2015 Bathurst 12hrs.

[Rob]

Bathurst 12 Hours

Six Ferraris in action in Australia

Maranello, 4 February–This weekend sees the Bathurst circuit host its 12 Hour race, the most famous endurance event to be held in Australia. 53 cars are taking part, split into seven classes: six Ferrari 458s are entered in two of them.

Pro-Am Class. In the main GT3 Pro-Am class, there are two Prancing Horse cars. One is entered by the team that won here last year, namely Maranello Motorsport, running the number 88 car. Last year’s winning driver Mika Salo is back at the wheel, the Finn will partner with Englishman Ben Collins and Australia’s Tony D’Alberto, the latter having won a round of the GT Australia championship last year with an Il Bello Rosso team Ferrari. In the number 33 Clearwater Racing car, we find a distinctly prestigious crew: Ferrari factory driver and WEC World Champion Toni Vilander will be teamed with Ireland’s Matt Griffin, the 2013 ELMS champion, and the winner of the 2014 GT Asia series, Mok Wen Sung. The Prancing Horse cars will be lining up against entries from Mercedes, Bentley, Lamborghini, Audi and Aston Martin.

Am class. There will be a further four 458 Italias in the GT3 Am class. The Amato Ferrari-run AF Corse team can count on the skills of Ferrari factory WEC driver Davide Rigon, who will race alongside the winners of the 2014 Gulf 12 Hours, Australia’s Steve Wyatt and Italy’s Michele Rugolo. The Pirelli team’s 29 car will be driven by former Formula 1 driver Ivan Capelli and the Australians Jim Manolios and Ryan Miller, while Vicious Rumour Racing have entered the 49 car for Andrea Montermini, a front runner with Ferrari in the International GT Open series, as well as on occasional forays in the Blancpain series. The Italian shares the driving with Australia’s Renato Loberto and the Dane Benny Simonsen, brother of the late Alan. Finally, there will also be a car bearing the iconic Ferrari number, 27: it’s the TFM Ferrari Motorsport New Zealand car in the hands of New Zealanders Jono Lester, John McIntyre and Graeme Smyth.

Race facts and figures. The race is run on the Mount Panorama circuit in New South Wales. It’s a complicated track with no less than 23 corners. The start is at 5.50 am on Sunday (19h50 CET) and ends promptly half a day later. As for Ferrari’s track record, last year’s win courtesy of John Bowe, Peter Edwards, Craig Lowndes and Mika Salo was the first, but one should bear in mind that the Maranello cars only made their first appearance here in 2011.

[Rob]

BANBURY TO BATHURST TRIP BRINGS ASTON TO THE MOUNTAIN


DON’T EVER SUGGEST that teams aren’t making an effort when they come to Mount Panorama for the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour.

As international teams begin to arrive on the Mountain ahead of the around-the-clock classic this weekend, stories of the logistical efforts required to freight cars, crew and equipment are already being told in the Bathurst paddock five days out from the race proper.

Banbury, UK, based team Motionsport are one such example, their stunning black and gold-liveried Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 travelling more than 15,000 kilometres just to reach the Bathurst garage.

It will likely have to travel more than 1,800 kilometres more to reach the flag this Sunday, February 8.

2015 marks the third year that the British team has made the Bathurst journey but the first time that they have entered in the outright class.

“We can’t wait. It’s been a huge effort to get here but when you start getting unloaded and set up you get more and more ready for the race to begin,” said team boss Simon Phillips – fresh from the long-haul London-Sydney trip.

“We haven’t actually had the Aston for very long. We had the car delivered about two weeks before we had to put it in the container and send it to Australia. In that time we prepared the car, tested it, re-prepared it, put the stickers on and packed to get it ready to go.

“It left on December 1 and we’ve only just seen the car for the first time since then today – and after this weekend we won’t see it again until the end of March.”

The timing and distance required are ironic given the car was created just around the corner from Motionsport HQ.

