WELCOME Bathurst has delivered some pretty remarkable races over the last few years... The 2015 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour is shaping up as another. G’Day. If you’re not from around these parts, welcome to Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia and 6,213 meters of the world’s best bitumen. More to the point, welcome to Australia’s International endurance race – the 2015 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour. Now firmly established in its early February date, the Bathurst 12 Hour has rapidly grown to not only be the traditional Australian motorsport season-opener but also a significant race on the international GT calendar in its own right. 2015 marks the 13th time that a 12-hour endurance race has been held on the Mountain, split into two separate eras. The race was initially founded in 1991 and ran through to 1994 (with a one-off race at Eastern Creek held in 1995) before ceasing. It returned in 2007 and was held for Production Cars from then until 2011 – when the event returned Bathurst to the world stage thanks to the introduction of GT3 vehicles for the first time. The rest, as they say, is history and the race this year has attracted a capacity 55-car entry with more than 40 cars representing the three GT classes – GT3, GT3 Cup or GT4. 2014 was arguably the best race yet. Not only was it the highest quality grid seen, it featured a remarkable race that broke every record in the 12-hour books and went right down to the final few minutes. In an absolute blinder, Craig Lowndes delivered Maranello Motorsport an emotional victory less than a year after that teams’ favourite son, Allan Simonsen, was killed in a crash at LeMans. With Lowndes, Mika Salo, John Bowe and Peter Edwards did enough over the day to hold out German squad HTP Motorsport by less than 0.5 seconds at the finish line. Lowndes and German star Maximilian Buhk spent much of the final hour duelling for victory in a remarkable conclusion to the race.
The event saw growth elsewhere, too. More than 26,000 fans attended across the three days that are now becoming something of an Event. There were car displays, full campsites behind the pits and people cooking BBQs beside the circuit at Skyline, enjoying a typically warm Bathurst summer. 2015 will see that all go up an extra level. More campsites have been opened to cater for demand. A massive Super Show ‘n shine will be held in Harris Park for the first time – opening the event up to a larger and more diverse audience without taking away from the core values of being affordable, family friendly and accessible. And then there’s the on-track product: 55 cars and more than 15 different brands – plus an outright field unparalleled in depth across 12-hour history. There are 29 GT3 cars entered from nine different brands. Some of the words best drivers from across the globe – including the likes of David Brabham, Patrick Long, Andrea Montermini and Stephane Ortelli, to name a few – will be in action. It will be a thriller, for sure. Nissan, Bentley and Audi are here in works capacities while Ferrari, Mercedes Benz, McLaren and Aston Martin all have significant influence with their respective cars. To cap it all off, for the first time the entire race will be broadcast exclusively live in Australia on the Seven network – the pioneers of Australia’s motorsport coverage since the early days on the Mountain in the 1960s. It’s the kind of exposure that will take the race to an entirely new level domestically – while international fans will continue to enjoy a free, complete live stream of all the action as well. It’s true – you could be elsewhere this weekend. But elsewhere would struggle to offer the incredible mix of cars, drivers, location, atmosphere and excitement that the 2015 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour offers. Enjoy the ride. Richard Craill Media Manager
B12hr THRILLER. The 2014 Bathurst 12 Hour was the best yet - a thrill a minute ride that went right down to the final lap between Ferrari and Mercedes.
2014 RECAP
THE most incredible of Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour races was emotionally won by Craig Lowndes, Peter Edwards, John Bowe and Mika Salo, driving a Ferrari 458 GT3. The Ferrari-driving quartet won the race by just 0.4 seconds in a thrilling finish between Lowndes and HTP Motorsport Mercedes Benz driver Maximilian Buhk in front of a big crowd and a massive live TV and online audience watching the drama unfold. A late-safety car with less than 20 minutes remaining saw Lowndes resist attack after attack from the young German in the flying Mercedes in a thrilling race to the flag that saw the pair side-by-side at turn two with less than five minutes remaining. The thrilling battle saw the pair locked together during the 15-minute sprint to the flag in a dramatic endurance race finish for the ages and one that eerily mirrored the dramatic Bathurst 1000 climax last October. In the end, Bathurst legend Lowndes added a 12-hour trophy to his five Bathurst 1000 wins today whilst team -mates Mika Salo, and Peter Edwards won their first.
