BMW has confirmed that Mark Winterbottom will join DTM drivers Marco Wittmann and Timo Glock as it finalises crews for a two-car attack on the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour in February.
As previously reported, Winterbottom will crew the #100 BMW Team SRM M6 GT3 entry alongside team leader Steve Richards while reigning DTM champion Wittmann is the prized European signing.
Ex-F1 and current DTM racer Timo Glock is a surprise inclusion in the Tony Longhurst-owned M6, adding to the already announced line-up of Russell Ingall and Mark Skaife.
The star-studded BMW line-up sees Winterbottom take his first plunge behind the wheel of a GT3 machine.
“This is my first Bathurst 12 Hour, which is exciting. GT3 cars are obviously very cool to drive, and having all-professional line-ups in the top cars really makes it feel like a proper race to me,” Winterbottom said.
“It’s changed my whole view on it. To have all these well-credentialed drivers going at it for 12 Hours, that’s going to be very cool to be a part of.”
Winterbottom and Richards have previously joined forces in the Bathurst 1000 with the pair winning the Great Race in 2013.
“(2013) that was the last time we raced there together, so we’re coming off the back of a win, technically,” the 2015 Supercars champion said.
“Steve and I have had a lot of cracks at Bathurst together.”
Wittmann is a product of the Formula BMW category in Europe with the German gaining a DTM test role for the propeller badge in 2012 before being promoted to a race drive in 2013.
“It is very exciting for me to be making my first start at the Bathurst 12 Hour. I have never been to Australia before, so there are a lot of new things awaiting me. And I am really looking forward to them,” Wittmann said.
Glock also cut his teeth in Formula BMW and won the GP2 Championship in 2007 before moving into his first full-time F1 season in 2008 with Toyota.
“It is fantastic to be back racing in Australia after a few years away,” Glock said.
“I love the country and the people. I always travelled to Formula 1 races a week early, in order to do a bit of sightseeing. The Australian GP in Melbourne was my favourite race.
“I have not driven at Bathurst before, but the circuit is legendary. I am really looking forward to the challenge and my first race in the BMW M6 GT3. Hopefully we can get a good result for BMW and the team.”
The #100 Richards M6 suffered damage in the Australian GT Sprint final race last weekend, ruling it out of the Highlands 101 the following day.
The car was air freighted from Queenstown back to its Melbourne base in order to give the team a decent shot at repairing the damage ahead of its scheduled 12 Hour preparation outing at Challenge Bathurst from November 24-27.
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