The Bathurst 12 Hours is one of the most iconic motorsport events in the world.. However, the COVID-19 pandemic prevented its dispute in 2021 and, along with other factors, has moved the event from its original date to May this year. A circumstance that has caused the event held on the spectacular Mount Panorama track to collide with the European GT3 season. Several manufacturers have caused low a quote that SRO has adapted to a Pro-Am format to ensure a voluminous grid.
Mount Panorama Speedway is one of the meccas of motorsports. The track has a total of 6,213 meters long and it is made up of two one-kilometre straight lines, joined at one end by two 90-degree angles that give rise to the finish line. On the other hand, the connection of these two lines is given from one of the most winding, complex and narrow sections of how many there are on an active circuitall while climbing and descending the mountain that shapes the track.
The SRO strategy has been a success, as a total of 20 vehicles will gather at Mount Panorama. With fifteen GT3s, a couple of MARC II V8s, a couple of ‘cupbearers’ cars and a GT2, the event’s entry list has been pretty ‘done’ for a Pro-Am event. Something that SRO can especially thank Audi Sport and Mercedes-AMG, since the firm from Ingolstadt will have seven cars on the track, several of them with direct factory support and official drivers. For its part, six will be the Mercedes-AMG GT3, also with three units with backup and official drivers.
Among the Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II stand out especially the two units under the management of the Audi Sport Team Valvoline. In #74 they will compete together Nathanaël Berthon, Kelvin Van der Linde and local Brad Schumacher. For its part, Ricardo Feller, Markus Winkelhock will be present at #777 and Yasser Shahin. The rest of Audi’s GT3s have local squads and will be run by teams including Team Hallmarc, BRM, Tony Bates Racing, Suparbarn Motorsport and CoinSpot Racing. Also noteworthy is the presence of a GT3 from Porsche and another from Lamborghini thanks to local structures.
The rest of GT3 present wear the Mercedes logo and although the Stuttgart brand has three cars with local crews under the management of Ninetten Corp., RAM or Valmont Racing, it also has three Mercedes-AMG GT3 with a clear presence of factory drivers. In #75 of SunEnergy1 Jules Gounon will compete with Martin Konrad and Kenny Habul. For its part, Dani Juncadella, Maro Engel and Kevin Tse will join forces at #91 of Craft-Bamboo. By last, at #888 of Triple Eight will be Shane Van Gisbergen, Broc Feeney and Prince Jefri Ibrahim.
Schedule of the Intercontinental GT CHallenge 2022 in Bathurst
Photos: Intercontinental GT Challenge