Bathurst 12 Hour race week is in full swing, with teams up and down pit lane debuting new colour schemes and fans getting a first glimpse at the bumper field assembled for this year’s event.
The headline from Thursday came at Team WRT, which revealed that its #32 BMW M4 GT3 Evo will sport a replica art car livery (featured) for the defence of its 12 Hour victory
The car, which will be piloted by Kelvin van der Linde, Jordan Pepper and Charles Weerts, features the scheme of BMW Art Car #8, which was designed by Australian artist Ken Done.
Done initially painted a Group A-spec E30 M3, back in 1989.
“I’m really looking forward to the weekend race to see the artwork for the BMW Art Car I painted brought to the racetrack,” the Australian said.
“I was inspired by the brilliance and motion of parrots and parrot fish and wanted to give the impression of speed. There’s no more powerful place for that than on a circuit like Mount Panorama. It is wonderful to see colour, energy and performance coming together again through BMW M Motorsport.”
The public had its first look at the art car during today’s ‘Track to Town’ event, which saw the 35-car field for this year’s race complete a lap of the Mount Panorama circuit before parading into Bathurst town centre.
Here, the drivers participated in an autograph session, with the damp conditions failing to deter a large crowd from attending.
The parade also offered a look at some of the other recently announced liveries for this year’s race.
Earl Bamber Motorsport has adopted its 2019-winning paint scheme for its #61 Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) of Klaus Bachler, Laurin Heinrich and Ricardo Feller.
Mercedes-AMG Team GMR has switched to a predominantly red design for its #888 AMG GT3 EVO, which will be piloted by AMG factory drivers Maxime Martin, Mikaël Grenier and Maro Engel.
And Volante Rosso Motorsport has stickered up its new McLaren GT3 Evo for the first time, including a prominent partnership with The Kids’ Cancer Project.
Track action at Bathurst begins tomorrow, with four 40-minute Free Practice sessions for the 12-Hour competitors.
Images courtesy of SRO/Gruppe C Photography, BMW and Volante Rosso Motorsport
