Tekno Autosports dealt double Bathurst blow

The #59 Tekno Autosports McLaren has been withdrawn from the Bathurst 12 Hour following a failed mission to fly a replacement rear chassis to the circuit from Queensland.

The Gold Coast squad undertook an elaborate attempt to source the part after Ben Barnicoat suffered a heavy impact with the wall on the exit of The Chase during qualifying.

Tekno managed to have the part transported to a Queensland airport for the attempted rescue mission.

However the part was unable to fit in the aeroplane’s hold which ultimately forced the team to withdraw the car that is also shared by Will Davison and Jonny Kane.

“We stripped the car to potentially repair it but we were not able to get the part,” McLaren GT managing director Andrew Kirkaldy told Speedcafe.com.

“Unfortunately, we had the bits but luck really wasn’t on our side.

“The car was extremely strong and it has been strong all week.

“We concentrated on the race right up until the crash and it wasn’t looking too bad.”

Meanwhile the team has been dealt a second blow with the sister #1 entry now set to start from the pit lane after undergoing an engine change.

The power unit from the #59 will be fitted to the car which Alvaro Parente had qualified sixth in the Top 10 Shootout.

Meanwhile the Walkenhorst BMW has also been withdrawn from the race after the German squad were unable to repair the damage to the right hand side of the M6 GT3.

The car made contact with the wall at The Dipper in qualifying when Ricky Collard was pitched into a spin by the Hallmarc Audi driven by Lee Holdsworth.

Provisional Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour Grid