Category: Bathurst 12 Hour

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Bathurst 12 Hour

Allan Simonsen Pole Position Trophy for Bathurst 12hr

Allan Simonsen

Race organisers for the Bathurst 12 Hour have announced they will be honouring the memory of Allan Simonsen by awarding an annual pole position trophy in his name starting with the 2014 race (7–9 February).

Simonsen passed away after an accident at Le Mans earlier this year and the trophy for the fastest qualifier at the Bathurst 12 Hour has the blessing of his family and Maranello Motorsport, the team he raced with in the 12 hour.

“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 Danish sportscar ace was blisteringly fast around Mount Panorama and set a number of lap records at the wheel of a Ferrari 458 Italia GT3.

In other changes to qualifying for the Bathurst 12 Hour the Class A (International GT3) competitors will get a 15 minute qualifying period to themselves after open qualifying has finished. This has been done to allow the cars in outright contention an opportunity to set a lap time with fewer cars on track.

At previous events pole position was decided by a combination of times by a car’s fastest two drivers. In 2014 the quickest lap by any single driver will stand and there will be no penalties for going faster than the nominated ‘benchmark time’.

That’s great news for fans and competitors alike as we’ll finally get to see just how quick GT3 cars can be around the mountain.

[Source: Bathurst 12hr]

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Bathurst 12 Hour Porsche

Mark Webber and Eric Bana to race in Bathurst 12hr?

2013 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

We hoped it would happen, and now it looks like it will. Mark Webber will race a Porsche at the 2015 Bathurst 12 Hour race. Ensuring the headlines will go into overdrive he will share driving duties with Hollywood actor Eric Bana and triple Olympic gold medallist James Tomkins.

At least that seems to be the word from Mark himself:

When we hear more and any official confirmation we’ll let you know.

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Bathurst 12 Hour Fiat

Fiat Abarth 695 Assetto Corse to race at Bathurst

Fiat Abarth 695 Assetto Corse

This feisty looking Fiat will be racing at the 2014 Bathurst 12 Hour. Pretty cool, huh! The car’s full name is the Abarth 695 Assetto Corse. It was first announced in 2011 and Fiat will be competing with a pair of them in the Mount Panorama endurance race.

The Abarths will race in Category F when the action starts on 9 February and will be lead by Luke Youlden and Paul Stokell. The driving roster will be complemented by motoring journos Josh Dowling, Toby Hagon, Paul Gover and Mike Sinclair.

Alan Heaphy from Performance Parts and Engineering will prepare the cars and Fiat says the Italian pocket rockets have already “proven their potential by setting competitive times in the wet during track testing at Phillip Island.”

When first revealed the 695 Assetto Corse boasted 152kW (205hp) thanks to a 1368cm3 turbocharged engine. We’re not sure if Heaphy and his crew will be able to liberate more power, but at least the Assetto Corse should be fairly light. That’s due to its very small size, of course, but also measures such as using Lexan panels to replace the glass windows.

Fiat will reveal the livery of the cars later this year and we’re expecting to see something pretty cool.

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Bathurst 12 Hour

Bathurst 12H secures free-to-air TV for 2014 race

Erebus Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 wins 2013 Bathurst 12 hour

The final three hours of the 2014 Bathurst 12 Hour race will be broadcast live around the country on SBS One. The race, which takes place on Sunday 9 February, will also continue to offer free live streaming of the event.

“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.”

Radio Le Mans will also return to offer live audio coverage to its legion of fans.

A total of 45 entries are currently confirmed for the race, including Craig Lowndes in a Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 and Rick Kelly in a Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3. It’s expected the grid will reach the maximum 55-car limit by the time entries close in December.

[Source: Bathurst 12 Hour]

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Bathurst 12 Hour Motorsports News

The Grid shows some love to Mount Panorama

Jenson Button at Mount Panorama in 2011

The television program Mobil 1 The Grid has made available its mini-feature on Australia’s most famous race track, Mount Panorama in Bathurst. It really is a special place and it’s nice to see an international audience given an insight into our very own tarmac temple.