The HTP Motorsport Mercedes trio of Buhk, 2013 winner Thomas Jaeger and Harold Primat scored second in an eventful day that saw them start eleventh then charge to the front early before dropping two laps off the pace after a brake issue saw them forced to the garage for repairs. However, the team fought back bravely and found themselves in contention for the thrilling finish that eventuated. The Erebus Motorsport ‘Aussie’ squad of Will Davison, Jack LeBrocq and Greg Crick finished third and were yet another team to fight back from laps down to score an unlikely podium. Damage sustained in contact with a backmarker saw the Erebus SLS suffer hefty damage to the front – that made it slow across the top but speedy down the straights – the team using their advantages to the maximum in a close fight for third to the line with the VIP Petfoods McLaren. Arguably the fastest car of the day, the flying MP4 12-C GT3 was in contention for much of the race and it was only a last-minute splash-and-dash for fuel that saw the team drop off the podium.
John Bowe scored his third 12-hour triumph in a day that saw the Melbourne-based Maranello squad win a race that their former driver Allan Simonsen had made his own – the team dedicating their victory to the Dane, who passed tragically at LeMans last year.
A stunning charge back into contention from the flying Kiwi saw Davison and van Gisbergen battle for third for the closing laps; Davison ultimately holding off any advance and finishing on the podium.
The 0.4 seconds final margin was the closest finish in Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour history.
Van Gisbergen does leave the Mountain as the new outright lap record holder, however – his 2m03.8506s
standing as the fastest ever race lap at Bathurst. A full 10 cars set laps under the existing lap record, held by Allan Simonsen. Five cars finished on the lead lap; the Phoenix Racing Audi R8 LMS scoring fifth after a solid if unspectacular day. It is the first time in the ‘GT era’ of the race that five cars have finished on the lead lap. 28 of the 42 starters finished a bruising race that was run at a record pace. A record 296 laps were completed by the winning car – more than 1835km of Mount Panorama – despite 9 Safety Car interventions for a total of 31 laps. Stephen Grove, Earl Bamber and Ben Barker won Class B (GT3) after a race-within-a-race battle that was almost as unpredictable as the outright affair. Class contenders, Rotek Racing, led early in their Audi R8 LMS before they broke an engine at the four hour mark, throwing the class results up in the air. The No. 45 Team BRM / Rentcorp Porsche and the Ice Break / Competition Motorsports Porsche each had a share of the class lead but the Grove Group car ultimately prevailed at the end, winning their class by two laps. The Donut King Lotus driven by Tony Alford, Peter Leemhuis and Mike O’Connor were the only finisher in Class C – and as such the only winner. The attritionfilled class saw the Ginetta G50 lead early before
succumbing to mechanical failure while the Motionsport Lotus was another early retirement. The Billington / Scott / Owers Seat took out Class D, while Grant Denyer’s return to Motorsport resulted in class I victory in the MARC Focus he shared with Adam Gowans, Gary Jacobsen and Andrew Miedecke. The Fiat Abarth 500s had a successful day, conquering the Mountain on their Australian racing debut. The leading car – headed by Luke Youlden – finished a strong 18th outright and completed 243 laps. The race was one of attrition; several high profile cars ruled out in significant crashes. The Clearwater Racing Ferrari 458 was eliminated early in a top-of-the-mountain crash that also claimed the strong Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3, whilst the M Motorsport Lamborghini – that led early in the hands of Bathurst 1000 champion Steven Richards – crashed at a similar location when driver Ross Lilley ran wide avoiding the race leaders. The horrific luck experienced at Bathurst by the JBS Lamborghini team continued, the team failing to finish for a third consecutive year after Danish ace Peter Kox collided with a Kangaroo after just five laps.
