AUDI’S latest strong combination confirmed for action in the 2016 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 hour is ready to race following the first tests of their brand-new Audi R8 LMS at Phillip Island.
Australia’s Audi Customer Sport Racing outfit, Melbourne Performance Centre, yesterday confirmed that experienced drivers Barton Mawer and Nathan Antunes would join car owner Greg Taylor in their third brand-new Audi for the February around-the-clock enduro.
They join the already announced two-car JAMEC Pem Racing outfit that recently confirmed Craig Lowndes and Garth Tander would join Steven McLaughlan in one car and factory drivers Christoper Mies, Christoper Haase and Marco Mapelli in the other.
Taylor’s Adina / Arris Property Group R8 was given a comprehensive shakedown at Phillip Island yesterday (Monday) with Mawer, a former Australian F3 race winner, full of praise for the new weapon.
“The new car is sensational,” the Sydneysider enthused.
“I was driving it around Phillip Island thinking ‘this is like a Formula car’. You’re flat though the hayshed, 5th gear over Lukey heights and just about flat onto the straight. For a GT car, it’s hugely impressive.”
Mawer and Taylor are currently contesting this year’s Australian GT Championship in a 2011-specification R8 as Taylor continues a steep learning curve in the sport.
The pair are performing strongly in the Aussie GT ‘Trophy’ class however will run at an outright level in the Amateur division in next year’s Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 hour.
“We’re going from the 2011 car to the new 2015-spec car so we’re making a big step,” Mawer said.
“It’s a whole new platform and everything is new or very different to what we’re used to. It’s a whole new platform and we’re still working on it and fine tuning it”
Mawer believes the third MPC Audi has the potential to be a dark horse when it comes to next year’s race.
“Our team mates have the star studded line-ups so we’re flying under the radar a little bit,” he explained.
“Nathan (Antunes) and I are both silver drivers and we’ll run in the Amatuer category rather than outright. I don’t think we’re looking at winning the race outright but if we can finish then I think we’re a really strong chance at getting a result in our category.
“That would be an ideal result for Greg’s first 12 hour.”
Mawer has been working closely with Taylor to develop his driving ahead of what will be a daunting debut at Mount Panorama, against a huge field of some of the best GT stars and cars from Australia and around the world.
“We’re working closely with Greg to develop his driving, and his improvement has been fantastic. He’s invested in a simulator and is working away from the track as well as at it.
“Just because the car is quick doesn’t mean the speed will come easy, especially at Bathurst, but that’s why Nathan and I are there, to help him get up to speed.
“With all the aero and the grip in these cars, it’s a big learning curve but he’s up to it.”