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GT Racing
GT: Aussies Battling For Victory In Bathurst 12H
Despite a large influx of international teams and drivers, local knowledge could pay off in this weekend's Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour...
Maranello Motorsport's Ferrari F458 Italia GT3 is one of the favorites for the victory. (Photo: Bathurst 12H)
The 2012 Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour represents the biggest international influx of competitors to Mount Panorama since the World Touring Cars visited in 1987. International entries come in four of the six classes but the local contingent will be aiming to regain the outright 12 Hour trophy and keep it in Australia.
Two of the international competitors have heavy Australian influence – starting with the No. 2 Phoenix Audi R8 LMS. This team, like in 2011 has an entirely local driver lineup which includes two-time Australian GT Champion, Mark Eddy, four-time V8 Supercars Champion and five-time Bathurst 1000 Champion, Craig Lowndes and two time Ute Champion, Warren Luff. This team lost by 0.7 seconds in 2011 and will be eager to reverse that score in 2012.
They will be taking on another Australian contingent racing an international car. Erebus Racing will be utilizing a Black Falcon Mercedes SLS GT3 for the race. GT and prototype ace Jeroen Bleekemolen will be joined by Erebus Racing’s owner Peter Hackett who, in the past has won the Australian F3 Championship, F4000 Championship, was a factory Lamborghini driver and has taken back-to-back fourth places in the Australian GT Championship. V8 racer Tim Slade will also prove to be an able hand and ALMS racer, Bret Curtis will complete this team – a team that should be competing for victory.
The other major local hope is Maranello Motorsport, racing a Ferrari 458GT3. Racing with two international drivers and two local drivers, this team will be a force. Le Mans Series racer and 2007 Australian GT Champion Allan Simonsen will join with regular teammate, Dominik Farnbacher.
In a test session at the Mountain in 2011, Simonsen proved the pace of the car by smashing the GT lap record and pacing the Mountain faster than any V8 Supercar before it. The team will be completed by gentlemen driver Peter Edwards – who while not having the outright pace, should keep it out of the barriers. V8 legend, John Bowe will complete the driver lineup. In Maranello Motorsports’ 25-plus year history, they have taken many major wins, including the 2004 Bahrain GT Festival with Simonsen and David Brabham.
Two local Lamborghinis will also make the race with Lago Racing competing with a new Lamborghini LP600GT3. Lago Racing has been competing in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, taking out Class B in the 2011 event. A full local lineup sees team owner, Roger Lago team up with former V8 driver, Wayne Park and V8 Development driver David Russell.
The other Lamborghini is a slightly older 560LP for the Consolidated Chemicals team. This car regularly competes in state championships with Ted Huglin at the wheel. Huglin lacks the outright pace needed for victory and may be a bit of a crutch for hired gun Peter Kox and V8 drivers, Cameron McConville and Luke Searle.
There are few Australian GT teams at the race mainly due to a scheduling conflict. The opening round of the Championship is just one week later at Adelaide, keeping many away.
This, however, won’t dampen the enthusiasm of the Australian or international contingent and with no clear favorite for 2012, the race will be one to watch.
Two of the international competitors have heavy Australian influence – starting with the No. 2 Phoenix Audi R8 LMS. This team, like in 2011 has an entirely local driver lineup which includes two-time Australian GT Champion, Mark Eddy, four-time V8 Supercars Champion and five-time Bathurst 1000 Champion, Craig Lowndes and two time Ute Champion, Warren Luff. This team lost by 0.7 seconds in 2011 and will be eager to reverse that score in 2012.
They will be taking on another Australian contingent racing an international car. Erebus Racing will be utilizing a Black Falcon Mercedes SLS GT3 for the race. GT and prototype ace Jeroen Bleekemolen will be joined by Erebus Racing’s owner Peter Hackett who, in the past has won the Australian F3 Championship, F4000 Championship, was a factory Lamborghini driver and has taken back-to-back fourth places in the Australian GT Championship. V8 racer Tim Slade will also prove to be an able hand and ALMS racer, Bret Curtis will complete this team – a team that should be competing for victory.
The other major local hope is Maranello Motorsport, racing a Ferrari 458GT3. Racing with two international drivers and two local drivers, this team will be a force. Le Mans Series racer and 2007 Australian GT Champion Allan Simonsen will join with regular teammate, Dominik Farnbacher.
In a test session at the Mountain in 2011, Simonsen proved the pace of the car by smashing the GT lap record and pacing the Mountain faster than any V8 Supercar before it. The team will be completed by gentlemen driver Peter Edwards – who while not having the outright pace, should keep it out of the barriers. V8 legend, John Bowe will complete the driver lineup. In Maranello Motorsports’ 25-plus year history, they have taken many major wins, including the 2004 Bahrain GT Festival with Simonsen and David Brabham.
Two local Lamborghinis will also make the race with Lago Racing competing with a new Lamborghini LP600GT3. Lago Racing has been competing in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, taking out Class B in the 2011 event. A full local lineup sees team owner, Roger Lago team up with former V8 driver, Wayne Park and V8 Development driver David Russell.
The other Lamborghini is a slightly older 560LP for the Consolidated Chemicals team. This car regularly competes in state championships with Ted Huglin at the wheel. Huglin lacks the outright pace needed for victory and may be a bit of a crutch for hired gun Peter Kox and V8 drivers, Cameron McConville and Luke Searle.
There are few Australian GT teams at the race mainly due to a scheduling conflict. The opening round of the Championship is just one week later at Adelaide, keeping many away.
This, however, won’t dampen the enthusiasm of the Australian or international contingent and with no clear favorite for 2012, the race will be one to watch.
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