2015 KEY DETAILS
FACT FILE
Class D – Invitational (Prodiction)
EVENT: 2015 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour
For ‘traditional’ production-based vehicles derived from an original road-going model. Includes a selection of BMW models (M3, 135i) plus more specialised endurance-specification vehicles derived from production vehicles like the BMW M3 GTR.
DATE: February 6-8, 2015 ENTRANTS: Bathurst 12 Hour: 55 Improved Production: 57 Formula Ford: 49 Radical Australia Cup: 23
Class I – Invitational (non Production) For cars designed primarily for endurance racing and custom made as such – include’s the MARC Cars Australia entries.
CLASS STRUCTURE: MEDIA: Class A - GT3 ProAm / GT3 AM Split into two sections, the outright GT3 Class is for GT3 vehicles up to and including all 2014 models. GT3 ProAm is for entries with two ‘seeded’ drivers whilst entrants with one or no seeded drivers will compete for the Gentleman’s trophy – GT3 Am. Class B - GT3 Cup Cars The ‘Porsche class’ – for Porsche’s 996, 997 GT3 models or Porsche Cup S models.
There were approximately 130 media accredited for the 2014 event, encompassing Journalists, Photographers, social media and Public Relations experts, Videographers and more. WHERE TO WATCH The entire race will be broadcast live around Australia for the first time, on the Seven Network. 05:30am – 14:00pm on 7mate 14:00pm – 18:00pm on Seven
Class C - GT4 The baby GT category run to the global GT4 vehicles. Less modified and more production based than their GT3 counterparts.
Post-produced Event highlights will be shown on the 7 network and via international outlets following the event (check website for a broadcast schedule).
Radio Coverage
VOLUNTEERS:
The Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour Race will be broadcast live on 87.8 MHz around the circuit precinct.
More than 300 people from all over Australia volunteer their services to deliver the Event in roles such as track marshals, supply marshals, recovery marshals, fire marshals, gate officials, grandstand officials, media assistants, information booth attendants and much more. Volunteer training sessions occur in the week preceding the Event.
The race will also be broadcast in the Central West NSW region by 1503 2BS Gold AM. Live Streaming The Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour will continue to innovate as one of Australia’s leading motorsport events covered primarily on the internet. Live streaming will be available via the www.bathurst12hour.com.au website, plus the official event Facebook page and twitter account.
MEDIA CENTRE OPENING HOURS: Thursday: Friday: Saturday: Sunday:
1000 to 1700 0700 to 1900 0630 to 1900 0530 to 2000
ECONOMIC BENEFITS: Due to TV broadcast rights, there will be separate international and domestic streaming products. ATTENDANCE: Event attendance has grown in recent years with the following three-day totals recorded. 2014 2013 2012 2011
– 26,131 – 22,453 – 19,728 – 18,576
TICKETING: Tickets are available from online booking retailer, www.trybooking.com – or via the Bathurst 12 hour website.
The LIQUI-MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour is estimated to turnover approximately $10 million in the Bathurst economy when flow-on effects are taken into account. The Event is estimated to generate approximately $4 million in Gross Regional Product (GRP), $2 million in household income and 47 full time equivalent jobs when flow-on effects are taken into account. This represents approximately 0.3% of Bathurst’s GRP and approximately 0.4% of the City’s full time equivalent employment. The Event contributes more than 3% of the total value added and full time employment in the hospitality sector of Bathurst’s economy when flow-on effects are taken into account.
FACTS & STATS
The 2015 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour will mark the 13th running of a 12-hour race at Mount Panorama. The race was first held in 1991-1994 and returned to Bathurst in 2007.
The 2015 entry of 54 cars should see it set a record for the largest field since the race’s return in 2007 under the current management. Since its return in 2007, the race has averaged 37.1 starters and 25.7 finishers.
Despite the tough nature of the race, it has an excellent finishing rate. On average, 69% of all starters have finished the race each time it has been run since 2007. 25 of the 32 starters – or just over 75% of the grid – finished the 2007 race to give it the best finishing record of all.
The lap and distance records were set last year – the winning car completing 292 laps, or 1,839km.