Even better your favourite AUSmotive editor can be seen in the image above, taken on the day Jenson Button and Craig Lowndes drove an F1 car around the track.

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Bathurst 12 Hour Mercedes-Benz

Erebus Mercedes wins 2013 Bathurst 12 Hour

Erebus Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 wins 2013 Bathurst 12 hour

Mercedes-Benz, under the watch of the Erebus Racing team has ended, Audi’s reign of the Bathurst 12 Hour by taking victory in a drama-filled race today.

There were a record number of safety car periods and more laps than any previous Bathurst 12 hour were driven under yellow flag conditions and short periods of heavy rain late in the race kept the front runners on their toes as well. Through all of that it was the #36 Mercedes SLS AMG GT3, driven by the all-German crew of Bernd Schneider, Thomas Jäger and Alex Roloff, that managed to come out on top.

It’s a great result for the Bathurst 12 Hour race, too, as it continues to grow in depth and international stature.

Proving that was the sight of a fast charging Craig Baird at the wheel of the #33 Clearwater Racing Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 who, along with 2012 teammates Matt Griffin and car owner Mok Weng Sun, finished in second place; one better than last year.

In third place was the #5 VIP Petfoods Porsche 911 GT3 R, driven by Shane van Gisbergen, Klark Quinn and last-minute stand in Matt Kingsley.

The defending #1 Phoenix Audi finished in fourth place, which is not a bad result when you consider they lost four laps mid-race with mechanical dramas. In the end #1 car only finished two laps down.

Let’s look at the top four again: Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, Porsche and Audi. In a nutshell that tells you what makes the Bathurst 12 Hour race so special. I’m gutted to have missed it live.

A three-hour highlights package of the 2013 Bathurst 12 Hour race will air nationally next Sunday on Speedweek (SBS TV).

[Pic: Bathurst 12 hour]

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Bathurst 12 Hour

54 cars on track for 2013 Bathurst 12H

2012 Bathurst 12 Hour

Organisers for the Bathurst 12 Hour have released an updated entry list for the 2013 race (8–10 February). A field of 54 cars is currently expected to line up on the grid, 18 of them to be chasing outright honours in the GT3 class.

It’s a great sign for the event, which also has a new naming rights sponsor. Event Director, James O’Brien is rapt with the increased interest, especially from overseas-based teams. “As it always does, the entry list will likely change in its makeup in coming weeks as teams finalise their plans, but to have a 50-plus car field locked in vindicates the change to a GT3 format alongside production cars,” O’Brien said.

“We are particularly pleased at the level of international interest with 20 cars coming from overseas.

“The Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour is fast becoming a ‘must win’ race on the international GT3 calendar and the 2013 edition should provide an entertaining spectacle and enhance the Event’s reputation further.”

Follow the source link below to view the full entry list.

[Source: Bathurst 12 hour]

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Bathurst 12 Hour

Bathurst 12H locks in TV and online coverage

2012 Bathurst 12 Hour

Race organisers for the Bathurst 12 Hour have today announced their broadcast plans for the 2013 race (8–10 February).

Free online streaming will continue, as we’ve enjoyed in previous years. Further improving the online coverage will be four additional live streams from on-board cameras placed in specially selected cars.

The improvement in online presence comes thanks to a new agreement between the organisers and Sydney production house AVE. Greg Sita, AVE’s director, says: “We are committed to raising the bar in 2013 and that includes the introduction of live onboard cameras throughout Sunday’s race, which will be coupled with cameras right around the circuit to get every angle and capture every moment.

“The online coverage is very important and 2013 will be the best yet.”

Pleasingly the AVE deal will also bring the Bathurst 12 Hour back to free-to-air television. AVE produces Speedweek for SBS and they will broadcast a three-hour highlights package on 17 February.

“With a quick turnaround we will then showcase all of the most exciting moments into a three-hour program on Speedweek the following weekend in what is set to be a big show.” Sita added.

It’s not the live television coverage we’d like to see for the 12 Hour, but at least it’s on a free-to-air network with a strong national reach.

