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Intercontinental GT Challenge

STM Mercedes Steps Up to Pro Class for Bathurst 12H

Craig Lowndes to spearhead lineup as STM guns for overall victory in IGTC opener…

Photo: Bathurst 12 Hour

Scott Taylor Motorsport will challenge for outright Repco Bathurst 12 Hour honors in 2024 as it steps up to the Pro class with its Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo.

Two-time event winner and Australian Supercars legend Craig Lowndes will be joined at the wheel of the STM AMG by two current Supercars drivers, Cameron Waters and Thomas Randle, for the Intercontinental GT Challenge opener on Feb. 16-18.

Lowndes was part of the STM lineup for this year’s race in the Pro-Am class, sharing driving duties with Scott Taylor himself as well as Alex Davison and Geoff Emery.

In 2022, the same lineup claimed victory in the Cup class at the wheel of a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.

“It’s always exciting to go to Bathurst knowing you have a shot at outright victory and I think this year we have all the pieces of the puzzle to do that,” commented Lowndes.

“To come back for a third year with the STM team and knowing the enthusiasm Scotty [Taylor] has for us to have a crack at winning the race is fantastic.

“Cam and Tom are at the top of their game and were both really impressive in the Supercars Championship this year. They have lots of Bathurst laps so I’ve got no doubt they’re going to be very quick.

“As a team we are a very well balanced driving line up so we’re all pretty excited to get there next February.”

Waters’ last Bathurst 12 Hour appearance came in 2022, when he drove a Audi R8 LMS Evo II for Tony Bates Racing, finishing 11th overall.

Randle, who is Waters’ teammate in the Tickford Racing Supercars squad, on the other hand will be making his debut in the IGTC curtain-raiser.

“We at STM are so privileged to have incredibly talented people in Craig, Cameron, and Thomas in our line-up for the 2024 Bathurst 12 Hour,” said Taylor.

“They are true gentlemen both in and out of the car which is most important to [wife] Rebecca and me.

“We thank them for their commitment and in turn will provide them, by way of Ash Seward [Motorsport], with the sharpest tools to take on the world’s best at the mountain.”

Jamie Klein is Sportscar365's Asian editor. Japan-based Klein, who previously worked for Motorsport Network on the Motorsport.cоm and Autosport titles, covers the FIA World Endurance Championship and SUPER GT, among other series.

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