Vanthoor Quickest in Final Practice at Bathurst

Photo: John Dagys

Phoenix Racing has topped the time sheets in the final practice prior to qualifying for tomorrow’s Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour.

Laurens Vanthoor laid down a 2:03.537 lap in his No. 15 Audi R8 LMS ultra late in the 60-minute session. It was the quickest time of the weekend so far.

Vanthoor’s lap was 0.644 seconds quicker than the No. 35 NISMO Athlete Global Team Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 of Wolfgang Reip, who ended up second.

Reip laid down his flyer midway through the 60-minute session and remained quickest of the GT3 Am competitors.

The session was brought to an early end following a crash for the No. 12 Ice Break Competition Motorsports Porsche, which had reported brake issues with Chris Pither at the wheel.

The U.S.-entered effort, which features Porsche factory driver Patrick Long on the driving strength, had posted the 16th quickest time overall prior to the incident, which damaged the left side of the GT3-spec Porsche.

Pither’s incident was the only red flag of the session.

Qualifying is on tap for 12:55 p.m. local, which is open to all classes, while GT3 cars will have a 20-minute shootout for the Allan Simonsen Pole Award shortly after.

RESULTS: Practice 5

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