Bathurst 12 Hour responds to V8 takeover report

Bathurst 12 Hour organisers have issued a brief response to news that V8 Supercars is angling to takeover the GT event.

Speedcafe.com revealed on Monday that V8 Supercars is in talks to buy the promotional rights to the GT3 endurance race.

The February event has been co-promoted by James O’Brien’s Yeehah Events and the Bathurst Regional Council since its return in 2007.

Although declining requests for comment, the Bathurst 12 Hour organisers issued the following statement via the event’s official Twitter account this evening.

“With regards to recent reports: We are having ongoing discussions with V8 Supercars regarding avoiding the date clash that occurred this year and, as such, allowing their drivers to compete in 2016,” it read.

“At this point there is nothing further to add.”

The Bathurst Regional Council has also declined Speedcafe.com’s request for comments on the future of the event.

The prospect of a V8 Supercars buy-in has meanwhile been met with widespread scepticism among the motorsport community and fan base.

The V8 Supercars drivers, however, will likely welcome the news after a date clash with the category’s pre-season test prevented them racing in the GT enduro this year.