Steven Richards Motorsport has announced that it will race in the 2018 Bathurst 12 Hour with a factory-backed M6 GT3 once again.
Richards, a four-time Bathurst 1000 champion has confirmed that factory BMW drivers Timo Glock and Philipp Eng will join him for the race next February.
“You certainly can’t complain when you get a guy who has raced at the highest level and a young star from the factory team to come and drive with you,” Richards told bathurst12hour.com.au.
“BMW are great partners in that when their customers commit to a race like this they open the door to some amazing support and driver talent.
“I’m very pleased to have a DTM winner and Formula 1 driver and a guy who has won the Spa 24 Hour with me.”
Richards said the team was ready for a return effort at Australia’s International Enduro after a promising showing in 2017. In this year’s race he was joined by Marco Wittmann and Mark Winterbottom in the M6.
“We’ve had another year on track and we have a good handle on the car now,” Richards said.
“2017 was our first crack at it as BMW Team SRM – it’s a massive undertaking. We know what we need to do a good job and we’ve got that experience to lean on going in to next year.”
The team will confirm driver details for their remaining entries in due course, having earlier this week shown off the first BMW M4 GT4 to arrive in Australia.
Richards tested the GT4 at Winton, and was overwhelmingly positive about the team’s new car.
“It’s great to drive,” he added.
“Its corner speed is fantastic. There were some Supercars and some Carrera Cup cars running during the test, and through the corners the M4 GT4 was as fast, if not faster, than anything else.
“I’m really pleased with the car. I didn’t expect anything less, but it’s always nice to drive a new car and experience it first-hand.”
A second M4 GT4 has also recently arrived in the country and is now in the possession of new owner – and former BMW Motorsport racer – Tony Longhurst.
