Mercedes-AMG customer outfit Tigani Motorsport will embark on its maiden tilt at the Bathurst 12 Hour’s Pro class next February, as part of a three-car entry.
Nathan Tigani’s team recently took over as Mercedes-AMG’s official customer racing partner in Australia, a role previously held by Triple Eight Race Engineering. For its first GT3 race in its new position, the team has expanded its Bathurst assault to three cars, with the addition of a Pro AMG GT3 EVO alongside two of its regular customer entries.
No drivers have been announced for the Pro effort at this stage, although the return of four of the team’s regulars across its other two cars has been confirmed.
The Geyer Valmont Racing entry will be piloted by Marcel Zalloua and Segio Pirez, with three-time class winners James and Theo Koundouris returning to the Supabarn Supermarkets AMG GT3 EVO. Further drivers are set to be added to both line-ups at a later date.
It is the fifth time that Zalloua and Pires have entered the 12-Hour together, whilst the Koundouris brothers are set to share a car at the event for the 12th occasion.
In 2025, both of Tigani Motorsport’s entries finished on their respective class podiums. Zalloua, Pires and Scott Andrews were third in Pro-Am, with the Koundouris’, David Russell and Luke Youlden second in Silver.
The team then followed this up with a strong season in GT World Challenge Australia, where it finished third in both the Pro-Am and Am teams’ championships, scoring a race victory in both.
“We’re excited to step up to the Pro class and fly the flag for Mercedes-AMG,” team owner Nathan Tigani said.
“The Mercedes-AMG GT3 is always a contender on the Mountain, and there’s always a strong contingent of them each year, and this year is looking like no different. To join the ranks of teams with a fully-pro outfit and to be able to challenge for an outright win is very special and a great challenge for us – and great opportunity too.
“All three cars will be competitive. For the Geyer Valmont Racing boys, it’s about redemption from this year’s race when they were taken out while running in a really strong position, leading quite early in the race. That was a massive disappointment, and bouncing back from that is a big ambition of ours.
“On the Supabarn side, the challenge there is to get a fourth-class win for the brothers. Their track record is incredible at Bathurst so to be part of that and potentially add to their record would be exciting.”
Mercedes-AMG has won the 12-Hour three times, the most recent of which came in 2023. A fourth victory next year would move the marque clear of Audi as the most successful in the event’s GT3 era.
The Tigani entry is the third Pro class AMG GT3 Evo confirmed for the 2026 edition, alongside entries from Scott Taylor Motorsport and Craft-Bamboo Racing.
The 2026 Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour will take place on the weekend of 13th to 15th February 2026.
Image courtesy of Bathurst 12 Hour
