Phoenix Audi Leads With Four Hours to Go

Photo: John Dagys

Six cars are now in the fight for top honors in the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour with four hours remaining in the around-the-clock enduro at Mt. Panorama.

The No. 2 Phoenix Racing Audi R8 LMS of Markus Winkelhock has taken over the lead while under the latest safety car period, which saw three of the top-four cars pit for service.

It marks the first laps led the race by the German squad, which clawed its way back from a lap down in the seventh hour.

The No. 36 Erebus Motorsport Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 of Thomas Jaeger runs in second after also electing not to pit, with a fuel-only stop for the No. 1 Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 putting Rick Kelly in fourth.

Jonathon Webb, now aboard the No. 59 Tekno Autosport McLaren 650S GT3, is fourth, with Steven Kane completing the top-five in the No. 10 Bentley Team M-Sport Continental GT3, following sold run by Guy Smith, who led prior to the stop.

Six cars are now on the lead lap, thanks to a storming stint by Maro Engel, who got around Alvaro Parente and Smith to put the No. 63 Erebus Mercedes back on the lead lap.

The No. 4 Grove Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car continues to lead Class B, with the No. 93 MARC Cars Australia entry pacing Class I with four hours to go.

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