“Prodrive builds the Aston Martins and they are based, quite literally, five minutes away from our workshop,” Phillips added.

“It’s one of the reasons we went for the Aston – we know the guys there really well and know the cars.”

The team are again supported by local business, compareinsurance.com.au, and will see their 2014 driving squad reunited. Former British Touring Car Champion Gordon Shedden will be joined in the car be Pete Story and Ben Gower this weekend.

“The biggest challenge with racing so far away, aside from the costs involved, is more so all the time it takes,” Phillips said.

“It’s more than just filling out a form and putting the car in a container – it’s a big exercise.

“To compound the challenge more we had our prototype racing in the Gulf 12hr in Abu Dhabi (in December) and of course, this shipped with a heap of tools and equipment - like the fuel rig - and wouldn't be back until after the Bathurst container went.

“Fortunately as it’s our third year at the Mountain, we’ve built some good relationships with local teams and suppliers so it makes it possible to overcome some of the challenges – there should be a fair few parcels waiting for us when we get there this week!”

The Motionsport Aston will contest the Amateur class within the 28-strong GT3 (class A) ranks this weekend.

The outright field was reduced by one today following the unfortunate withdrawal of the No. 3 AF Corse Ferrari 458 GT3, driver Peirguiseppe Perazzini forced to withdraw from driving following a medical procedure. The team was unable to source a replacement on time.

The sister No. 3 entry will compete and be driven by Steve Wyatt, Michele Rugulo and Italian, Davide Rigon.

The 28-year-old Italian is a veteran of Open-wheel competition with success in GP2 and Formula Renault 3.5, and brings a string of World Endurance Championship (WEC) class podiums with AF Corse last year to Bathurst.

Along with Motionsport, Clearwater Racing, Craft-Bamboo Racing and the factory Nissan GTR NISMO GT3 are also early arrivals to the mountain.

The Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour will be held this weekend (February 6-8) with Sunday’s race to be broadcast live on the Seven network around Australia all day.

The telecast commences at 5:30 (AEDT) on 7mate with Channel Seven taking over for the run to the finish from 2PM locally.

The Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour 2015 is proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW.

[Rob]

LIQUI-MOLY BATHURST 12 HOUR – RACE FACTS AND STATS


THE WORLD descends on Mount Panorama, Bathurst this week for the 2015 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour.

Since its return as a race for production vehicles in 2007, the Event has grown and flourished to become one of the worlds key endurance races for GT vehicles, this year attracting a 54-car field from all corners of the globe.

The 169 drivers nominated hail from 15 different countries and represent some of the very best in the sport, including former Formula 1 racers, GT world champions, Bathurst winners in both the 1000 and 12 Hour, and LeMans 24 Hour winners.

Underlining its growing significance on the local and international stage, the entire race will be broadcast live around Australia on the Seven Network this Sunday, February 8.

A free live stream will keep international fans informed throughout the day.

The role of key manufacturers is also growing with the local arms of premium global brands embracing the race as a way to promote their products. Amongst others, Audi, Bentley, Mercedes-Benz and Nissan will have strong factory representation both on and off the circuit this weekend, while other brands – including Ferrari – actively support their racing customers with trackside and media support.

Now much more than just a 12 Hour race, the second weekend in February has grown to be a three-day carnival for the whole family, with as much action off the circuit as on it.

This year the Event has partnered with Raceline Events to host the first ever Bathurst 12 Hour Supershow that will fill Harris Park (behind the main grandstand and spectator areas on pit straight) with the colour and excitement of a fully-blown auto show.

Meanwhile, record sales of camping locations will see a festival vibe around the Mount Panorama precinct as officials and fans camp at the circuit.

Following an Event record three-day attendance of more than 26,000 people last year, organisers have targeted an attendance of more than 30,000 this weekend – generating substantial impact into the New South Wales Central West economy.

