clearwater Racing, second this year, and VIP Petfoods Racing (Third) also feature on a list that currently includes 16 Class A (GT3 Outright) vehicles and 31 vehicles across the three GT classes in total.

"Interest in the 2014 race was high from the moment entries opened and we received more than 10 on the first day," Event administrator Alexandra Zylstra said.

"The 44 cars on the provisional list released today is only the beginning. We have had a number of teams not included on the provisional list who are very keen to race, but are not yet ready to commit to the race as they try and finalise their plans.

"A lot of these are international teams who are working on securing sponsors and drivers for a trip down under next February. If interest is anything to go by, there won't be any problems filling the remaining 11 places on the grid to make it a full field.

"There is a lot of excitement in the Event office now we have confirmed the 'first 44' cars. It’s going to be a spectacular event!"

Along with the already-confirmed attack from Nissan Motorsports, the German-based Haribo Racing Team is amongst several new entrants set to tackle the Mountain for the first time next year.

Based in Bonn, Germany, Haribo is a regular front-runner in the Pro/Am class of the Blancpain Endurance Series with their 2013-specification Porsche GT3R. British driver, Richard Westbrook, is among their regular driving squad in the Blancpain series – on which the Bathurst 12 Hour is closely aligned with.

Chinese team, Absolute Racing, has entered an Audi R8 LMS Ultra and will travel from their base at the Zhuhai circuit to compete in the 12 Hour next February, further adding to the growing Asian flavour of the Event.

United Autosport has entered both their regular Audi R8 LMS Ultra and one of their stunning McLaren MP4 12-C entries – having competed with just the Audi across the 2012 and 2013 races.

A packed Class B (GT3) grid is made up by a host of Australian, New Zealand and American-based Porsche GT3 Cup Cars, and several 2010/2011 specification Audi R8’s.

Production regulars Beric Lynton (BMW 1M Coupe), Maximum Motorsport (Subaru Impreza WRX STi) and New Zealand's Motorsport Services (Seat Leon Supercopa's) make up a portion of the re-aligned production-based classes D, E and F.

Entries for the 2014 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour close on 13 December 2013, though entries will be frozen until the end of August to allow for potential competitors yet to commit to the Event time to prepare before the 'cap' of 55 cars is potentially reached.

"We have received entries from vehicles not currently included on the vehicle eligibility list, which we need to review," Event Director James O'Brien said.

"Additionally, we have international competitors currently liaising with our freight partner (Gibson Freight) on our entry / freight packages. We also want to ensure we have a balanced field across the class structure.

"For these reasons, we are temporarily halting the acceptance of entry forms until the end of August. We are pretty confident 2014 will see a record field for the Event."

The 2014 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour will be held on the February 7-9 weekend at the iconic Mount Panorama circuit in Bathurst, New South Wales.

by **JamieWhincup#1** Mon Sep 02, 2013 11:38 am

RICK KELLY TO LEAD RETURN OF NISSAN GT-R TO MOUNT PANORAMA AT 2014 BATHURST 12 HOUR

MELBOURNE, Australia / YOKOHAMA, Japan (17 July 2013) – Nissan Motorsport V8 Supercar driver Rick Kelly will drive in the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour as part of the company's new 'Nismo Global Driver Exchange'.

Kelly, driver of the #15 Jack Daniel's Nissan Altima in the V8 Supercars Championship and winner of the Bathurst 1000 in 2003 and 2004, will steer a Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 in the endurance event, entered and prepared by Nismo's own factory team from Japan as the 'Nismo Athlete Global Team'.

The decision by Nismo to contest the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour is testament to the growing stature of this event on the world stage, as well as the impact that the Nissan V8 Supercar program has made as the newest addition to Nissan's global motorsport activities.

Nissan Motorsport became the first new manufacturer to enter the V8 Supercars Championship in over two decades when it announced that it would re-enter the sport with a four-car factory team fielding Nissan Altima V8 Supercars.

"In selecting the Bathurst 12 Hour as a key part of our 2014 racing program, Nissan has further cemented Australasia as a critical element of our global motorsport plans," said Nissan global motorsport director Darren Cox.

"Mount Panorama is one of the world’s iconic racing circuits and the Nissan GT-R has incredible history there. We are pleased to be at Bathurst with Nissan Motorsport in V8 Supercars this October, and then again with the Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 next February for the Bathurst 12 Hour.

"Our Nismo entry in the Bathurst 12 Hour is an important part of our 'Nismo Global Driver Exchange' and we are excited to have Rick Kelly as an Australian element of this entry next February."

It will be Kelly's maiden start in the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour, but the 2006 V8 Supercars champion has a wealth of experience at the famous Mount Panorama circuit. Kelly has entered Australia's 'Great Race' on 12 occasions, winning in 2003 and 2004.

"I couldn’t be more excited about this opportunity to race a Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 at the 2014 Bathurst 12 Hour," said Kelly.

"The GT-R is an amazing car in its standard form, so in Nismo GT3 race-specification, I think it will be capable of great things.

"I haven’t competed in the Bathurst 12 Hour before, and for me, it's because I haven’t had the right opportunity. Certainly this one is the right opportunity, and it will be the first time I've driven something other than a V8 Supercar in a while.

"Nismo has kept a very keen eye on our V8 Supercars program since we announced we were bringing Nissan back to the sport here in Australia. We've had strong and open dialogue with them and I think this is the start of what we can make happen in the future.

"The car will be capable of winning, and Nissan's history at Bathurst is well documented, especially with the GT-R, aka 'Godzilla'. We'll be giving it our best shot.

"It's exciting that this entry will form part of the Nismo Global Driver Exchange. It's fantastic that Nissan is not only committed to an entry in the 2014 Bathurst 12 Hour, but is also sending drivers from its extensive global motorsport program to the event."

