Race Leader Winkelhock Stops on Track

The No. 74 Jamec Pem Racing Audi R8 LMS is out of the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour following an apparent drivetrain failure in the closing stages of the Intercontinental GT Challenge season opener.

Race leader Markus Winkelhock ground to a halt on-track with less than 100 minutes remaining in the race, bringing the team’s race to an early end.

The reigning IGTC champion led a 1-2 run for the German manufacturer prior to the issue, and briefly handed the lead over to the No. 37 WRT Audi R8 LMS prior a round of pit stops.

Both the No. 911 Manthey Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R and No. 12 Competition Motorsports Porsche have stayed on track and now at the front of the pack.

The No. 55 Strakka Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3, meanwhile, runs second.

Nine cars had remained on the lead lap prior to the No. 74 Audi’s exit from the race.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John