Tickets remain available online at the Bathurst 12 Hour website with fans encouraged to purchase online to receive discounted prices compared to purchasing at the gate.

RACE FACTS AND STATS:

EVENT: 2015 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour

DATE: February 6-8, 2015
ENTRANTS:

Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour: 55
Improved Production: 57
Formula Ford: 49
Radical Australia Cup: 23

CLASS STRUCTURE:

Class A - GT3 ProAm / GT3 AM

Split into two sections, the outright GT3 Class is for GT3 vehicles up to and including all 2014 models. GT3 ProAm is for entries with two ‘seeded’ drivers whilst entrants with one or no seeded drivers will compete for the GT3 Amateur class.

Class B - GT3 Cup Cars

The ‘Porsche class’ – for Porsche’s 996, 997 GT3 models or Porsche Cup S models.

Class C - GT4

The baby GT category run to the global GT4 vehicles. Less modified and more production based than their GT3 counterparts.

Class D – Invitational (Production)

For ‘traditional’ production-based vehicles derived from an original road-going model. Includes a selection of BMW models (M3, 135i) plus more specialised endurance-specification vehicles derived from production vehicles like the BMW M3 GTR.

Class I – Invitational (non-Production)

For cars designed primarily for endurance racing and custom made as such – includes the MARC Cars Australia entries.

FACTS AND STATS:

The 2015 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour will mark the 13th running of a 12-hour race at Mount Panorama. The race was first held in 1991-1994 and returned to Bathurst in 2007.

The largest field to start the race was 55 cars in 1992, and the smallest 25, in 2012.

The 2015 entry of 54 cars should see it set a record for the largest field since the race’s return in 2007 under the current management.

Since its return in 2007, the race has averaged 37.1 starters and 25.7 finishers.

Despite the tough nature of the race, it has an excellent finishing rate. On average, 69% of all starters have finished the race each time it has been run since 2007. 25 of the 32 starters – or just over 75% of the grid – finished the 2007 race to give it the best finishing record of all.

In the GT era, since 2011, 19 finishers from 26 starters (73%) makes the ’11 field the most reliable. 28 of the 40 starters in 2014 finished the race.

The lap and distance records were set last year – the winning car completing 292 laps, or 1,839km.

The smallest distance covered was just 202 laps – 1255km – in 2010, thanks in part to a lengthy red-flag period that saw cars stopped at the top of the circuit after a tree fell across the track exiting Forrest Elbow.

On average, the race has seen 259 laps completed each year.

The fastest race was the 2014 thriller – run at an average speed of 153km/hr.

The slowest was 2010 at a relatively pedestrian 104km/hr average.

Since 2007 the race has been decided by a margin of one lap or more only twice – incidentally, both times in wet conditions.

In 2010 the Holt / Bowe / Morris BMW beat the Mitsubishi’s by more than the six-kilometre lap distance, while the same result occurred in 2013 when Erebus Motorsport gave Mercedes their first Bathurst victory.

When the race has seen a fight to the flag, the average margin of victory is a remarkably small 30.28s – absolutely nothing after 12 hours of brutal racing. The smallest margin of victory was set in 2014 when Craig Lowndes edged out Maxi Buhk’s Mercedes by 0.4138s in the remarkable fight to the flag.

Safety Cars naturally play a role in the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 hour. On average, there has been eight safety car periods each race – circulating for an average of 27 laps.

The bruising 2013 race saw set most of the Safety Car records we have: a record 15 interruptions for a total of 43 laps behind the Safety Car. Tough race!

The most time spent behind the Safety Car, however, were recorded in that 2010 race. 42 of the 202 laps completed were logged under caution – just over 20% of the entire distance completed!

2014 set the record for the most number of cars on the lead lap at the end – 5.

2014 also set the record for the most number of different race leaders – 8 cars had a turn at the front across the record 292 lap distance.

