Mostert Leads Opening Hour at Bathurst

Photo: John Dagys

Chaz Mostert holds a commanding lead with one hour complete in the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour.

The pole-sitting No. 43 Team Schnitzer BMW M6 GT3 has stretched out to a 41-second advantage over the No. 74 Jamec Pem Audi R8 LMS of Christopher Haase, with the No. 777 Buik Motorworks Lamborghini Gallardo R-EX running an impressive third.

The Australian, who claimed the Allan Simonsen Pole Trophy on Saturday, has consistently been one to two seconds per lap faster than the competition, as the sun has begun to rise over Mt. Panorama.

The race, which started at 5:45 a.m., was slowed just moments after the green flag, following an accident by the No. 96 MARC Cars Australia Focus V8 of John Goodacre, who made contact with the barriers on the formation lap.

It has been the only major incident in the race so far, other than a puncture for a Class B Porsche.

Ben Barker holds control of Class B in his Grove Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car, with the No. 44 Team SRM BMW M4 GT4 out front in Class C.

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