Vanthoor, Winkelhock Complete Phoenix Audi Lineup for Bathurst 12H

Photo: John Dagys

Laurens Vanthoor and Markus Winkelhock are set to return to Mount Panorama, having been confirmed in Phoenix Racing’s Audi R8 LMS alongside Alex Davison in next month’s Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour.

The 2014 Blancpain GT Series driver’s champion confirmed the lineup Saturday, which will see the addition of V8 Supercars ace Davison as the designated Silver-rated driver in the car.

Vanthoor, Winkelhock and Marco Mapelli narrowly missed out on the win last year, finishing second in the German squad’s Audi R8 LMS ultra.

“I’m excited to go back to one of the best tracks in the world,” Vanthoor wrote on Facebook. “And this year we don’t want our party to be spoiled by a big Bentley or Godzilla.”

The Belgian is coming off victory in last weekend’s Hankook 24 Hours of Dubai with Belgian Audi Club Team WRT, in the same-spec Audi that Phoenix will enter in the Australian enduro.

A total of four new Audi R8 LMS are entered, along with three other previous-generation R8 LMS ultras, as Audi searches for its first Bathurst victory since 2012.

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