It will be the first time that a factory Nissan GT-R has competed at Mount Panorama since the early 90s when Jim Richards and Mark Skaife scored back-to-back Bathurst 1000 wins in 1991 and 1992.

The 2014 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour will be held on February 7-9. Further details and drivers

by **JamieWhincup#1** Mon Sep 02, 2013 11:39 am

CRAIG LOWNDES TO JOIN MARANELLO MOTORSPORT FOR 2014 LIQUI-MOLY BATHURST 12 HOUR CHALLENGE

Multi-championship winning Australian racing driver Craig Lowndes will join Maranello Motorsport's assault on the 2014 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour.

Driving their newly constructed Ferrari 458 GT3, Lowndes will be joined by long-time sports car and endurance ace John Bowe, race car owner Peter Edwards, and a yet-to-be-announced fourth driver.

"I can't wait, what a great opportunity," the eternally enthusiastic Craig Lowndes said.

"Maranello Motorsport has tremendous expertise both with Ferraris and with the Bathurst event, so I think I will have the equipment and experience to have a real crack at finally winning it."

"There's a bigger aspect to this too, with some other things we'd like to do together in the future."

As Australia's most successful V8 Supercar championship driver, Lowndes is already a five-time winner of the annual 1000 kilometre endurance event at the legendary Mt Panorama track.

The 2014 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour on February 7 – 9 will be Lowndes' first-ever race in a Ferrari.

"I've really enjoyed the challenge of the past three Bathurst 12 Hours, and came as close as it is possible to winning it in 2011, so I'd really like to tick that off with Ferrari and Maranello next year."

Maranello Motorsport team boss Mark Coffey is equally enthusiastic about his new signing.

"We are absolutely delighted to have Craig on board and are as determined as he is to finally crack victory in the Bathurst 12 Hour."

"Craig's track record says everything that needs to be said. He's a fantastic addition to our driver line-up and I know his enthusiasm alone will be infectious for the whole team."

Lowndes, Bowe, Edwards and the yet to be announced fourth driver, will take Maranello Motorsport's brand new Ferrari 458 GT3, currently under construction, into next year's ultimate Bathurst enduro.

Maranello Motorsport's 2014 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour campaign is proudly supported by Il Bello Rosso – Baby Roma Tomatoes, IVECO Trucks, Liqui-Moly, General Pants Co, Adtrans and GPI Corporate.

by **JamieWhincup#1** Wed Oct 02, 2013 3:36 pm

NEWS: The 2014 Liqui-Moly Australia Bathurst 12 Hour will commence at 6:15am on Sunday, February 9 2014.

by **JamieWhincup#1** Wed Oct 02, 2013 5:02 pm

Live free-to-air TV for Bathurst 12 Hour

The Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour will enjoy live free-to-air television coverage next year under a new deal with SBS.

SBS will broadcast the final three hours of the race, supplementing the live streaming web service.

The agreement will mark the first time that the 12 Hour has received live free-to-air coverage since the race returned in 2007.

A post-produced highlights program will complete the event’s television package.

“Live TV will increase exposure for our sponsors, teams, drivers and, importantly, open the race up to more fans around Australia and the world,” said event director James O’Brien.

“We are thrilled to reach an agreement with SBS to show the closing stages of what will be another highly competitive and entertaining race.

“Live TV It is an important step forward in the continued growth of the event.”

Organisers have also confirmed that the race will feature an earlier start time of 0615 next year, ensuring more running in the darkness.

The event has grown significantly in stature since GT3 cars were added to the field three years ago, with its international appeal boosted greatly this year by the appearance of British-based broadcasters Radio Le Mans.

It is expected that the John Hindaugh and Paul Truswell led team will return next year, although it is currently unclear whether they will be part of the SBS package.

A capacity 55 car grid is expected for the February 9 race, with organisers having had to temporarily freeze entries earlier this year due to the competitor interest.

by **RU four 86** Wed Oct 02, 2013 5:18 pm

3 cheers for SBS, cheers

I watch a lot of pro cycling, thanks to SBS.

Good stuff, I'll be watching...

RU

by **JamieWhincup#1** Tue Dec 10, 2013 4:56 pm

NEW FORMAT AND ALLAN SIMONSEN POLE POSITION TROPHY SET FOR 2014 BATHURST QUALIFYING

THE FASTEST man in Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour history will be remembered on qualifying day at the 2014 Event, next February.

The Allan Simonsen Pole Position Trophy will be inaugurated next year to be awarded to the fastest qualifier for the race – an ongoing tribute to one of the most spectacular drivers ever to compete in the Bathurst 12 Hour.

The new pole award announcement comes with confirmation of a new qualifying format for the Event that could potentially see incredible times posted on Saturday afternoon – the ultimate ‘tip of the hat’ to the always speedy Dane.

Gone are the ‘benchmark’ lap time requirements and aggregate qualifying times used to decide the grid in previous years and in its place comes a 15-minute shootout for the outright (Class A – International GT3) vehicles, designed to allow them to battle it out for pole position without slower traffic potentially impeding their way.

Three qualifying sessions will be held on Saturday, one each in the morning and afternoon for the entire field.

Once those sessions are complete, a further 15-minute session will be allocated for the cars battling for the outright pole to have their attempt at a Bathurst one-lap stunner.

The car with the fastest time overall at the end of Saturday will win the Allan Simonsen Pole Position Trophy for the first time.

Though Simonsen never actually scored pole position for the race, he set both the 12 Hour race lap record and the fastest official lap by a closed-wheel car at the famous 6.213km circuit prior to his tragic passing in an accident at LeMans in June.

