The 2017 edition of the LiquiMoly Bathurst 12 Hour is the first to be run with a single tyre manufacturer with Pirelli after the Italian brand took the exclusive rights. As a result, the commitment to the event is much higher than previous years. They have increased their staff from 3 to 35 for this event. They have brought 13 shipping containers, each containing 500 tyres. Each car will get 48 dry tyres, 7 sets of hard and 5 sets of mediums (plus 7 sets of wets if they need them) with a hard set of tyres being expected to be double stinted even in the expected hot conditions that are expected on Sunday.
For the first time, the Bathurst 12 Hour teams are allowed to use tyre ovens. Pirelli had determined that there was an issue with the tyres being pushed too hard when cold which may compromise them over a stint or longer. By using the tyre ovens, there will not be a need to use a mandated tyre pressure or tyre pressure sensors through the weekend. Tyre blankets are still banned particularly as many circuits do not have the power outlets to run them. This development which was requested by Pirelli could extend to other Pirelli and non Pirelli series around the world.
The Melbourne Performance Centre Audi customer outfit have swelled for this event with the team running no fewer than 6 cars for the event. As a result their team has swelled from 45 that they take to an Australian GT round to 79 with more technicians and data specialists that have come from Germany for the event. Additionally, the #44 Supabarn entry will be running a live stream from their car for the practice and qualifying sessions for OVO customers. The phone network is also looking to sell two hour packages to customers for the event.
Maranello on the other hand are the only Ferrari to enter this year’s event with Jamie Wincup, Craig Lowndes and Toni Vilander. The team still has support from Italy for the event with the manufacturer still aiming for the win.
The Competition Motorsports Porsche has an innovative paint system this weekend. The system developed in the USA and raced with BMW Rahal RLL is thinner and lighter than vinyl or traditional paint methods. Applied like a vinyl wrap, it takes 9 hours to apply to a car and is the only car in the field to run the system.
The Balance of Performance is a question mark this weekend with six cars racing at Bathurst for the first time. The Ferrari 458, AMG GT3, BMW M6, Porsche GT3-R and Lamborghini Huracan are new with upgrades for the McLarens and Audis mean that none of the drivers are quite sure where they will be come qualifying. Bernd Schneider suggested that the HTP Team are looking forward to getting out on track to see where they are.
Equally Ivan Capelli is back for his third Bathurst 12 Hour in his third different GT3 car. In the past he has run in a Corvette and Ferrari and this year in a new Lamborghini. Come the first practice session, it will be the first time he has driven the Lamborghini. However he was reunited with his old Leyton House late last year in Adelade taking it for a spin in the Adelaide Motorsport Festival. Amazingly, he still fit in his old race suit and the tight confines of the Adrian Newey designed car.
There is a large array of manufacturer activation for this event with Nissan, Ferrari, Audi, AMG, McLaren and Bentley all having a presence for the fans at this event.
