A WORLD CLASS grid of cars and drivers from around the globe will tackle the famous Mount Panorama circuit at the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour, on February 5-7 2016.
With 50 days remaining until teams hit the track, the current entry list shows factory-supported teams representing some of the world’s most famous Automotive brands including Nissan, Audi, Mercedes Benz, Bentley, McLaren and Ferrari.
The 2016 race is set to be the start of an exciting new era with the commencement of the Intercontinental GT Challenge, the first ever global series for GT3 vehicles. The Challenge will see Bathurst partnered with events in Europe (Spa 24 hour), America (Austin 6 Hours) and Asia (2016 Sepang 12 Hour) for the first time.
For the second year running the entire Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour race will be broadcast live and free on the Seven Network around Australia.
Announced this morning on Sunrise, the latest entry list includes a two-car squad co-entered by V8 Supercars team Tekno Autosport and the factory British-based McLaren GT outfit, running a pair of stunning McLaren 650S GT3s.
The team is yet to confirm drivers however is expected to draw from both V8 Supercars and McLaren’s global pool of works drivers to ensure both cars have a chance of victory. Tekno and McLaren will confirm further details in due course.
Bentley are another famous marque to confirm their return to the Mountain, the famous M-Sport team entering a pair of their stunning Continental GT3s after narrowly missing out on the podium in the closing stages of the 2015 race.
Audi will return in force with German outfit Phoenix Racing leading the charge alongside several strong Australian-entered R8 models.
Two-time Bathurst winners Audi present the most numerical of the GT brands entered with no less than seven current and previous-specification R8s listed.
Defending champions Nissan will return with their NISMO Global Athlete Team in a quest for back-to-back Bathurst victories, while former winners Maranello Motorsport (2014) and Erebus Motorsport (2013) both compete with support from the customer racing outlets of Ferrari and Mercedes-Benz / AMG, respectively.
15 entries have been entered by international teams from countries like Japan, Germany, Great Britain and New Zealand.
Driving combinations are beginning to firm with a host of frontline V8 Supercars stars set to race alongside some of the best GT drivers from around the world once again.
V8 heroes Craig Lowndes, Garth Tander, Tim Slade, Scott McLaughlin, Nick Percat, Dale Wood, Warren Luff and Steve Owen have already secured drives with several more expected to be on the grid next February.
Reigning Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 winner Lowndes will team with Garth Tander in an Audi R8, the first time the pair of Bathurst and V8 Supercars champions will have shared a car.
Slade will race a McLaren, Percat and Wood are Lamborghini-bound while McLaughlin will steer a Porsche GT3 Cup Car.
International heroes like Finnish Formula One ace Mika Salo, LeMans 24 Hour winner Earl Bamber, GT world champion Toni Vilander and double Bathurst 12 Hour winner, German ace Christopher Mies, are amongst the overseas names already locked in.
Record pre-event ticket sales and sold-out campgrounds point to this being the biggest Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour yet.
It was announced this week that the paddock campground has completely sold out while new sites have been opened for fans at Reid and Sulman Park at the top of Mount Panorama. The existing McPhillamy Park campground is at near capacity with fans urged to secure sites well in advance to avoid disappointment.
Seats in the pit straight grandstand have also sold out however tickets remain available at early bird prices via Ticketek until 31 December 2015.
ENTRY LIST – AT DECEMBER 17, 2015
CLASS A – GT3
NISMO Global Athlete Team Japan Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3
Phoenix Racing Germany Audi R8 LMS
Melbourne Performance Centre Australia Audi R8 LMS
Melbourne Performance Centre Australia Audi R8 LMS Ultra
Melbourne Performance Centre Australia Audi R8 LMS Ultra
Jamec Pem Racing Australia Audi R8 LMS
Jamec Pem Racing Australia Audi R8 LMS
International Motorsport New Zealand Audi R8 LMS Ultra
Bentley Team M Sport United Kingdom Bentley Continental GT3
Bentley Team M Sport United Kingdom Bentley Continental GT3
Maranello Motorsport Australia Ferrari 458 GT3
Trass Family Motorsport New Zealand Ferrari 458 GT3
Trofeo Motorsport Australia Ferrari 458 GT3
Vicious Rumour Racing Australia Ferrari 458 GT3
Lago Racing Australia Lamborghini Gallardo R-EX
M Motorsport Australia Lamborghini Gallardo R-EX
Performance West Motorsport Australia Lamborghini Gallardo GT3
Tekno Autosport Australia/United Kingdom McLaren 650S GT3
Tekno Autosport Australia/United Kingdom McLaren 650S GT3
Objective Racing Australia McLaren 650S GT3
Erebus Motorsport Australia Mercedes Benz SLS AMG GT3
Erebus Motorsport Australia Mercedes Benz SLS AMG GT3
MISHUMOTORS Germany Mercedes Benz SLS AMG GT3
Garth Walden Racing Australia Mercedes Benz SLS AMG GT3
AMAC Motorsport Australia Porsche 911 GT3 R
Keltic Racing Australia TBC
Performance Parts & Engineering Australia TBC
Supabarn Supermarkets Australia TBC
CLASS B – GT3 CUP CARS
Grove Racing Australia Porsche 997 GT3 Cup Car
JFC-Freem-Rotex New Zealand Porsche 997 GT3 Cup Car
Rentcorp Racing Australia Porsche 997 GT3 Cup Car
SAFE-T-STOP Australia Porsche 997 GT3 Cup Car
Paul Tresidder Australia Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S
Mobil 1 New Zealand New Zealand Porsche 997 GT3 Cup Car
CLASS C – GT4
Donut King Australia Lotus Exige S Cup R
Patisseire Valerie United Kingdom Porsche 997 GT4
PRO Sport Performance Germany Porsche Cayman Pro 4
PRO Sport Performance Germany Porsche Cayman Pro 4
CLASS I – INVITATIONAL
GWS Personell Australia BMW 335i Turbo
Daytona Sports Cars Australia Daytona Coupe
MARC Cars Australia Australia Ford Focus V8
MARC Cars Australia Australia Ford Focus V8
MARC Cars Australia Australia Ford Focus V8
MARC Cars Australia Australia Mazda 3 V8
MARC Cars Australia Australia TBC
Gary Morgan New Zealand Subaru BRZ
Fortec Motorsport Australia Chevrolet Corvette Z51