Earlier Start Time Confirmed for Bathurst 12H

The earliest start time for the latest ever Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour to be held has been set.

Running in May for the first time in the history of the race, organizers have confirmed a 5:15 a.m. start time on Sun, May 15.

As such, the race finish is set for 5:13 p.m. plus one racing lap for the leader.

It represents the earliest the race will have ever started and finished, considering this year represents the first time the race will be held outside of Daylight Savings.

Sunrise in Bathurst on race day is due at 6:46am Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST), with Sunset at 5:10 p.m.

The earlier start — which will allow for the race to finish in twilight conditions that afternoon — will see significantly more night-time running than any Bathurst 12 Hour before it.

At least 90 minutes of the race will be contested prior to sunrise, adding another dimension to the first two stints of the enduro classic.

The traditional 5:45 a.m. race start time and date in February would see just under 45 minutes of running prior to sunrise, just before 6:30 a.m.

5:45 a.m. has been the traditional start time of the race since 2016, though the kick-off point has changed several times over the years.

The return of the race in 2007 started at 5:45 a.m, while the next three races commenced at 6:30 a.m.

The latest it has ever started was in 2013, when the race launched at 7:00 a.m and finished in near darkness – thanks both to failing light and torrential rain falling at Mount Panorama at the time.

The full event schedule will be confirmed within the next week.