Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour organisers are looking to move the race to an earlier date next year in order to ensure more Australian GT entrants.
The 2012 event saw just two locally based cars start the race in the outright GT3 class – a situation blamed on the event’s proximity to the opening round of the Australian GT Championship, to be held this weekend at the Clipsal 500 Adelaide.
This year’s race was held two weeks later than the corresponding 2011 event in order to suit potential international entrants competing in the Dubai 24 Hour.
According to Bathurst 12 Hour race director James O’Brien, next year’s date will strike a better compromise between the interests of national and international competitors.
“For next year we will look closely at the timing of the race so that it suits both the local and the international contingent,” O’Brien told Speedcafe.com.
“The reason that we’re outside of the V8 Supercars season is so we don’t get caught up in the circus of finding out what’s going on with the V8 calendar each year.
“We’re in February, we know we will not clash with a domestic V8 Supercars round, but we were caught out by how early the Clipsal 500 was scheduled.
“We knew there was a chance it could be that early, but the reason for the date this year was to be able to get the cars in from Dubai via sea freight. There had to be a six week gap between Dubai and us, but unfortunately that pushed us too close to Adelaide.
“The 12 Hour has been in February now for the last four years and it will stay in February, but look for it to be early to mid February rather than late.”
See below for an overview of Speedcafe.com’s 2012 Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour coverage
Friday
Saturday
Crashed SLS on-track for Bathurst qualifying
Maranello Ferrari fastest in bruising Bathurst qualifying
Huglin sore after major Bathurst accident
McConville: We were a top three chance
International Audi crew take Bathurst pole
Baird unconcerned by weight penalty
Support races conclude at Bathurst 12 Hour
Sunday
Outright Bathurst lap record set to fall
Outright Bathurst lap record broken
Klien focussed on sportscar future
Simonsen optimistic despite fuel issue
Lowndes leads Bathurst 12 Hour at quarter distance
International Audi drivers swoop at half distance
Audi leads Bathurst 12 Hour despite disasters
Audi wins second consecutive Bathurst 12 Hour
