With 50 days remaining until teams hit the track at Mount Panorama, the current entry list for the 2016 Liquid Moily Bathurst 12 Hours shows factory-supported teams representing Nissan, Audi, Mercedes Benz, Bentley, McLaren and Ferrari.
The 2016 race also sees the start 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.
And, 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 and live on Radio Le Mans.com too with some very familiar names on the planned broadcast roster!
Announced this morning, 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. Some clues on members of the Aussie contingent here and elsewhere can be garnered from the most recent applications for an FIA Driver grading, not necessary for V8 Supercars, but essential for the Bathurst 12 Hours
Bentley are another famous marque to now formally 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 including 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.
CLASS A: GT3
NISMO Global Athlete Team (Japan) Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3
Phoenix Racing (Germany) Audi R8 LMS
Melbourne Performance Centre (AUS) Audi R8 LMS
Melbourne Performance Centre (AUS) Audi R8 LMS Ultra
Melbourne Performance Centre (AUS) Audi R8 LMS Ultra
Jamec Pem Racing (AUS) Audi R8 LMS
Jamec Pem Racing (AUS) Audi R8 LMS
International Motorsport (NZL) Audi R8 LMS Ultra
Bentley Team M Sport (UK) Bentley Continental GT3
Bentley Team M Sport (UK) Bentley Continental GT3
Maranello Motorsport (AUS) Ferrari 458 GT3
Trass Family Motorsport (New Zealand) Ferrari 458 GT3
Trofeo Motorsport (AUS) Ferrari 458 GT3
Vicious Rumour Racing (AUS) Ferrari 458 GT3
Lago Racing (AUS) Lamborghini Gallardo R-EX
M Motorsport (AUS) Lamborghini Gallardo R-EX
Performance West Motorsport (AUS) Lamborghini Gallardo GT3
Tekno Autosport (AUS / UK) McLaren 650S GT3
Tekno Autosport (AUS / UK) McLaren 650S GT3
Objective Racing (AUS) McLaren 650S GT3
Erebus Motorsport (AUS) Mercedes Benz SLS AMG GT3
Erebus Motorsport (AUS) Mercedes Benz SLS AMG GT3
MISHUMOTORS (Germany) Mercedes Benz SLS AMG GT3
Garth Walden Racing (AUS) Mercedes Benz SLS AMG GT3
AMAC Motorsport (AUS) Porsche 911 GT3 R
Keltic Racing (AUS) TBC
Performance Parts & Engineering (AUS) TBC
Supabarn Supermarkets (AUS) TBC
CLASS B: GT3 CUP CARS
Grove Racing (AUS) Porsche 997 GT3 Cup Car
JFC-Freem-Rotex (NZL) Porsche 997 GT3 Cup Car
Rentcorp Racing (AUS) Porsche 997 GT3 Cup Car
SAFE-T-STOP (AUS) Porsche 997 GT3 Cup Car
Paul Tresidder (AUS) Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S
Mobil 1 New Zealand (NZL) Porsche 997 GT3 Cup Car
CLASS C: GT4
Donut King (AUS) Lotus Exige S Cup R
Patisseire Valerie (UK) Porsche 997 GT4
PRO Sport Performance (Germany) Porsche Cayman Pro 4
PRO Sport Performance (Germany) Porsche Cayman Pro 4
CLASS I: INVITATIONAL
GWS Personell (AUS) BMW 335i Turbo
Daytona Sports Cars (AUS) Daytona Coupe
MARC Cars Australia (AUS) Ford Focus V8
MARC Cars Australia (AUS) Ford Focus V8
MARC Cars Australia (AUS) Ford Focus V8
MARC Cars Australia (AUS) Mazda 3 V8
MARC Cars Australia (AUS) TBC
Gary Morgan (NZL) Subaru BRZ
Fortec Motorsport (AUS) Chevrolet Corvette Z51
