Bathurst 12H Grid Reaches 50 Entries

The 2015 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour has broken through the 50 entrants mark on the commencement of a 100 day countdown to Australia’s international endurance race next February.

Dutch owner/driver Cor Euser has entered a Lotus Evora GT4 in Class C (GT4 vehicles) for the February 6-8 Event, taking the confirmed field to 50 cars.

ENTRY LIST: Bathurst 12 Hour

Event organizers have used the 100-days-to-go mark to confirm the event-imposed 55-car starting cap has been relaxed for 2015.

Initially the cap was imposed due to the limited overtaking opportunities across the top of Mount Panorama, when the field comprised a large number of slower vehicles. With the field now comprising a majority of GT vehicles, the requirement for the cap no longer exists .

Event organizers expect to confirm an additional four cars in Class A (GT3) and have received inquiries for entries in other classes.

The event class structure has also been streamlined with five classes now appearing on the official entry list – the three ‘GT’ categories plus two classes for invited vehicles. Class D features the core ‘production car’ competitors including cars from BMW, Audi, Subaru and Daytona Sportscars, while Class I includes the MARC Race Cars enduro racers and the ex-GrandAm Mazda RX8s.

Today’s new major entry list addition inputs further European diversity to the GT classes.

Cornelius ‘Cor’ Euser is a successful Dutch driver and has raced at the highest level for years, including competing in FIA Formula 3, F3000 and Indy racing.

He owned and operated the famous Marcos brand in international GT racing for several seasons and has competed in multiple GT series, achieving success in several key European-based championships. The 57-year-old has also contested the famous Dakar rally with success.

An updated entry list released today marks the 100-day countdown though there remains approximately six weeks until entries formally close in mid-December.

Additional changes confirmed today include the switch from the outright class to the competitive Class B (Porsche GT3 Cup) for Koundouris Racing.

The experienced Canberra-based duo of brothers James and Theo Koundouris had initially entered a Porsche GT3 R in the outright fight however have elected to go for class glory with a GT3 Cup S in Class B – that now features a strong 9-car entry.

The addition of Euser’s Lotus takes GT4 to four cars and the total GT grid to 38 in total out of 50 confirmed entries.

Meanwhile, Nissan has confirmed their works-supported Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 squad will again represent their NISMO Global Athlete Team program for the second year following a change of branding to their entry.