Racegoers have not been left out, either, with two large screens returning to trackside. One will be viewable from pit straight, while another will be placed on top of the mountain.

[Source: Bathurst 12 Hour]

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Bathurst 12 Hour McLaren

2013 Bathurst 12H provisional entries released

United Autosports McLaren MP4-12C GT3

The 2013 Bathurst 12 Hour race will be held over the weekend of 8–10 February and race organisers have today released a provisional entry list. Already there are 37 cars in the field, 12 more than started this year’s race.

Headlining the field to date is a pair of McLaren MP4-12C GT3s, run by the United Autosports team. They entered a single Audi R8 LMS this year and James O’Brien, Event Director is happy to have the McLarens locked in.

“United Autosports committed to running their two McLarens when I met with them overseas recently, and we have received their entry forms since then,” O’Brien confirmed.

“It is very exciting to have a team of their calibre commit to returning to the Event this early in the piece and it shows the growing respect in which the race is held overseas. The McLaren is one of the most exciting of the ‘new’ GT3-specification cars now running in Europe and it is going to be very interesting to see them in action at Mount Panorama next February.”

David Brabham drives for United Autosports in the Blancipain Endurance Series, with a roster that also includes former F1 racer Mark Blundell. Who knows, there could be an Aussie flavour with the McLarens when they land down under.

Two locally entered Audi R8 LMS GT3s are also on the entry list and Clearwater Racing will be returning with their Ferrari 458 GT3.

In the lower classes we like the look of the BMW 1M, entered by Bruce Lynton BMW. Follow the link below to see the full entry list to date.

Entries close in mid-December and it is hoped the winning Audi Phoenix Racing team will return to defend their title. The popular Black Falcon team, with their Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3s, may also be back.

[Source: Bathurst 12 Hour]

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Bathurst 12 Hour Ferrari

VIDEO: Ferrari’s Mount Panorama lap record

2012 Bathurst 12 Hour

Last November Danish ace Allan Simonsen set a new official lap record around Mount Panorama in Bathurst. Simonsen’s record mark is 2:04.956 and was set at the wheel of the Maranello Motorsport Ferrari 458 GT3.

Just a couple of weeks ago Simonsen was at it again when he took the same car to a new official race lap record in the Bathurst 12 Hour with a time of 2:06.3311. No V8Supercar has beaten either of those times.

After the break you can watch onboard footage of Simonsen’s 2:04 lap.

[Thanks to Stephen for the tip]

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Bathurst 12 Hour

Reflections on the 2012 Bathurst 12 Hour

2012 Bathurst 12 Hour

So the 2012 Bathurst 12 Hour has been run and won. We’ll start by saying this race should be one of the premiere events on the Australian motorsport calendar. It should comfortably form part of a ‘big three’ alongside the traditional V8 Supercars 1000km race at Bathurst and the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

At the moment the Bathurst 12 Hour barely registers a blip on the radar of mainstream motorsport in this country. We’ll discuss more on that and the event’s future a bit later.

By now you’ll be aware that ‘international’ Audi crew were able to successfully defend their title. Marc Basseng, part of the 2011 winning trio, was unable to make it back to due to scheduling conflicts, but Christer Jöns comfortably stepped into Basseng’s shoes to ably assist Christopher Mies and Darryl O’Young in their defence.

On paper the winning margin of over one minute to second place might make it appear as though the #1 Audi, which started the race from pole position, had it pretty easy. Of course, no endurance race is ever easy and that was especially the case this year.

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Audi Bathurst 12 Hour

Onboard with the Audi R8 LMS at Bathurst

Christopher Mies driving the Audi R8 LMS around Mount Panorama

Audi Australia has teamed up with Team Phoenix Racing to bring us this in-car footage from Saturday morning qualifying with Christopher Mies driving a few laps around Mount Panorama in Bathurst. The first lap is a slow warm-up, thankfully, as Mies gets a close look at a couple of our national wildlife icons. After that enjoy the ride as the V10 powered R8 LMS carves up the mountain.

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