The smallest distance covered was just 202 laps – 1255km – in 2010, thanks in part to a lengthy red-flag period that saw cars stopped at the top of the circuit after a tree fell across the track exiting Forrest Elbow. Trees on tracks have a tendency to limit racing opportunities.
The fastest race was the 2014 thriller – run at an average of 153km/hr. The slowest was 2010 at a relatively pedestrian 104km/hr average.
Since 2007 the race has been decided by a margin of one lap or more only twice – incidentally, both times in wet conditions. In 2010 the Holt / Bowe / Morris BMW beat the Mitsubishi’s by a full six-kilometres, while the same result occurred in 2013 when Erebus Motorsport gave Mercedes their first Bathurst victory.
When the race has seen a fight to the flag, the average margin of victory is a remarkably small 30.28s – absolutely nothing after 12 hours of brutal racing. The smallest margin of victory was set in 2014 when Craig Lowndes edged out Maxi Buhk’s Mercedes by 0.4138s in the remarkable fight to the flag.
Safety Cars naturally play a role in the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 hour. On average, there has been eight safety car periods each race – circulating for an average of 27 laps.
The bruising 2013 race saw set most of the Safety Car records we have: a record 15 interruptions for a total of 43 laps behind the Safety Car. Tough race!
The most time spent behind the Safety Car, however, were recorded in that 2010 race. 42 of the 202 laps completed were logged under caution – just over 20% of the entire distance completed!
2014 set the record for the most number of cars on the lead lap at the end – 5.
2014 also set the record for the most number of different race leaders – 8 cars had a turn at the front across the record 292 lap distance.
On average, there are nearly 20 changes of lead (at the line) in each Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour. The most (28) was set in 2011 and the least just 11 in 2010. The 2014 epic produced 21 changes of lead at the start line, and plenty more away from it!
The most dominant Bathurst 12 hour victory arguably came in 2012, when Christoper Mies, Christer Jons and Darryl O’Young took Audi to back-to-back victories. The No. 1 Audi R8 LMS Ultra set records for the following that year: Most consecutive laps led (121) plus most laps led overall and most laps led by the leader, 168.
The 2014 race had records of its own. The No. 1 Erebus Motorsport SLS AMG led more than half of the race, heading the field for 167 of the first 193 laps, including a massive 82 lap stint in a row. They led none of the final 103. Meanwhile, the winning Maranello Ferrari led just 64 laps and didn’t even get to the lead until lap 197 – 66% of the way into the ultimate race distance. It was the least laps in front by the car that would ultimately win in the GT era. (The record was just 62 laps led by the 2010 winners – though a higher percentage of the overall race was spent in front due to the fewer laps completed).
7 different brand have won the race: Toyota, Mazda, Mitsubishi, BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Ferrari.
With his win in 2014, John Bowe became the ninth driver to have won two Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour races, joining Garry Walden, Garry Holt, Paul Morris, Rod Salmon, Damien White, Darryl O’Young and Christoper Mies on the list.
27 drivers have won the Bathurst 12 hour race since its formation in 1991.