On average, there are nearly 20 changes of lead (at the line) in each Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour. The most (28) was set in 2011 and the least just 11 in 2010. The 2014 epic produced 21 changes of lead at the start line, and plenty more away from it!

The most dominant Bathurst 12 hour victory arguably came in 2012, when Christoper Mies, Christer Jons and Darryl O’Young took Audi to back-to-back victories.

The No. 1 Audi R8 LMS Ultra set records for the following that year:

- Most consecutive laps led: 121
- Most laps led overall (and most laps led by the leader): 168.

The 2014 race had records of its own. The No. 1 Erebus Motorsport SLS AMG led more than half of the race, heading the field for 167 of the first 193 laps, including a massive 82 lap stint in a row. They led none of the final 103 laps.

Meanwhile, the winning Maranello Ferrari led just 64 laps and didn’t even get to the lead until lap 197 – 66% of the way into the ultimate race distance. It was the least laps in front by the car that would ultimately win in the GT era.

(The record was just 62 laps led by the 2010 winners – though a higher percentage of the overall race was spent in front due to the fewer laps completed).

An Audi R8 LMS ultra has led at least two laps in every GT 12-hour run on the Mountain.

2014 marked the first time that a Lamborghini and a McLaren had led the Bathurst 12 Hour.

7 different brand have won the race: Toyota, Mazda, Mitsubishi, BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Ferrari.

With his win in 2014, John Bowe became the ninth driver to have won two Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour races, joining Garry Walden, Garry Holt, Paul Morris, Rod Salmon, Damien White, Darryl O’Young and Christoper Mies on the list.

Of those drivers, Bowe, Salmon, O’Young and Mies return this year to attempt to become the first three-time winner.

An all-Australian combination has never won the 12-hour in its GT format, though three of the four drivers in the 2014 winning car were locals, ably supported by Finnish ace, Mika Salo.

Proves the old adage: If you want to win, hire a Finn!

27 drivers have won the Bathurst 12 hour race since its formation in 1991.
The Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour 2015 is proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW.

For more information about the 2015 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour please visit www.bathurst12hour.com.au

[Nero Horse]

Great win for Ferrari and very good memories from last year. Hopefully it's going to be more of the same this year as well.

Forza Ferrari!!!

[Ste]

Not holding out much hope of winning this race, despite our first win there last year. Would be great for the old Stig and Salo and co to take another Maranello Motorsport victory though. The win last year was so sweet, especially after Simonsen's death at LeMans.

[Nova]

It will be a tough race for sure..as long as the Ferrari's are running, we be in it w/a chance.
I doubt I will be able to see this anywhere in the US..will it be on the net?

[Nero Horse]

[Ste]

I see Maranello Motorsport are out because of a crash in practice. Huge shame. Will be cheering on Salo and co even more now!

[Aussie]

Best track in the world. Guess Craig Lowndes is not in the ferrari this year no one knows the mountain like him but I think it's out anyway.

[Aussie]

God I love the GTR

[Rob]

Best track in the world. Guess Craig Lowndes is not in the ferrari this year no one knows the mountain like him but I think it's out anyway.

dont think he was allowed to drive here today, as its the V8 thingy aswell.

[Rob]

God I love the GTR

that Lambo

[Nero Horse]

meh, lambos are really ugly imo. The Ferrari 458 is by far the most beautiful and the best car there, and I'm not saying this just because I'm a Ferrari fan. The 458 is simply a masterpiece in every aspect. Hopefully it will be a good and exciting race.

[Aussie]

I take a gtr sexy nice fast. The new 488 gta think it'd a 488 looks nice

[Nero Horse]

THREE HOUR UPDATE: At the three hour mark, the #77 AF Corse Ferrari of Steven Wyatt, Michael Rugolo and Davide Rigon is leading the way for the 2015 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour.

