Reigning Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour winners Maranello Motorsport have expressed a desire to defend its Mount Panorama title as entries for next year’s race open today.
The Ferrari squad was quick to confirm its interest in the once around the clock endurance event as organisers officially opened itself to entries for the 2018 edition from February 2-4.
The event is fast becoming one of the most prestigious on the global GT3 calendar attracting teams from across the globe, with this year’s event featuring 55 cars.
Maranello Motorsport scored its second Bathurst 12 Hour triumph following a commanding run from its car crewed by Triple Eight Supercars drivers Craig Lowndes, Jamie Whincup and Ferrari GT ace Toni Vilander.
The victory followed a final-hour battle with the Mercedes-AMG GT3 driven by Shane van Gisbergen, Maro Engel and Craig Baird.
After adding to its 2014 victory this year, Maranello Motorsport is already working on plans for next year’s race.
Following a successful launch this year, the event will retain the revised outright GT3 class structure of Pro Pro/Am and Am categories.
All professional line ups were debuted for the first time in February.
“We have supported the Bathurst 12 Hour every year since it became a GT race and we’re already working on our plans to come back next year,” said team owner Mark Coffey.
“Things didn’t go to plan when we tried to defend our 2014 win so we want to come back next year and see if we can go back-to-back, which has only been achieved once before in the GT era.
“The Bathurst 12 hour has become a ‘must win’ race on the GT schedule and we’re proud to represent Ferrari every year. It is our intention to do so again in 2018.”
Last year’s GT3 amateur class winner Liam Talbot is also among a group of competitors already eyeing a Bathurst 12 Hour return.
The current Australian GT Championship leader was part of a Walkinshaw Racing Porsche entry of John Martin and Duvashen Padayachee which won the class by finishing fourth outright.
“Looking back at this year’s Bathurst 12 Hour, we had a perfect race. Our team made perfect pitstops and strategy and we showed what was possible with a win (in Am),” said Talbot.
“I’m hopeful of a return next year and challenging more for an outright podium – after coming so close with fourth and the Am class win.”
The GT4 class could be set for an expansion as the category continues to enjoy growth with a raft of manufacturers constructing new cars for the class.
However, it is not yet clear which of these cars will be homologated in time to feature at Mount Panorama next year.
BMW Team SRM is keen to enter an M4 GT4 entry alongside its GT3 commitments after running two M6 GT3s this year.
“It’s certainly our intention to enter the BMW M6 GT3 and, under the right circumstances, the brand-new BMW M4 GT4 in the 2018 race,” BMW Team SRM team owner Steven Richards said.
“The BMW M4 GT4 made its racing debut at the Dubai 24 Hour race earlier this year and there are plans for a full customer racing program in 2018.
“With the growth of GT4 around the world we’re working with BMW to make sure the car is in Australia, and racing it at Bathurst would be the ideal place to showcase the car, so that’s what we are working towards.”
Meanwhile, tickets for next year’s race have also gone on sale while camping sales are set to begin on July 26.
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