V8 Supercars star Tim Slade and British racer Ben Barker are among a growing list of drivers hoping to secure a Bathurst 12 Hour drive.
With a capacity 55-car entry confirmed for the endurance classic at Mount Panorama from February 7-9, a host of local and international drivers are making themselves available for the event.
Slade and former Australian F3 champion Barker have expressed an interest in joining the grid.
In the 2013 event Slade partnered Lee Holdsworth and Peter Hackett in the second Erebus Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 which finished sixth behind the victorious sister car shared by the all German crew of Bernd Schneider, Thomas Jaeger and Alexander Roloff.
Scottish sportscar ace Ryan Dalziel, who is preparing for the upcoming Daytona 24 Hours, is keen to compete along with Italian World Endurance Championship campaigner Andrea Belicchi.
Kiwi GT driver Jono Lester, former V8 Supercars full-timer Karl Reindler and Irish American Le Mans Series ace Damien Faulkner have also put the B12H on their wish list.
“It is a great event and quickly becoming a ‘must win’ on the calendar, which is why I want to be back there,” Slade said.
“I obviously I get plenty of laps there in the V8 Supercar each October and my experience there in 2013 driving the GT car was sensational – I’d like to think I would have something to offer a team.
“Any chance you get to race at Bathurst is something you have to grab, but to go there with a chance to win is even better.
“I’d love to be in the race and have another crack at winning it. It’s a great race.”
Barker is a familiar face in Australia after securing the 2010 Australian F3 title alongside several appearances in the Porsche Carrera Cup.
The 22-year-old has been plying his trade in the Porsche Supercup in 2013 and has admitted a drive at the B12H is high on his 2014 wish list.
“Our races at Bathurst were only short but it gave a real taste of how good that place is in a GT-style car,” Barker said.
“I’ve spent most of my last year in Europe racing in the Supercup and a lot of people are starting to talk about the Bathurst 12 Hour.
“Guys like Jeroen Bleekemolen talk about racing at Bathurst and that shows the kind of profile that the race is gaining internationally.
“And the fact more and more internationals are coming down for it each year is proof of that.
“I’ve had experience there in the Porsche and in a V8 Supercar but to have the ability to do it for 12 Hours would be incredible.”
Teams are expected to finalise their drivers for the endurance event by the end of the month.