[Nero Horse]

Live Stream: http://www.bathurst12hour.com.au/live-int

[Aussie]

Forza ferrari

[Ste]

IDIOT Mercedes took Rugalo (our #77 Ferrari) out of the race.

Down to Clearwater now. Not much chance.

[fratelliferrari]

that Lambo

Seriously Rob you are cheering for a Lambo?

[Ste]

Shame a GTR won, can't stand that car!

Totally shocked to see a Bentley doing so well and a shame Bell couldn't hold on - that was an extraordinary drive.

Of course others were much quicker and it finished more akin to what was expected. Audi Vs Merc Vs GTR and would've been a Ferrari.

[Aussie]

Godzilla owns bathurst it's a awesome car

[Aussie]

Shame a GTR won, can't stand that car!

Totally shocked to see a Bentley doing so well and a shame Bell couldn't hold on - that was an extraordinary drive.

Of course others were much quicker and it finished more akin to what was expected. Audi Vs Merc Vs GTR and would've been a Ferrari.

Why do you hate it

[Tobes]

Godzilla owns bathurst it's a awesome car

Absolutely...

Come on the GT-R's, great they won and continued their legacy...

[Rob]

Seriously Rob you are cheering for a Lambo?

lei una signora italiana

Of cos Ferrari, but any Italian cars.

[Rob]

Absolutely...

Come on the GT-R's, great they won and continued their legacy...

missed the last couple hours, family emergency. (All good now) You tried the lap around Bathurst seasonal in a GT3 car on GT6 mate? go give it proper go today.

[Rob]

NISSAN WIN LIQUI-MOLY BATHURST 12 HOUR THRILLER


NISSAN has won the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour for 2015, stealing the show thanks to a remarkable finish that saw Japanese driver Katsumasa Chiyo charge from third to first in the last two laps to deliver the brand their first Bathurst win since 1992.

The historic victory came in a day that saw a record-breaking 20 safety car interruptions and tales of drama and disappointment mixed with the usual heroic Bathurst performances every race at the famous track.

The winning Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 of Chiyo-san, Wolfgang Riep and Florian Strauss completed 269 laps and 1,671km today to deliver a famous victory to the Nissan brand the week they announced their return to LeMans.

Seven different brands finished in the top seven with Nissan leading home Audi, Aston-Martin, Bentley, Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari and Lamborghini finishing in that order.

Yet another Bathurst thriller went down to the wire following a late-race Safety Car that set up a 15-minute sprint to the flag.

Late race leader Matt Bell (Bentley Continental GT3) had fended off attack after attack from Audi R8 driver Laurens Vanthoor in the closing sprint and looked set to deliver the British brand a Bathurst victory on their first start at the Mountain since a race in 1948.

However they didn’t count on the flying Nissan who picked off lapped car after car following the penultimate restart to close the gap between their third place and the two duelling leaders.

The final Safety Car interruption was called with less than 10-minutes left for a stranded car in the Meguiar’s Murray’s corner sand trap – taking just one lap to recover.

With the three leaders line-astern for the subsequent restart and two-lap dash to the flag, a breathtaking restart saw Chiyo-san pass Vanthoor’s Audi into turn one.

He then disposed of the leading Bentley by using the Nissan GT-R’s stunning straight-line performance to draft past the Bentley and take the lead before turn two.

Chiyo then sprinted away in the closing laps to win by 2.4 seconds after another record-setting day on the Mountain.

The battle for second wasn’t over until the final flag, a charging Stefan Mucke the star of the show in the Craft-Bamboo Racing Aston Martin as he and Vanthoor’s Audi attacked the

Bentley on the final lap, both ultimately slipping past in a remarkable three-way final corner tussle.

The results saw three different brands represented on the Bathurst podium, the Vanthoor / Marco Mapelli / Markus Winkelhock Audi R8 followed narrowly home by the Craft-Bamboo Aston Martin driven by Mucke, Alex MacDowell and two-time race winner Darryl O’Young.

