Problems for Jamec Audi
The #183 Jamec Racing Audi ran into early issues, not setting a representative time during Free Practice 1, coming into the pits, and undergoing repairs. The repairs were so significant that the car missed FP2 entirely due to its requiring a gearbox change.
DSC caught up with Ricardo Feller, who was at the wheel in the first session.
“We had a gearbox issue, from the beginning of the session,” Feller said. “We tried to test something, and we really had to try it in this session because otherwise the timings will be tight.
“We learned what we needed from the change, and then we came in immediately. Unfortunately, we didn’t make it [for session 2].
The issue was a problem on the upshift between 5th and 6th gear. The car was fixed over the lunch break, and was on track for Free Practice 3.
“But now the car is fine. I’ll have a check in the beginning [of FP3].”
Feller’s last hurrah in Audi machinery
Ricardo Feller is now a contracted Porsche driver after his Audi contract finished last year. Yet, here he is drafted in at the last minute for an Audi drive!
Feller explained that for another event, he might not have done it, “But this is Bathurst.”
“I had hoped to do this race with Porsche, but they had their line-ups fixed quite early. But then this whole topic came up with MPC, that they wanted to do this car,” Feller explained.
“Troy [Russell, MPC team principal] contacted me, then we found a solution with Audi. The boss of Audi was involved, speaking directly to Porsche, and they gave me the green light.”
While Feller has been rapid in Audi machinery, The Mountain has not been kind to him just yet. However, a final outing in a car he has steered for the past eight seasons would be a special way to end his Audi career.
Rossi confirms 2025 programmes
After some speculation on ‘The Doctor’s’ 2025 plans, Valentino Rossi today confirmed to the media that his 2025 programme will focus on the WEC, but include select additional races.
One of those of course is the Bathurst 12 Hour.
“It’s good to come to Australia one time a year, because I have very good memories, and a lot of friends from the Moto GP times here,” Rossi said to the media today. “And especially because this track is really special.
“When we started the program [this year], coming back was in the list.
“I’ll race in the WEC, but I’ll do some extra races – this one [at Bathurst], the Spa 24 hour, and the GTWC Sprint Race at Misano.
“It will be around 11 races… I did 5 races more last year.”
Rossi was quick to point out how much racing at Bathurst was a continual target for him, among runs at Le Mans and Spa.
“[Bathurst] is one of the best,” Rossi said. Le Mans is different because of the different classes – with Hypercar and LMP2 there’s a lot of cars that are faster than you.
“This one, and Spa, I prefer, where the top class is GT3. I think that Bathurst, together with Spa, are some of the best tracks for this type of car.
“And you come here, it’s already summer, and it’s usually good conditions.”
Jamie’s Day out!
19-year-old Jamie Day made headlines in FP2 today, topping the time sheets in his first session on track in Bathurst. Day and teammate Villagomez were given special dispensation to run in the Bronze-only FP2, despite their Silver ratings, at the request of the Volante Rosso team due to their lack of experience at the punishing circuit.
In just his third event in GT3 machinery, the Aston Martin Academy graduate showed his credentials are justified.
“I’m just learning every session,” Jamie said at the end of the day. “We didn’t get too much running today, so it was all about learning every time at the track.”
His best lap – a 2:05.1060 – was the second best Am time of the day. He was only just eclipsed by Liam Talbot in the final session. The rookie was wide-eyed at the challenge of The Mountain.
“It’s absolutely immense,” Jamie said about the track. “Coming from racing in the Middle East, a bit in America, and Europe, there’s nothing quite like it.
“The walls being so close, and so high speed, and flowing… every time I’m just holding my breath through the downhill sector.”
It’s a mighty impressive run, considering he’s still very new to the GT3 car!
“It’s a very similar driving style [between GT3 and GT4] – obviously a lot more aero.
“Being here, at Bathurst, for my first time, just being able to learn and improve every time. I think that’s translated a lot from GT4.
“To be an Aston Martin Junior driver is a big honour.”
Driver change in GT4
The #24 Method Motorsport McLaren Artura GT4 has seen a late driver change, with Cameron Campbell electing to focus on his Ferrari Challenge debut weekend.
He has been replaced in the #24 by two-time and defending TCR Australia Champion Josh Buchan, who raced in Monochrome GT4 Australia last year in a McLaren.
This change was approved by the stewards prior to the start of FP3 today.
Qualifying format explained
Qualifying for the Bathurst 12 Hour has changed to be simplified this year, with a three-part qualifying building towards the Pirelli Pole Battle.