He still holds both benchmarks, the fastest laps to be set on the ‘old’ surface prior to the current resurfacing presently underway.

Driving a Maranello Motorsport Ferrari 458 GT3, Simonsen actually set the fastest time in qualifying for the 2013 Event however his lap – a stunning 2m05.49s effort – was beneath the 2m06-second ‘benchmark’ time allowed in qualifying, however that rule has been removed for 2014 allowing drivers to lap as quickly as possible.

A new trophy is currently being created to aptly reward the pole sitting combination, to be unveiled at the Event prior to qualifying on Saturday February 8, 2014.

The Allan Simonsen Pole Trophy comes with the blessing of the Simonsen Family and with the support of Allan’s Australian team, Maranello Motorsport.

“The Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour team has the full support of our family to create the Allan Simonsen Pole Position trophy,” said Benny Simonsen, Allan’s younger brother and fellow GT racer.

“He told me that Bathurst was his favourite track and he just loved to go there. It is an honour to have the pole position award to be named after him.”

The trophy will be a unique way for fan-favourite Simonsen to be immortalised as part of the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour Event.

“It was always our intention to honour the memory of Allan in some form at the 2014 Event, and this seemed like the most appropriate way given the fact fans and his rivals alike remember Allan for his blinding speed at Mount Panorama,” said Event Director, James O’Brien.

“Qualifying on pole at Mount Panorama is always a major achievement given it is one of the toughest laps in motorsport. Now it will mean even more and ensure the stakes on the Saturday of the 2014 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour will be high.

“The Allan Simonsen Pole Position Trophy will be one everyone wants to win. Our thanks go to Mark Coffey and Maranello Motorsport, and the Simonsen family for making this possible.”

by **JamieWhincup#1** Mon Dec 16, 2013 10:52 am

Bathurst 12 hour wrote:WORLD CHAMPIONS ENTERED IN RECORD 12 HOUR FIELD

ONE OF the most successful teams in all of GT racing headlines a full entry list announced for the 2014 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour today.

Former FIA GT1 World Champions Vita4One Racing has entered a two car BMW Z4M GT3 attack on the race next year, joining the strongest field of GT cars ever assembled in Australia.

A full field of 55 cars are entered to compete in the February 7-9 Event next year – six cars larger the previous record field (since the return of the race in 2007) of 49 cars set this year.

The pair of Vita4One Racing BMWs will likely race towards the front of an incredibly strong field of GT cars.

The GT3-outright (Class A) field includes reigning Bathurst 12 Hour champions Erebus Motorsport (Mercedes Benz SLS AMG) and 2012 winners Phoenix Racing (Audi R8 LMS Ultra), Australian GT Champions VIP Petfoods Racing (Porsche GT3 Cup R), reigning Spa 24-hour champions HTP Motorsport (Mercedes Benz SLS AMG) a factory-entered Nissan GTR NISMO GT3 and also current-specification GT cars from Ferrari, Lamborghini and Chevrolet.

Vita4One racing, based in Olpe, Germany, won the FIA GT Championship every year between 2006 and 2009 and were world champions in 2010, then running the famous Maserati MC12. Following a brief stint with Ferrari the team switched to BMW Motorsport Z4M GT3s at the beginning of the 2012 season and continues to operate the cars to this day.

Headed by team manager / driver Michael Bartels, the team has been consistently successful in recent years in the FIA GT World Championship, the Blancipain Endurance Series and long-distance races across Europe and the world.

2014 will mark the first time that the team will have competed on Australian soil and just the second time that the popular Z4M will have competed here, following its local debut with Liqui-Moly Team Engstler last year.

2012 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour champions Phoenix Racing will return with their Audi R8 LMS Ultra, heading a strong Audi assault as the brand seeks to win a third 12-hour on the Mountain.

The well documented Ferrari attack includes Clearwater Racing, AF Corse, Maranello Motorsport and Vicious Rumour Racing whilst Lamborghini will be well represented with M Motorsport and Roger Lago Racing – Lago having combined with his Bathurst 12 Hour co-drivers David Russell and Peter Cox to finish second in the Sepang 12 Hour earlier this year.

Nissan Motorsport will make a big push with the Australian debut of the GTR NISMO GT3, following on from their successful maiden season in V8 Supercars this year.

Class B (GT3) includes the first non-Carrera Cup appearance of the MY11-specification Porsche 997 GT3 Cup Car, entered by several strong teams including Grove Racing and Rentcorp Motorsport.

American outfit, Competition Motorsports, plus Bathurst 12 Hour favourites Motorsport Services from New Zealand figure amongst the predominantly Porsche-dominated Class.

Popular British team Motionsport will return to the Event in 2014 with their Lotus Exige, having created an impact on the 2013 Event with a brave performance despite difficulties throughout. The British team will battle a Nissan GTR and a New-Zealand entered BMW M3 GT4 in Class C (GT4).

The usual diverse array of production-based vehicles will again return, whilst there will likely be several interesting inter-class battles throughout the field.

Three SEAT Leon Supercopa’s make up Class E, three works-entered FIAT 500 Abarths will battle in Class F and the unique Marc Focus V8’s make their Australian track debut in the final ‘invitational’ class.

Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour organisers released an updated race program last week that offers significantly more track time for 12-hour entrants than in previous years.

A one-hour session on Friday morning for cars in Classes C,D,E,F and I will commence at 7:45am and run for a full hour, to be followed immediately by another one-hour session for class A & B cars only.

The two morning sessions will be the first experience for competitors on the brand-new Mount Panorama surface currently being laid by the Bathurst Regional Council workers.

Two one-hour ‘all in’ practice sessions will be held in the afternoon on Friday to give teams and drivers experience of negotiating the 6.213km circuit with race traffic.

