Bathurst 12 Hour: Wednesday Paddock Notes

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Share , , , , Print Posted in: 24H/12H EVENTSINTERCONTINENTAL GTC Bathurst 12 Hour: Wednesday Paddock Notes The paddock at Mount Panorama is alive! 29 January 2020, 5:57 AM Setting the scene DSC has arrived at Bathurst after the always-awesome road trip across the Blue Mountains, this time in a beautiful Porsche Cayenne, with thanks to Porsche Australia – more on the road trip next week. Deputy editor Stephen Kilbey is joined by Michael Zalavari this weekend for DSC’s coverage of the IGTC season opener. It’s hot, really hot, trackside, with temperatures around 35 degrees celsius, much hotter than last week’s Rolex 24 event. There is clear evidence of the recent bush fires in the area, with parts of the roadside foliage between the circuit and Lithgow scorched. Thankfully the event is due to go ahead as planned. On the subject of the bushfires, lest we forget that this week $5 AUD will be donated to charity for every racing lap completed by all #IntGTC entries at Bathurst. Funds will go to the Australian Lions Club Foundation National Bushfire Appeal. New cars There is a slew of cars new to the event here at the circuit, including the 2020-spec Mercedes making its Intercontinental GT Challenge debut.

There are three 2020 Mercedes AMG GT3s taking part in this event, including one of the favourites, the #888 Triple Eight AMG GT3 which features Shane van Gisbergen, Jamie Whincup and Maxi Gotz (above). The team is also running the previous-gen AMG GT3 (#777) in the Pro-Am class, which will make for an interesting comparison. Gruppe M, and Craft Bamboo Black Falcon are also running the brand new Mercedes AMG Evo, while Sun Energy 1 Racing is running the older model once again. Of the other cars that are making their Bathurst 12 Hour debut, Garage 59 and R-Motorsport are here with the current Aston Martin Vantages. R-Motorsport’s #76 (brand new) Castrol-backed Vantage was having its livery applied for the week when DSC passed the garage. The McLaren 720S GT3 will also make its debut in the 12 Hour this weekend, though one did run at the circuit in the AGT SuperSprint trial event at the tail end of last year. 59Racing is here with two chassis, one of them new.

The current-gen Porsche 911 GT3 R is present too, with Absolute Racing, Earl Bamber Motorsport and Grove Racing. It has big shoes to fill after the previous model took a huge with with EBM last year with the old car. Outside of GT3, the Mercedes AMG GT4 is also making its 12 Hour debut, in the two-car GT4 category. Old(er) cars There are some interesting older cars to note too from DSC’s first tour of the pits. Bentley’s two Continental GT3s are fully wrapped in the 2020 livery and look stunning.