Campbell, Guven to Defend Bathurst 12H Title with Absolute

Matt Campbell and Ayhancan Guven will both attempt to defend their Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour title with Absolute Racing, as the Chinese team returns to the Australian event with a Porsche 911 GT3 R for the first time in five years.

The pair will share the No. 911 Porsche with Alessio Picariello as they aim for back-to-back wins in the Intercontinental GT Challenge season opener on Jan. 31-Feb. 2.

Campbell and Guven were both part of last year’s winning Bathurst 12H lineup with Manthey Racing alongside Laurens Vanthoor, while Picariello picked up Pro-Am class honors for the same team sharing duties with Harry King and Yasser Shahin.

Campbell previously drove for Absolute on the squad’s previous visit to Mount Panorama, scoring pole position and finishing fourth alongside Mathieu Jaminet and Patrick Pilet.

“It’s great to be reuniting with Absolute Racing as we secured Porsche’s first ever Bathurst pole position when we last worked together in 2020,” said Campbell.

“After the success in 2024, when I won the race, we’ll be aiming to replicate this alongside Ayhancan and Alessio. It’s my home event at my favourite track in the world, so I can’t wait to start the year off in Australia.”

Guven added: “I’m excited to join Absolute Racing for the Bathurst 12 Hour. Having won the event last year, it’s the perfect opportunity to fight for victory again! I’m excited to work with the team and racing around the unique Mount Panorama circuit.”

Absolute fielded a pair of Porsches on its last Bathurst 12H outing in 2020, with its second car crewed by Matteo Cairoli, Thomas Preining and Dirk Werner placing seventh.

Absolute team principal Fabien Fior commented: “We’re thrilled to be returning to the Bathurst 12 Hour, and to do so in partnership with Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific makes it even more special.

“There’s unfinished business at Mount Panorama for us as in 2020, we took pole with Matt, but unfortunately finished just off the podium.

“We’re also excited to welcome a second Bathurst 12 Hour winner to the squad in Ayhancan Guven, along with our long-term driver Alessio Picariello, a class winner at this iconic event. We have a strong car and line-up, so our sights are set high!”