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Intercontinental GT Challenge

Record Number of Early Entries for Bathurst 12H

Forty six entries already confirmed for 2016 Bathurst 12H…

Photo: Bathurst 12H

Photo: Bathurst 12H

A record number of advance entries have been received by Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour organizers, with 46 cars already locked in for the Feb. 5-7, 2016 event.

The annual ‘early bird’ entry period ended on Aug. 31 with 46 vehicles representing 12 different manufacturers confirmed – with more yet to be announced.

It compares to the 34 entries received at the end of the ‘early bird’ entry period prior to the 2015 race.

Entries remain open until Dec. 11 this year, with a bulk of potential international entries expected to commit within this timeframe as their respective international seasons wrap up and focus turns to 2016.

The advance entry list released today includes 21 cars in the ultra-competitive GT3 outright class and a further 13 in classes B (GT3 Cup Cars) and C (GT4), taking to 34 the total number of GT vehicles already locked in for the around-the-clock enduro. A further 12 cars feature in an expanded Invitational class.

Seven international entries have currently been accepted, up from 6 at the same time last year.

2012 winners Phoenix Racing, 2013 winners Erebus Motorsport and 2014 champions Maranello Motorsport will all return, the Australian Ferrari outfit confirming two 458 GT3 entries for the first time and Erebus their pair of SLS AMG GT3s.

First-time entries on the list include Tony Walls’ Objective Racing McLaren 650S GT3 and successful New Zealand team International Motorsport, who will bring an Audi R8 LMS Ultra to the Mountain.

Vehicles representing Porsche, Lamborghini, Lotus, Subaru, Mazda, Chevrolet, BMW and the Aussie-built MARC Cars entries also feature.

V8 Supercars CEO James Warburton also announced the appointment of John Casey as Director of the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour.

“We are very excited to see such strong interest from competitors in the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour, continuing the healthy growth in the event,” Casey said.

“We are proud to be able to add our support and look forward to making the 2016 race bigger and better than ever for fans, drivers, sponsors and manufacturers.”

Meanwhile, fans can now secure tickets at 2015 prices until Dec. 31, with tickets going on sale today (Thursday) via Ticketek.

Always one of Australia’s best value motorsport events, tickets start at $15 AUD for Friday adult general admission (GA) access and range to $80 AUD for a three-day grandstand seat in the pit straight Ivan Stibbard Grandstand, opposite pit lane.

As in previous years, a GA ticket will allow access around the circuit and to the paddock area at no additional charge.

Prices remain fixed at 2015 levels for General Admission tickets, until the end of the year.

Organisers have also encouraged fans to secure campground sites quickly following high demand following the commencement of sales earlier this year.

A further 291 sites were made available in the McPhillamy Park campground for the first time with demand for spots high. Campground sites can only be secured via the online portal at the Bathurst 12 Hour website.

Provisional Entry List (as of Sept. 3, 2015) 

Entrant Nationality Class Vehicle Model

David Calvert Jones USA A Porsche 911 GT3 R
Erebus Motorsport AUS A Mercedes SLS AMG GT3
Erebus Motorsport AUS A Mercedes SLS AMG GT3
Garth Walden Racing AUS A Mercedes SLS AMG GT3
Hallmarc / Network AUS A Audi R8 LMS Ultra
International Motorsport NZL A Audi R8 LMS Ultra
Keltic Racing Pty Ltd AUS A TBC
Lago Racing AUS A TBC
M Motorsport AUS A TBC
Maranello Motorsport AUS A Ferrari 458 Italia GT3
Maranello Motorsport AUS A Ferrari 458 Italia GT3
Melbourne Perfomance Centre AUS A Audi R8 LMS Ultra
Melbourne Perfomance Centre AUS A TBC
Melbourne Perfomance Centre AUS A TBC
Objective Racing AUS A McLaren 650S
Performance West Motorsport AUS A Lamborghini Gallardo
Phoenix Racing GER A Audi R8 LMS
Supabarn Supermarkets AUS A Porsche 911 GT3 R
Trass Family Motorsport NZL A Ferrari 458 Italia GT3
Trofeo Motorsport AUS A Ferrari 458 Italia GT3
Wall Racing AUS A Audi R8 LMS Ultra

Amac Motorsport AUS B Porsche
APO Sport Ltd UK B Porsche 997 GT3 Cup (MY 06-09)
Boylan Group / Cairns Plaza Hotel AUS B Porsche 997 GT3 Cup (MY 06-09)
Grove Racing AUS B Porsche 997 GT3 Cup (MY 10-12)
J.F.C Freem AUS B Porsche 997 GT3 Cup (MY 10-12)
Nick Cresswell AUS B Porsche 997 GT3 Cup (MY 06-09)
Rentcorp Motorsport AUS B Porsche 997 GT3 Cup (MY 10-12)
Safe-T-Stop AUS B Porsche 997 GT3 Cup (MY 06-09)
Scott Taylor Motorsport AUS B Porsche 997 GT3 Cup (MY 10-12)
Stealth / McElrea Racing AUS B Porsche 997 GT3 Cup (MY 10-12)
Wall Racing AUS B Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S
Scott O’Donnell NZL B Porsche 997 GT3 Cup (MY 10-12)

Tony Alford AUS C Lotus Exige S Cup R

Daytona Sportscars AUS I Daytona Sportscar
Fortec Motorsport AUS I TBC
Gary Morgan NZL I Subaru BRZ
Henley Mazda Racing AUS I Mazda RX-8 GT
Henley Mazda Racing AUS I Mazda RX-8 GT
Marc Cars Australia AUS I MARC Focus V8
Marc Cars Australia AUS I MARC Focus V8
Marc Cars Australia AUS I MARC Focus V8
Marc Cars Australia AUS I MARC Mazda 3 V8
On Track Motorsport AUS I BMW 335i
Performance Parts & Engineering AUS I TBC
Sherrin Racing AUS I BMW 135i

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