TRACK FACTS The Mount Panorama track is a public road for the majority of the year and as such regular road rules apply (incl.2 way traffic, 60km/hr speed limit). It is 174 metres from the bottom of the circuit (Pit Straight) to the top of Skyline, "as the cro flies". Race direction (during major events) is anti-clockwise. Mount Panorama is unique in its rural setting. There are over 40 private residences located around the circuit (inside and outside). Private businesses also exist on the Mount - including: luxury accommodation, a winery, restaurant and fruit orchard. Several local sporting associations also use the Mount as a base for their activities, including the Sporting Shooters Association, Bathurst Rifle Club, Bathurst Gun Club, Panorama Motorcycle Club, and, of course, the Bathurst Light Car Club. The National Motor Racing Museum sits on Murray's Corner, showcasing an impressive array of motorcycle and car racing memorabilia from all over the country. The facility hosts three ‘full closure’ events each year – the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 hour, Easter’s Bathurst Motor Festival (also promoted by Yeehah Events) and the annual Bathurst 1000 enduro. Circuit Length: 6.213km Length of Conrod Straight = 1.916km Length of Mountain Straight = 1.111km Highest Point: 862m above sea level Grades of up to 1 in 6.13 12 Hour Race Winners 2014 Craig Lowndes / Mika Salo / John Bowe / Peter Edwards (Ferrari 458 GT3) 2013 Bernd Schneider / Thomas Jaeger / Alex Rollof (Mercedes Benz SLS AMG GT3) 2012 Darryl O’Young/Christopher Mies/Christer Jons (Audi R8 LMS) 2011 Darryl O’Young/Christopher Mies/Marc Basseng (Audi R8 LMS) 2010 Garry Holt/Paul Morris/John Bowe (BMW 335i) 2009 Rod Salmon/Damien White/Tony Longhurst (Mitsubishi Evo X) 2008 Rod Salmon/Damien White/Graham Alexander (Mitsubishi Evo X) 2007 Garry Holt/Craig Baird/Paul Morris (BMW 335i) 1994 Gregg Hansford/Neil Crompton (Mazda RX-7) 1993 Alan Jones/Garry Waldon (Mazda RX-7) 1992 Charlie O’Brien/Mark Gibbs/Garry Waldon (Mazda RX-7), 1991 Allan Grice, Peter Fitzgerald and Nigel Arkell (Toyota Supra) Race lap Record: 2:03.8506 set on 9 February 2013 by Shane van Gisbergen in a McLaren MP412C GT3. Production Car Race lap Record: 2:27.11 set on 13 November 1997 by Terry Bosnjak in a Mazda RX-7-SP Facts courtesy of www.mountpanorama.com
THE RESULTS 2014
Winners laps completed: 296 (approx 1839km) Polesitter: Erebus Motorsport Mercedes Benz SLS AMG (Maro Engel) Fastest Lap: 2m03.8506 by Shane van Gisbergen Entries: 40 2013 Winners laps completed: 268 (approx 1665km) Polesitter: Erebus Motorsport Mercedes Benz SLS AMG (Tim Slade / Lee Holdsworth / Peter Hackett) Fastest Lap: 2m06.20s by Lee Holdsworth. Entries: 49 2012 Winners laps completed: 270 (approx. 1,677 km) Pole Sitter: Mies/O’Young/Jons Audi R8 LMS Fastest Lap: 2:06.33 by Alan Simonsen on lap 44 (Record) Entries: 27 2011 Winners laps completed: 292 (approx. 1,814 km) Pole Sitter: Lowndes / Luff / Eddy Audi R8LMS Fastest Lap of Race: Craig Lowndes (Lap 267) 2:09.0861 (Record) Entries: 26
2010 Winners laps completed: 202 (approx. 1,255 km) Pole Sitter: Steve Owen - #96 Superbarn Supermarkets, Mitsubishi Evo X RS – 2:26.85 Fastest Lap of Race: #62 Globe (Peter Hill/Eric Bana/Tim Leahey) 2:31.31 on lap 27 Entries: 42 2009 Winners Laps completed: 239 (1484.9km) Pole Sitter: Steve Owen - #96 Subabarn Supermarkets Mitsubishi Evo IX RS – 2:28.88 Fastest Lap: #55 West Surfing Products Evo X RS (Crymp / Kostera / Ricciardello) – 2:29.98 Entries: 48 2008 Winners Laps completed: 253 (1571.8km) Pole Sitter: David Wall - #43 Mitsubishi Evo IX RS – 2:30.31 Fastest Lap: #43 Alan East Motorsport Mitsubishi (Wall/Wall/Notaras/Symonds) – 2:30.70 Entries: 35 2007 12 Hour Race Statistics Winners Laps completed: 257 (1596.7km) Pole Sitter: Paul Morris - #20 Eastern Creek Karts BMW 335i Turbo – 2:32.13 Fastest Lap: #20 Eastern Creek Karts BMW 335i Turbo (Holt / Morris / Baird) – 2:32.59 Entries: 32
2015 LIQUI-MOLY BATHURST 12 HOUR Richard Craill - Media Manager richard@race-torque.com or 0408 813 141
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