German Mercedes team set for Bathurst 12 Hour

Erebus Motorsport won’t be the only Mercedes team in next year’s Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour, with leading German outfit HTP Motorsport set to make a maiden appearance in the race.

The team will field a single Mercedes in the February event, which is already confirmed to include international squads such as AF Corse, Nismo, United Autosports and Clearwater Racing.

HTP won the final two rounds of this year’s Blancpain Endurance Series, including the Spa 24 Hours, while its driver Maximilian Buhk claimed the Pro Cup title.

Although no drivers have yet been confirmed for Bathurst, HTP’s line-up for the final two rounds of the BES also included DTM legend Bernd Schneider.

Recently boosted by talk that Mark Webber and Eric Bana are aiming to compete in the 2015 edition of the race, Bathurst organisers say that the addition of HTP is another endorsement of the event’s growing profile.

“HTP are one of the top teams in the Blancipain Endurance Series and though they haven’t confirmed drivers yet all indications are that they will be coming to win,” said race administrator Alex Zylstra.

“Having some of the best GT teams from Europe like HTP enter the race shows how far the event has come in recent years in establishing itself as one of the ‘must win’ GT races in the world.”

In addition to its BES success, HTP won the FIA GT3 Series’ teams’ titles in 2011 and 2012 under its previous owners, the Heico Group.

The Bathurst field is currently seven short of its 55 car capacity with just over a week remaining until entries close.

HTP’s interest has coincided with the withdrawal of fellow German team Haribo and the downsizing of the United Autosports effort.

The Haribo Porsche entry was rescinded following the recent death of the team’s 90-year-old founder, Hans Riegel.

The Riegel family is one of the wealthiest in Germany thanks to its global confectionary empire.

Anglo-American squad United Autosports has meanwhile decided to focus on its Audi R8 having also initially entered a McLaren MP4-12C.

The team had last year entered two McLarens before eventually settling on campaigning a sole Audi.

See below for the updated entry list