Qualifying will be held over three stages, a one-hour qualifying one to be held on Saturday morning to be followed by a 40-minute session for all cars later in the afternoon. A 15-minute session for Class A (GT3 outright) cars will immediately follow the second session.

The 2014 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour commences at 6:15am on Sunday, February 9, 2014.

2014 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour – OFFICIAL ENTRY LIST

A - Erebus Motorsport / Australia / Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 2012
A - Erebus Motorsport / Australia / Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 2012
A - Clearwater Racing / Singapore / Ferrari F458 Italia GT3 2013
A - VIP Holdings / Australia / Porsche GT3 R 2013
A - Mark Eddy / Marc Cini Australia Audi R8 LMS Ultra 2012
A - Lago Racing / Australia / Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 2012
A - Trofeo Motorsport / Australia / Chevrolet Callaway Corvette Z06R GT3
A - M Motorsport / Australia / Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 2012
A - AF Corse / Italy / Ferrari F458 Italia GT3 2013
A - Maranello Motorsport / Australia / Ferrari F458 Italia GT3 2013
A - United Autosports / UK / Audi R8 LMS Ultra 2012
A - Nissan Motorsports International / Japan / Nissan GTR NISMO GT3 2013
A - Rod Salmon / Australia / Audi R8 LMS Ultra 2012
A - Absolute Racing / China / Audi R8 LMS Ultra 2013
A - Vicious Rumour Racing team / Australia / Ferrari F458 Italia GT3 2013
A - HTP Motorsport / Germany / Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 2012
A - Phoenix Racing / Germany / Audi R8 LMS Ultra 2013
A - Vita4One Racing / Germany / BMW Z4 GT3 2013
A - Vita4One Racing / Germany / BMW Z4 GT3 2013
A - Rotek Racing /Germany / Audi R8 LMS Ultra

B - Prosurv Racing / Australia / Porsche 997 GT3 Cup MY08
B - Dean Koutsoumidis / Australia / Audi R8 LMS 2011
B - Grove Motorsport / Australia / Porsche 997 GT3 Cup MY11
B - Indiran Padayachee / Australia / Porsche 997 GT3 Cup MY11
B - Indiran Padayachee / Australia / Porsche 997 GT3 Cup MY11
B - Andrew Macpherson / Australia / Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S
B - Motorsport Services / New Zealand / Porsche 997 GT3 Cup MY06
B - Motorsport Services / New Zealand / Porsche 997 GT3 Cup MY06
B - Motorsport Services / New Zealand / Porsche 997 GT3 Cup MY06
B - Richard Gartner / Australia / Porsche 997 GT3 Cup MY07
B - James Koundouris / Australia / Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S
B - Competition Motorsports / USA / Porsche 997 GT3 Cup MY11
B - Copyworld Motorsports / Australia / Porsche 997 GT3 Cup MY11
B - Racing Incident / Australia / Lamborghini Gallardo LP 520 2008

B - Damien Flack / Australia / Porsche 997 GT3 Cup MY11
C - Tony Alford / Australia / Nissan GTR R35
C - Mortimer Motorsports / New Zealand / BMW M3 GT4
C - Motionsport / UK / Lotus Exige

D - Peter O'Donnell Australia BMW 335i
D - Anthony Gilbertson Australia BMW M3 E46 GTR
D - Beric Lynton Australia BMW M Coupe 1 Series
D - Sam Chester Australia Mazda RX7 Turbo
D - Dean Herridge Australia Subaru WRX STi
D - Michael Benton Australia Ford Falcon GT
D - Richard Bendell Australia Daytona Sportscar Coupe
D - Rotek Racing Germany Audi A4

E - Motorsport Services / New Zealand / Seat Leon Supercopa
E - Motorsport Services / New Zealand / Seat Leon Supercopa
E - Richard Billington / New Zealand / Seat Leon Supercopa

F - Fiat Chrysler Group / Australia / Fiat Abarth 500
F - Fiat Chrysler Group / Australia / Fiat Abarth 500
F - Fiat Chrysler Group / Australia / Fiat Abarth 500

I - Racer Industries / Australia / Marc GTC Focus V8
I - Racer Industries / Australia / Marc GTC Focus V8
I - Racer Industries / Australia / Marc GTC Focus V8

by **JamieWhincup#1** Tue Jan 07, 2014 2:52 pm

Speedcafe wrote:D’Alberto secures Bathurst 12 Hour drive

Tony D’Alberto will join Vicious Rumour Racing’s Ferrari 458 squad for the 2014 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour.

The 28-year-old will bring a wealth of track knowledge to Tony DeFelice’s squad having competed in 10 Bathurst 1000 races.

However, this year will be D’Alberto’s first experience in the 12 hour endurance at Mount Panorama.

“I’m really excited to be joining Tony DeFelice and his team for the Bathurst 12 Hour,” D’Alberto said.

“I have always wanted to do the event, and when Tony called I couldn’t refuse this exciting opportunity.

“I’m looking forward to testing the car later this month at Phillip Island.

“I had a seat fit the other day and the Ferrari 458 is clearly a weapon, so I can’t wait to link up with the guys at Mount Panorama.”

D’Alberto will be joined at Vicious Rumour Racing by experienced V8 Supercars co-driver Dean Canto, who replaces the previously confirmed Italian GT ace Alessandro Balzan.

The reigning Grand-Am GT champion Balzan was forced to withdraw from the event due to logistical issues.

Other V8 Supercar drivers confirmed for the event include Craig Lowndes (Maranello Motorsport Ferrari 458), Jason Bright and Warren Luff in the Rod Salmon-entered Audi R8 LMS and David Russell (JBS Swift Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4).

While new Erebus signing Will Davison is widely anticipated to be pitched into one of the team’s SLS AMG GT3 machines.

