Baumann to Sub for IGTC Champ Vautier at SunEnergy1

Photo: Mercedes-AMG

Dominik Baumann has received a last-minute call up to race in this weekend’s Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour, subbing for Tristan Vautier in the No. 75 SunEnergy1 Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3.

The reigning Intercontinental GT Challenge champion has been ruled out of the season-opener after coming down with the flu during last weekend’s Rolex 24 at Daytona, according to a Mercedes-AMG spokesperson.

Vautier was slated to defend his title as one of the German manufacturer’s full-season drivers in its expanded lineup.

Baumann, who also took part in the Rolex 24, at the wheel of P1 Motorsports’ Mercedes entry, is now set for a surprise Bathurst 12 debut.

The 26-year-old Austrian joins Thomas Jaeger and 2018 IGTC Bronze champion Kenny Habul in the Scott Taylor Motorsport-run entry, which finished 2nd overall in last year’s race.

Head of Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing Stefan Wendl will not be on-site this weekend as well, also due to illness, having made the decision to call-off his Bathurst trip last night from his home in Germany.

Wendl was due to also complete the Daytona-Bathurst double but has been sidelined with the flu.

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