On Saturday afternoon, Qualifying will be split into two sessions; Q1 for the bottom 50% to that point in the weekend, then Q2 for the top 50%. From there, the top 10 cars will progress to the Pirelli Pole Battle – an all-in 15-minute session to decide the top 10, and the Allan Simonsen Pole Award.
With nine Pro-class cars, it will be an interesting battle to see which car from the field can join them in the Pirelli Pole battle, and which, if any, of the Pro cars don’t make the cut.
Bathurst 12 Hour supporting the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia
The official charity of the 2025 Bathurst 12 Hour is the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, aiming to drive awareness and support for men with Prostate Cancer. Fans can purchase a ‘virtual lap’ of Mount Panorama in a Corvette Z06, and can leave a message of support for the men in their lives.
According to the PCFA, more than 26,000 men are expected to be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2025.
“It’s close to home,” said PCFA Ambassador and driver of the #222 Scott Taylor Motorsport Mercedes Craig Lowndes. “We’ve got two members of my family that have gone through it, which means now I’m at a high risk.
“We’ve got people up and down pit lane that we know, names we know very well, that have been through the process. So it’s about getting awareness out there and trying to raise funds for it.
“The message is to go get a blood test, get your PSA checked… especially if you’re over 40.”
“If you feel like you’ve got something going on down there, if you catch it early enough, it’s a curable disease. That’s one of the things we’re trying to get across – Men are very good at putting their head in the sand and not worrying about health, or just saying ‘she’ll be right!’”
Bathurst legend Lowndes is running alongside Cam Waters and Thomas Randle, who drive for Tickford Racing in Supercars, a team directly against Lowndes’ former team Triple Eight Race Engineering. However, there’s not been any issue with the combined effort.
“Everyone’s a different personality, thankfully the three of us are all very similar in the way that we want the car. Thommy [Randle] is sort of the joker, while Cam is more reserved, I know when Cam disappears he’s probably had enough of Tom.
“Cam and I did session 1, and we came out saying basically the same. We’ve got a better car than we had last year.”
If you are interested in donating, head to: www.pcfa.org.au/bathurst12hr
Tony Quinn on Demonstration duties
Monochrome GT4 competitor and Triple Eight Race Engineering owner Tony Quinn is on demonstration duties this weekend, driving his Aston Martin Vulcan with Highlands Motorsport Park branding.
Quinn has had a long-time association with Motorsports, sponsoring various race teams before buying into Triple Eight, all the while racing in GT machinery. He also owns both Hampton Downs and Highlands Motorsport Park in New Zealand, as well as Queensland Raceway at Ipswich.
DSC caught up with Quinn to talk about the return of GTWC Australia and Monochrome GT4 Australia to New Zealand.
“It’s very exciting. It’s a great category and I think it’s going to be here for a long time,” Quinn said.
“Things like NASCAR, BTCC, and even Supercars are ‘local’, but the GT stuff, it’s global.”
Quinn has been competing in the Monochrome GT4 Australia series last year, which he plans to continue this season. He’s also up against his grandson, Ryder Quinn, who finished third in Pro-Am.
“GT3s are too fast for me now, and my body is not as bendy as it used to be!” Quinn chuckled.
“[Ryder] is like the rest of the family. We’re all pretty handy [drivers], but none of us can make a living doing it. So we all recognise to enjoy it as a hobby.
“He’s the same; he’s young, he’s said he’ll go make some money in business, and enjoy racing as a hobby.”
Pirelli Presence
Pirelli has blocked out two garages in the pit lane for its servicing of the event, with over 2000 tyres on site for use this weekend. Pirelli is the tyre supplier for all cars entered in the Bathurst 12 Hour, as well as the Ferrari Challenge support events across the weekend.
A representative from Pirelli told DSC that the Italian manufacturer was preparing over 1,200 slick Pirelli P-Zero DHF tyres, along with a further 530 wets, just in case! There are over 20 Pirelli staff on hand to deal with the complexities of fitting front and rear tyres of different sizes, for the 12 Hour and Ferrari Challenge cars, and are expecting to be busy “until the very last stint of the race.”
Supercars on track
Kicking off the morning and finishing the day are test sessions for the Australian Supercars Championship, which is continuing with pre-season parity testing ahead of the start of its season at Sydney Motorsport Park later this month.
Tickford Racing and Team 18 are running the cars this weekend, with Supercars drivers Cam Waters (#222 STM Mercedes) and Anton De Pasquale cutting laps in the Mustang and Camaro respectively.
The two roaring V8s are sure to wake up the campers around the circuit!
Featured image courtesy of IGTC