Greg Murphy is set to return to the mountain track with Trofeo Motorsport in their Corvette C6R GT3, while Rick Kelly will lead the Nissan Global Team NISMO Nissan GTR GT3 team in their Bathurst debut.

Craig Baird returns in the Clearwater Racing Ferrari 458 GT3 while Bathurst 1000 champion Steven Richards and 2013 Dunlop Series champion Dale Wood will drive the M Motorsport Lamborghini Gallardo.

Luke Youlden has been confirmed as one of the ‘pro’ drivers in the three car FIAT Abarth squad.

Additional V8 Supercar drivers are expected to be among the starters with the full entry list released within the next fortnight.

The Bathurst 12 Hour is scheduled from February 7-9.

by **JamieWhincup#1** Wed Jan 08, 2014 11:01 pm

Bathurst 12 Hour wrote:PATRICK LONG CONFIRMED FOR 12-HOUR

CHAMPION American Porsche driver Patrick Long will finally make his Mount Panorama, Bathurst, debut at the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour this February.

Leading motorsport website Sportscar365.com has revealed today that Long will join David Calvert-Jones and Alex Davison in a Class B Porsche GT3 Cup Car.

Calvert-Jones and Davison will enter their second race together as Long gets his first shot at Bathurst, after a change in his schedule allowed him to commit to the race last week.

The Californian is familiar to Australian fans thanks to two appearances at the Gold Coast 600 V8 Supercar event in 2010-11, first with Garry Rogers Motorsport and then with Walkinshaw Racing.

Long is a three-time American LeMans Series champion and has twice won his class at the famous LeMans 24 hour race. He has also recorded victories in major races including the Sebring 12 hour, Rolex 24 at Daytona and the Petit LeMans in the United States.

“The race and the track speaks for itself but I’ve not had the opportunity because of date clashes to make it the last two years,” Long told Sportscar365.com

“That’s been sort of frustrating. Our [Porsche] fitness camp was moved this year from its traditional mid-February date to mid-January and that opened up the opportunity.”

“Everything that I hear, obviously the race is spectacular,” he said of Mount Panorama. “The track is spectacular. Australian motorsport, we all know, is awesome.

“But I think we all know the track is fast and the walls are close. Some people say it’s a lot like the Nordschleife. Some people say it’s a lot like a street course on steroids. I don’t know what to expect.”

by **Envy The Best** Thu Jan 09, 2014 8:16 am

Speaking of, we got three GT6-ers here, can we get a fourth? Oh and i'll race so long as we run the SLS. SLS or bust.

http://www.gtplanet.net/forum/threads/2014-bathurst-12-hour-january-25th-26th-taking-team-applications.296111/

by **JamieWhincup#1** Thu Jan 09, 2014 9:57 am

Envy The Best wrote:Speaking of, we got three GT6-ers here, can we get a fourth? Oh and i'll race so long as we run the SLS. SLS or bust.

http://www.gtplanet.net/forum/threads/2014-bathurst-12-hour-january-25th-26th-taking-team-applications.296111/

Keen but not sure what I'm doing that weekend. SLS will be fine with me

by **JamieWhincup#1** Mon Jan 13, 2014 3:07 pm

Speedcafe wrote:
More internationals join Bathurst 12H grid

Four more high profile international drivers have been added to the growing list of stars for next month’s 2014 Bathurst 12 Hour endurance race.

Multiple Porsche Supercup champion Rene Rast, world touring car champion Rob Huff, reigning FIA GT world champion Laurens Vanthoor and former DTM racer Rahel Frey have been confirmed for the event.

The quartet were announced by Audi Sport at the weekend as the German manufacturer revealed the majority of its pilots for its six car R8 LMS assault of Mount Panorama.

Top German outfit Phoenix Racing will field arguably the strongest line up for the race on February 7-9 with Rast, Vanthoor and Frey jumping behind the wheel of their R8.

Rast is the team’s most experienced driver with three International Porsche Supercup titles under his belt. The event will be the 27-year-old German’s first taste of Mount Panorama.

Belgian ace Vanthoor proved to be one of the hottest talents in GT racing after claiming the FIA GT title alongside Stephane Ortelli last year. The 22-year-old has driven an R8 LMS for the last three seasons.

Frey has the least GT experience of the trio but the 27-year-old Swiss competed in the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2010 and has two years of DTM behind her.

World touring car champion Huff will return to Mont Panorama for a second crack at the Bathurst 12 Hour with Rotek Racing. The 34-year-old Brit finished eighth driving the Peter Conroy Audi R8 at the event last year.

The United Autosport’s Audi R8 squad have already confirmed their three driver line up of former GT world champion Markus Winkelhock, Eric Lux and Mark Patterson.

Local entries from Rod Salmon, Dean Koutsoumidis and Mark Eddy/Marc Cini will complete the line-up of R8s at Bathurst.

by **JamieWhincup#1** Mon Jan 13, 2014 8:25 pm

Brilliant driving by Laurens Vanthoor

by **JamieWhincup#1** Tue Jan 14, 2014 4:54 pm

by **JamieWhincup#1** Wed Jan 15, 2014 12:44 pm

Bathurst 12hr wrote:BIG SIGNINGS TO ANCHOR EREBUS AT LIQUI-MOLY BATHURST 12 HOUR

Two of the biggest names in motorsport have signed on to the Erebus Motorsport GT program for the forthcoming Bathurst 12 Hour; reigning champion and the world’s most successful GT endurance racer - Bernd Schneider - will lead car #1, whilst new Erebus Motorsport V8 recruit Will Davison will take the reigns of the #63 entry.

