Team WRT has revealed the driver line-up for its Bathurst 12 Hour title defence next February.
The Belgian outfit finished 1-2 at the event earlier this year, earning its second win as a team and scoring BMWs first victory of the GT3 era, and is returning in 2026 with a pair of M4 GT3s now updated to Evo specification.
In the #32 M4 GT3 Evo, defending winner Kelvin van der Linde will commence his Intercontinental GT Challenge drivers’ title defence alongside Jordan Pepper and Charles Weerts. The South African has made six previous starts at the 12-Hour, with five appearances for Audi Sport preceding his victory with BMW.
“Defending the title will be a big challenge, but I will do everything I can to finish on top once again in one of the most special races of the year and thus enable Jordan to do what I did a year ago: win Bathurst on my debut with BMW M Motorsport,” commented van der Linde.
2020 12-Hour winner Pepper, who recently joined BMW from Lamborghini, is making his first start at the event since claiming victory on debut with Bentley Team M-Sport.
“What a place for my first works race!,” Pepper said.
“My memories of the race are very special. I won there in 2020 and I really enjoy the track, the place and the atmosphere. Of course, we also have pressure, because we are coming there as defending champions, but I have two great teammates in Kelvin and Charles.
“We get on very well on a professional and personal level. Driving with Kelvin is something very special for me. We’ve known each other for so long and complement each other very well.”
Four-time GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup drivers’ champion Weerts, meanwhile, is set to make his fourth start at the event, following three previous appearances all in WRT BMWs, with the headline result being a runner-up spot this year.
The sister entry sees Valentino Rossi make his fourth consecutive appearance at The Mountain, with regular co-driver Raffaele Marciello and defending winner Augusto Farfus joining ‘The Doctor’ in the #46 BMW.
Bathurst has been the venue of some of the Italian’s strongest performances on four-wheels, including second-place this year alongside Marciello and Weerts.
“I’m really looking forward to returning to Bathurst. It’s one of the best races of the season,” Rossi said.
“The track is fantastic. When I started racing, Bathurst was at the top of my wish list. Now I’ve been here three times and enjoy it every time. Last year the race went great and we finished second. The podium is the goal again this time. With Raffaele and Augusto, I have two stellar teammates from whom I can learn a lot and with whom I will certainly have a lot of fun.”
Marciello is still looking for his maiden Bathurst victory, having come agonisingly close in the past with four podium finishes in six starts, whilst this year’s triumph was Farfus’ first win at the race.
“Bathurst is one of the coolest and most challenging races of the year,” the Brazilian commented.
“I’m really looking forward to returning there after my victory last year. Back then, I was still racing against Valentino and Raffaele in the sister car. Now I will do everything I can to stand on the top step of the podium with them again.”
Sheldon van der Linde, who raced alongside his brother Kelvin and Farfus last year, is not set to defend his victory.
BMW is also being represented at the Bathurst 12 Hour by Team KRC, with the Chinese outfit fielding a single entry in the Bronze Cup class.
The team will rely on a trio of Bathurst rookies for its debut at the event, with BMW M factory driver Max Hesse, Maxime Oosten and Ruan Cunfan set to share the #89 M4 GT3 Evo.
The 2026 Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour will be held on the weekend of 13th to 15th February 2026, with a provisional 36-car entry list unveiled earlier today.
Images courtesy of BMW M Motorsport
