A total of 60 entries have already been taken for Easter’s Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour, organisers have revealed.

With entries still open for several weeks, it is not inconceivable that last year’s figure of 64 race starters, a record for a major endurance race at Mount Panorama, could be eclipsed in 2018.

The five-dozen cars represent 16 makes, 30 models, and are spread across seven classes.

Cars new to the race include the BMW M3 of former Australian Production Car Champion Beric Lynton, which he tested in November’s Challenge Bathurst meeting, and the Class B1 entry of a Series 6 Volkswagen Golf R by Trevor Keene.

The largest class is Class A1 (Extreme Performance Forced Induction), with 20 cars including the Morcom Motorsport Ford Focus RS which came up just short of victory last year in the hands of Nathan Morcom and Chaz Mostert.

With 50 cars having started the first Bathurst 6 Hour in 2016, Event Director James O’Brien puts the growth over the race’s short history down to a stable set of regulations.

“The consistency in the event and the regulations is one of the key factors in continuing to draw the support of such a large and diverse competitor base each year,” said O’Brien.

“Meanwhile, we are improving and evolving the event each year to improve the product and make it more appealing for both private teams and at the same time, those more commercial entities to be involved in.

“The appeal of this race is that it caters for such a broad range of competitors and that is reflected amongst the broad spectrum of entrants received already for this year.”

The Bathurst 6 Hour will be held on the Easter long weekend (March 30-April 1).

Entry list (Provisional, as at February 7)

Classes