“We are proud to have Bernd back to defend the title he took 12-months ago with Thomas Jaeger and Alexander Roloff,” Daniel Klimenko, Team Principal of Erebus Motorsport GT said. “In 2013 he was the most decorated GT3 driver in the world, with victories in Dubai, Bathurst, the Nurburgring [twice], Spa and Abu Dhabi to his name - all behind the wheel of an SLS AMG GT3. For him to agree without hesitation to join us gave us the chance to put together two incredible teams of drivers.”

“I’m pleased to be invited to come back to Australia again and contest the 12-Hour race with Erebus Motorsport GT and AMG Customer Sports,” Schneider admitted.

“It is one of the world’s most iconic circuits, a circuit that really rewards the driver. We achieved something really special in 2013, especially as it was the first time for Erebus Motorsport and the first win for AMG Customer Sports at Bathurst. We hope to be able to repeat the performance, although the entry list includes some more very successful international teams this year, so it will be no easy task, but it’s clear from their ongoing successes last year that the Erebus team are up to the challenge.”

Whilst Schneider comes into the event as the reigning champion, and a driver who has enjoyed the benefit of laps around Mount Panorama in the all-conquering SLS AMG GT3, new Erebus recruit Will Davison has not, but the 2009 Bathurst 1000 winner is no slouch around the mountain, and can take comfort in the pace set by fellow Erebus rookies Tim Slade and Lee Holdsworth 12-months ago.

“They were both seriously fast in the SLS,” Davison acknowledged. “Yes, it’s a markedly different beast to the Erebus Motorsport V8 Supercar, but the key to being quick at Bathurst is experience, and fortunately I’ve done a few laps around there..

“Honestly, I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of the GT3-spec car. I love my sport, so the chance to drive a purpose built thoroughbred like the SLS - a car which dominated in every major event last year - was too good an opportunity to pass up.

“Like anything, it will present a different set of challenges, but based on the pace of the car last year, and the success the Erebus team enjoyed during both the Australian GT Championship and GT Asia last year, there’s no reason why we can’t be challenging for back-to-back victories this year..”

“We put Will into the car for a number of reasons,” Barry Ryan, Erebus Motorsport’s General Manager of Motorsport explained. “It gives us the perfect opportunity to work with him prior to the V8 Supercar season opener at Clipsal, and it also gives the team the perfect opportunity to pair him with his V8 engineer Luke Mason who will also come along and work with us at the 12-Hour.”

Despite having revealed the names of the team’s two ‘team leaders’, Ryan was a little more tight lipped about the two drivers who will join each of them in just under four weeks time.

“We’re keen to ensure each team has the best chance at winning, so we want to place our drivers accordingly based on their strengths - all will be revealed shortly,” he confirmed.

Whilst he failed to let slip any of the details as to who was driving where, he did confirm that the two cars that ran so strongly in 2013 would be back in action this year.

“We’re proud to be able to wear the coveted #1 this year, on the same car that won the 12-Hour in 2013,” Ryan confirmed, “whilst the #63 car will be the car that Lee Holdsworth took to pole position.

“The team have been working feverishly since Macau last November to return the cars to their original condition. There has been little change to the performance parity with respect to the GT3 specification under which we run at Bathurst, and if the Dubai 24-Hour this last weekend was any indication, the SLS is still the benchmark.

“We know that 12-Hours around Bathurst against such strong competition will be no easy task, but we have the best car, the best drivers and this team has a full 12-months of experience with the cars under their belts, so there really is no reason why we won’t be in the mix come the eleventh hour on February 9..”

Opening practice for the 2013 Bathurst 12-Hour will get underway at 8:55am on Friday, February 7.

by **JamieWhincup#1** Fri Jan 17, 2014 10:42 am

Speedcafe wrote:
Four-man line-up for Nismo Bathurst entry

Nissan will import three internationals to share its GT-R entry with Rick Kelly in February’s Bathurst 12 Hour.

The manufacturer has confirmed that Briton Alex Buncombe, Japanese Katsumasa Chiyo and Belgian Wolfgang Reip will team with the former V8 Supercars champion.

Experienced GT racer Buncombe is a mainstay of Nissan’s GT Academy, helping the video gamers make the transition to real racing since the program began in 2008.

Reip won the European leg of the Academy two years ago before competing in both the Blancpain Endurance and FIA GT Series with Nissan last year. He is the squad’s unseeded driver.

Chiyo meanwhile is a more traditionally groomed Nissan project, having risen through karts and Formula 3 before graduating into his current role with the manufacturer’s SuperGT effort.

Nissan’s global motorsport manager Darren Cox has been the driving force behind the company’s representation in the 12 Hour and says he’s proud of the assembled line-up.

“It’s great that we can field a team that shows the international nature of our driving talent and once again promote a Nismo version of the Nissan GT-R,” he said.

The car will be run by Nissan’s Japanese Nismo crew, who will fly into Australia at the start of race week.

The lack of a pre-event test ensures that Kelly will not have his first taste of the car until practice at Bathurst.

Kelly’s V8 Supercar race engineer Eric Pender, engine builder Shigeru Kugimiya and a small selection of Australian mechanics will bolster the Nismo effort at the event.

The Nissan GT-R is one of 19 cars entered in the race’s outright class, nine of which are being fielded by international teams.

by **Dektra** Sun Jan 19, 2014 2:33 pm

Erebus wrote:
Erebus Motorsport SLS Driver Signings Confirmed

Erebus Motorsport GT have revealed an impressive array of drivers for the defence of their Bathurst 12-Hour crown. Car #1 led by legendary German touring car and sportscar star Bernd Schneider will be an all-German affair after it was announced that Maro Engel and rising AMG Customer Sports driver Nico Bastian would join the reigning champion. In car #63 it will again be an all-Australian affair, with new Erebus Motorsport recruit Will Davison joined by Erebus Academy graduate Jack Le Brocq and former Australian GT round winner Greg Crick.
“It’s an outstanding lineup, no question,” Daniel Klimenko, Team Principal of Erebus Motorsport GT admitted. “With the rules the way they are, it’s always a juggle to find the right mix of drivers with the right credentials, especially given the more stringent driver seeding rules this year.

