FORMER FIA GT1 World Champion Michael Bartels is ready to return to Mount Panorama in search of victory in the 2014 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour.
Bartels, who serves double roles as both a lead driver and the team manager of the Vita4One Racing BMW Z4 GT3 team, won his class in the 2003 Bathurst 24 Hour race driving a Porsche GT3 Cup Car but has not been to Mount Panorama since.
He has, however, led the Vita4One team – formerly known as Vitafone Racing – to incredible success in the ranks of international GT competition first with Maserati, then Ferrari and now BMW.
The 45-year-old German ace estimates that his team has finished on the podium ’90 or 95 times from about 140 races’ since its formation in 2004. Success on the Mountain would be a suitable addition to one of the best GT teams in the world.
Bartels gained significant experience in F3000, Formula 3 and DTM before moving to international GT racing and says he is excited to be returning to Mount Panorama – this time with his own team.
“I have great memories from Bathurst and it is one of the reasons I have wanted to come back,” Bartels said.
“This is a great opportunity to bring Vita4One Racing to Australia for the first time. We looked at the field and saw that there were no BMW Z4 GT3 cars entered and also thought it would be a great opportunity to showcase the BMW brand and the cars.
“There is a very strong field entered with some of the best GT teams from around the world and it will be a great challenge for us, but we will be going there and pushing hard.”
Vita4One has experienced incredible success since its formation. Since the team was founded in 2004, Bartels estimates more than 90 podium finishes from approximately 150 races, across some of the most challenging GT championships in the world.
The team began competing with a Saleen in 2004 before switching to the famous Maserati MC12 in 2005, winning the FIA GT Championship teams championship.
The team won five consecutive FIA GT Championships between 2005-09, before winning both the team and drivers’ titles in the inaugural FIA GT World Championship the following year. The team switched to Ferrari 458s in 2011 before moving to BMWs in 2012 – cars with which they continue to compete with today.
Bartels said Vita4One will be coming to Australia with the intent of a strong showing, though driving combinations are not yet sorted.
“We are still working out who will be driving but we want to make sure that we have a strong line up that will be competitive. We will be pushing very hard.
“We want to make sure we don’t go to Bathurst with drivers who do not know the car and the circuit so we are already talking to drivers who we have worked with for the last few years.
“At this stage I will drive one car and Yelmer Buurman, who is a BMW works driver, will be in the other.”
26-year-old Dutchman Buurman is one of the stars of GT racing and teamed with Bartels to finish third in the 2012 FIA GT1 World Championship and in the same position in 2013s FIA GT Championship. He also finished third in the 2013 Blancpain Endurance Series for GT3 cars.
Vita4One Racing will join some of the best international GT teams in the world going head to head with Australia’s finest at the 2014 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour race.
Top international outfits like Phoenix Racing (Audi), HTP Motorsport (Mercedes Benz) and Clearwater Racing (Ferrari) will compete with Australia’s best that includes Erebus Motorsport, Maranello Motorsport and Tony Quinn’s VIP Petfoods Racing, amongst others.
37 GT cars are entered amongst a 55 car field confirmed for the 2014 race.
The 2014 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour commences at 6:15am on Sunday, February 9, 2014.