Bathurst 6 Hour organisers have confirmed a grid of at least 55 cars for next year’s production car endurance classic at Mount Panorama.

The provisional early-bird entry list for the April 14-16 event sees 13 manufacturers represented with the grid likely to expand with entries open until March 10.

The headline A1 and A2 classes will challenge for the outright victory once again with this year’s winning entrant Barry Morcom set to join the top class as part of a two car entry.

Morcom will field a Ford Focus RS in Class A alongside the Class B race winning of the BMW 335i Turbo, which was driven to victory by son Nathan Morcom and Supercars ace Chaz Mostert.

Revised CAMS Production Car regulations will see the Audi TT RS included in Class A for the first time courtesy of Tony Alford.

Nine Mitsubishi Lancers have been entered while BMW, HSV and Subaru are all represented in Class A.

Although yet to appear on the provisional entry list, Mercedes-Benz will feature with Garth Walden Racing expected to enter a A45 AMG.

Class C features the return of Bathurst-based Aubin Brothers Racing, a new Alfa Romeo Gulietta QV and Rick Shaw’s popular Mazda RX-8. Meanwhile, Class D currently features two Toyota 86 entries.

Event director James O’Brien has been impressed by the reaction from the production car racing fraternity and fully expects the grid to grow even further in the coming weeks.

“The 2017 early-bird entry list is five larger than the corresponding period last year, with more than ten additional entries received, however these cars have yet to complete the application process,” said O’Brien.

“There are other competitors intending to participate and thus we are anticipating a very large grid come Easter next year.

“It will be quite a sight with cars stretching from the start finish line on Pit Straight right around Murray’s corner and up the hill towards the bridge on Conrod Straight.”

Bathurst 6 Hour Provisional Entry List