“To have Bernd and Maro sharing car #1 with Nico will be impressive enough, but consider Will, Jack and Greg Crick in car #63! It’s fantastic to have worked with Jack through the Erebus Academy and see him step into the drive alongside Will, they will be a formidable combination, but don’t discount Cricky, he’s still very quick and he knows how to get around Bathurst.”

For Schneider, the addition of Engel and Bastian will only firm their position as one of the outright favourites. Both Engel and Schneider have raced, and won with Erebus Motorsport GT, and both are intimately acquainted with Mount Panorama.

23-year old Bastian however will be a Bathurst rookie, but he’s no rookie when it comes to the all-conquering SLS AMG GT3, the young German claiming a third placed finish in the grueling 24 Hours of Nürburgring last May with the Rowe Racing team (SLS AMG), where he drove alongside 2013 Bathurst 12-Hour winner Thomas Jaeger.
"I`m very proud and thankful to be a part of the Erebus Motorsport GT team,” Bastian admitted from his home in Germany. “The team won last year at Bathurst, so we have a big mission ahead of us to defend the title and the number on the side of the car!

“I think the driver line-up of both cars is very strong and competitive, so we can say, that the mission is not a ‘mission impossible’!

“For me it is a dream come true. It´s my first time in Australia and on Mount Panorama - I can’t wait, I´m really looking forward to it!"

Whilst Bastian comes to the event as a rookie, Engel had spent much of 2013 competing in V8 Supercars, so has enjoyed significant track time at Mount Panorama. He may have had just one start in the SLS AMG GT3 during the City of Dreams Macau GT Cup late last year, but he showed he’d lost none of his customary pace in the ‘Gullwing’, setting a stunning pole time and a new track record before retiring late in the race after debris cut down a tyre - he was leading by more than two seconds at the time.

“That was frustrating, but as they say, that’s motor racing..” he reflected. “It was nice to get back in the SLS and be immediately competitive. To set a new record pole time, and break the lap record was a great result, and we showed that we were more than capable of winning the race despite it being just our first visit to Macau.
“Can we win the 12-Hour again, for sure, but there is more to it than just speed, but the team have the experience, they have the best car and we have some outstanding drivers, so it’s going to make things easier, but Bathurst is Bathurst, and it’s 12-Hours of attack, so we will see what comes.”

For Jack Le Brocq, his inclusion in the #63 car comes on the back of two stunning drives during the 2013 Australian GT Championship when he piloted the Erebus Motorsport GT team to record breaking wins at both Phillip Island and Sydney Motorsport Park, on both occasions slashing the existing category lap record.
“I had so much fun driving the two Erebus Motorsport SLS AMG GT3’s last year,” Le Brocq smiled on reflection of what had been a complete decimation of the field. “I felt I had some unfinished business though, so what better way to complete my graduation from the Erebus Academy than to drive alongside Will and Greg at Bathurst. I couldn’t be happier, and to have two such experienced campaigners alongside me and 2013 12-Hour pole-sitter Lee Holdsworth coaching me in the pits will only further my development as a driver.”

Whilst a rookie in the SLS at Bathurst, Le Brocq’s Mount Panorama credentials are impressive, the former national Formula Ford champion took three wins from three starts during his championship winning season at Bathurst, and he also ran strongly during his Erebus Academy Formula 3 debut on the mountain at Easter last year, but the SLS AMG will present a whole different set of circumstances.

“Of course, it’s a faster car than the Formula Ford and a bigger car than the F3, but it’s Bathurst, so it’s experience that will count, and between Will ,Greg and Lee, there will be plenty of knowledge for me to call on.”
For Greg Crick, the former Sports Sedan and tarmac rally champion makes a return to the mountain for the 12-Hour after previously contesting the event in 2011, the ‘veteran’ finishing fourth alongside David Wall.
His inclusion is somewhat of a master-stroke by the Erebus team, as the former GT front-runner is unseeded, but like fellow Tasmanian John Bowe, has lost little of his customary pace.

“There’s still life in us old dogs yet,” he laughed when questioned about his role with the Erebus team. “We started discussions about it mid-year, and to be honest I wasn’t sure what they saw in me.. jokingly I suggested that I’d jump in for the Safety Car periods or during the lunch break, but then I saw what they were up to with the seeding and I started to get serious.

“For me, at this stage of my career to be handed the keys of arguably the best car in GT competition, I was blown away, and extremely honoured. I drove another modern GT car recently and couldn’t believe how good it was, the aero grip especially. I’ve been studying the footage of the SLS and can see where it has the advantage, and it’s a significant advantage, it really is the best in the business.

“I love Bathurst, but I’ve always gone along as the privateer underdog, with equipment not quite up to the task, and fortunately I’ve done okay. Now here I am, in the closing stages of my career with the best car in the field, so I’m not about to miss the opportunity to keep the car in one piece for Will and Jack to go after the win.”
“Whilst Greg might consider himself to be an ‘old stager’ now, he’s still an incredibly quick driver, he’s shown that every time he’s gotten in the car,” Daniel Klimenko added. “Frustratingly for us, he’s been a great nemesis in recent years, so it will be a real treat to have him in one of our cars giving the opposition a headache for a change [laughs].”