Bell’s Bentley was shuffled to fourth pace following the frantic finish, after a remarkable performance that saw their car work their way into contention throughout the day.

The cars raced at the back of the top-10 in the early stages before slowly creeping into contention in the second half of the race.

Bell and co-drivers Steven Kane and Guy Smith found themselves leading within the final hour of the race however just came up short in what remained a remarkable result on the brand’s Bathurst 12-hour debut.

A starring performance from Erebus’ Motorsport’s young-guns in the No. 36 Mercedes Benz SLS AMG GT3 saw them finish fifth – though enjoy a substantial share of the race lead throughout the day.

Richard Muscat, Jack LeBrocq and Dean Canto each led the race throughout the bruising day but didn’t quite have the pace to compete in the frantic race to the finish.

The Vicious Rumour Racing Ferrari 458 of Benny Simonsen, Andrea Montermini and Renato Loberto finished an outstanding sixth, the first car not on the lead lap at the end of the race.

After contending early before striking dramas, the front-row starting JBS Racing Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 of Roger Lago, David Russell and Steve Owen came from two laps behind to finish a solid 7th outright – the first finish for the team after four years of trying and plenty of bad luck.

Malaysian team Clearwater Racing (Mok Weng Sun, Toni Vilander and Matt Griffin) finished eighth with the second Phoenix Racing Audi R8 LMS Ultra 9th.

The Aussie-entered Audi R8 LMS Ultra driven by Christoper Mies, Marc Cini and Mark Eddy completed the top-10.

Canberra team Koundouris Racing scored a stunning victory in Century Batteries Class B – for Porsche GT3 Cup Cars.

Driven by Brothers James and Theo Koundouris, Marcus Marshall and Sam Power, the Cup S entry finished 16th outright following a race-long battle with rivals, Grove Racing.

The Grove Porsche – driven by owner Stephen Grove, Ben Barker and Luke Youlden – ended the day second in class despite bringing out the final safety car when they speared off into the sand in the final corner 10 minutes.

Donut King racing triumphed in the Ryges GT4 class, Tony Alford, Peter Leemhuis and Mark O’Connor completing 249 laps in their Lotus Exige GT4 and finishing 24th overall.

The Queensland BMW team headed by Beric Lynton topped GWS Personell Class D, Lynton, John Modystach and Robert Thomson finishing 27th overall in their BMW 1M.

The Australian designed and built MARC Focus driven by Adam Gowans, Ben Gersekowski and Gary Jacobsen won the Recaro Invitational Non Production class, finishing a remarkable 15th outright and in front of all bar a majority of the class A cars running at the finish.

34 of the 50 race starters finished the race, with high profile non-finishers including the Flying B Racing Bentley Continental driven by David Brabham, John Bowe and Peter Edwards.

The car was running inside the top-10 in the closing stages before contact with the No. 97 Aston Martin in the closing stages saw the car pushed into the wall at the Cutting in a hefty impact.

Brabham, behind the wheel at the time, was extricated from the car and taken to a nearby hospital for precautionary checks following the accident.

Event organisers announced a record three-day attendance of 32,297 people for this weekend’s event, up more than 6,600 people on 2014.

[Tobes]

missed the last couple hours, family emergency. (All good now) You tried the lap around Bathurst seasonal in a GT3 car on GT6 mate? go give it proper go today.

Yeah, done it...

[fratelliferrari]

lei una signora italiana

Of cos Ferrari, but any Italian cars.

Oh no Rob.... I really hate Lamborghini to the bone

[Rob]

Yeah, done it...

right, hunt you down now my friend.

[Nero Horse]

lei una signora italiana

Of cos Ferrari, but any Italian cars.

lambo isn't even an Italian car anymore, their factory may be based in Italy but it's a German brand now. The big daddy Volkswagen owns it and the lambos are nothing more than overpriced and overrated Audis. Ferrari is the true and only Italian supercar brand.