Bathurst 12H On Track for Largest Entry Since 2020

Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour organizers have revealed that next year’s edition of the event is set for its largest entry since 2020, with the Intercontinental GT Challenge curtain-raiser on course to exceed 30 cars.

That would mark a major increase on this year’s running of the Australian event, which attracted only 22 cars, of which 18 were GT3-spec machines.

Since its resumption post-COVID-19 in 2022, Bathurst 12H grid numbers peaked at 30 in 2024, with 29 cars starting the race, while in 2020, which came immediately before the pandemic, 39 cars were entered of which 34 took the start.

Organizers stated that for the 2026 race, which is due to take place on Feb. 13-15, “more than ten” brands are set to be represented, with eight GT3 manufacturers already locked in — including newcomer Corvette, which confirmed its participation in October, and McLaren, which returns for the first time since 2020 with Optimum Motorsport.

Audi, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche are all confirmed to return with at least one entry each having already been made public.

As well as Optimum, Team KRC (BMW M4 GT3 EVO), High Class Racing and Tsunami RT (both Porsche 911 GT3 R) will also be racing at Mount Panorama for the first time.

The latest car to be confirmed for the 2026 Bathurst 12H is Vantage Racing’s KTM X-Bow GT2, which becomes the first confirmed entry for the Invitational class.

David Crampton, Trent Harrison and Glen Wood will once again share driving duties after claiming class victory unopposed in this year’s race.

Organizers have promised further Bathurst 12H entry news prior to the holiday period, with entries set to close in early January.