“We’re serious about defending our title,” Barry Ryan, Erebus Motorsport’s General Manager of Motorsport said of his star driver lineup. “A lot of thought has gone into our program for this year, and a lot of internal discussion. We’d have loved to have had 2013 pole-sitter Lee Holdsworth in a car, but the driver seedings just didn’t allow it, but he’ll be there working with all of the drivers to assist them across the weekend.
“He’ll also be on board to work with Erebus Academy recruit Jack Le Brocq to give him every opportunity to continue winning in the SLS.

“We’re ready. We have a scheduled test this week at Phillip Island and we will shake the cars down and bed in everything we need ahead of Bathurst and make sure the drivers are confortable. It’s going to be a big weekend!”

Opening practice for the 2014 Bathurst 12-Hour will get underway at 8:55am on Friday, February 7.
Keep up to date with further announcements from Erebus Motorsport GT as details of the driver-lineup for the 12-Hour are revealed by visiting; WWW.EREBUSMOTORSPORTGT.COM

Recap

#1 Car
- Bernd Schneider
- Maro Engel
- Nico Bastian

#63 Car
- Will Davison
- Jack Le Brocq
- Greg Crick

by **JamieWhincup#1** Mon Jan 20, 2014 10:41 am

Speedcafe wrote:
Quinn McLaren completes Bathurst field

An updated entry list for the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour has revealed that Tony Quinn will run his McLaren MP412C in the event, complete with British factory driver.

There had been uncertainty surrounding which of Quinn’s extensive GT stable would be rolled out for the February 9 race.

The petfood mogul had initially indicated that he would run his Porsche GT3R, which has since been sold to Brisbane-based businessman John Modystach.

Quinn’s selection of the McLaren over his regular Australian GT Championship mount, an Aston Martin Vantage, ensures that the former marque will be represented in the race for the first time.

Anglo-American outfit United Autosports had entered McLarens both this year and last, only to switch their entries to Audi R8s on both occasions.

Scotsman Andrew Kirkaldy has been nominated to share the car with father-and-son duo Tony and Klark Quinn.

Kirkaldy was the driving force behind the McLaren MP412C GT3 project, with his own CRS Racing outfit having been selected by the manufacturer to undertaken design and development duties for the race car three years ago.

Andrew Kirkaldy 188x299 Quinn McLaren completes Bathurst field
Andrew Kirkaldy

The 37-year-old also boasts an impressive driving resume, which includes winning the 2005 British GT Championship title and scoring a class podium in the Le Mans 24 Hours a year later.

Although not on the official entry list, it is expected that V8 Supercars star Shane van Gisbergen will complete the driver line-up having starred at Bathurst in Quinn’s Porsche last year.

Elsewhere, German Mercedes outfit HTP Motorsport formally announced its line-up this morning.

Its maiden Bathurst effort will be steered by German Thomas Jaeger, who won the 2013 race with Erebus Motorsport, Swiss Harold Primat, who last year competed with Phoenix Racing, and reigning Blancpain Endurance Series Pro Drivers’ Cup winner Maximilian Buhk.

Two seats in Vita4One’s second BMW Z4 are now the only Class A drives yet to be confirmed.

The final Class A entry consists of 18 cars following the reclassification of Rotek Racing’s 2011-specification Audi R8 into Class B.

Rotek is yet to officially nominate any drivers for its car, although it is known that the squad will be led by former World Touring Car Champion Rob Huff.

Rotek, which will campaign an Audi S3 in this year’s British Touring Car Championship, has elected not to campaign its second initial Bathurst entry; a Class D Audi A4.

The late changes have left the field at 50 cars, three less than that seen last year.

by **JamieWhincup#1** Tue Jan 21, 2014 11:36 am

Speedcafe wrote:
Poida to race Bathurst 12 Hour

Movie star Eric Bana will embark on the biggest motorsport challenge of his life next month when he takes the wheel of a Lamborghini Gallardo in the Bathurst 12 Hour.

As expected, the 45-year-old confirmed this morning that he will co-drive with his long-time friend Peter Hill and experienced gentleman racer Simon Middleton.

The entry will be sponsored by clothing brand FXD Workwear, which forms part of Hill’s Globe International Limited clothing empire.

As a 2008 model GT3 car, the entry will compete in Class B against two Audi R8s and 10 Porsche GT3 Cup Cars.

Bana has two previous 12 Hour starts to his name, driving Hill’s Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X in the 2009 and 2010 events.

His other motorsport experience includes limited outings in the Australian GT Championship and Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, as well as several tarmac rallies.

“I can’t wait to get back to the circuit,” said Bana of Bathurst.

“The car is fantastic to drive, and the thought of competing once again with a couple of mates at this event is very exciting.

“I am thrilled that my calendar has allowed me to once again test myself at one of the worlds most demanding circuits.

“We are there to have some serious fun amongst an incredible line up of international A-level endurance teams and drivers.”

by **JamieWhincup#1** Wed Jan 22, 2014 1:52 am

Check out this weapon that has just landed in Aus for the 12hr drool

by **JamieWhincup#1** Wed Jan 22, 2014 2:01 pm

The car that Rene Rast, Laurens Vanthoor and Rahel Frey will race for Phoenix Racing Smile

Definitely one of the favorites for the outright victory.

by **Dazza4610** Wed Jan 22, 2014 2:45 pm

by **Dazza4610** Fri Jan 24, 2014 8:18 am

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/video/id-pveDVjazrEBH9MxG2bt9Gtaa4p__GSw5/Craig-Lowndes-to-drive-Ferrari-in-key-races

by **TEEROY 34** Fri Jan 24, 2014 3:28 pm

Poida! Swoit!! classic

should be a real doozy this year, the 12hr seems to be gathering more and more following every year from drivers and manufacturers.

I wonder what the value of the entire starting grid of cars will be, must be a pretty penny! ca ching $$

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