AUSTRALIAN GT AT 2011 ARMOR ALL BATHURST 12 HOUR
The 2011 Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour will be open to vehicles eligible to compete under the Australian GT Championship rules.
The expansion of the Event was jointly announced today by the Directors of Australian GT and Bathurst 12 Hour Promoter James O'Brien.
'The momentum for this exciting initiative has come from our drivers and entrants and it is a natural progression for the expansion of the GT category and brand to compete in the 12 hour at the iconic Bathurst circuit. A race of this nature is what GT cars are all about', GT Directors Martin Wagg, Rachael Wagg and Terry Little said.
'The GT Championship has grown tremendously in recent years and these vehicles will now join production cars in the 12 Hour Race enabling the Event to grow further including the attraction of an international audience', James O'Brien said.
O'Brien added that when the 12 Hour was reintroduced in 2007, it was always the intention to incorporate GT vehicles however the timing had to be right. The introduction of GT vehicles will assist in attracting more competitors, more spectators and a larger viewing audience via television and the internet.
'The Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour has the capacity for a 72 car grid, and with 42 cars entered for the 2010 Event we are targeting a 50 plus entry for 2011', he said.
All divisions within Australian GT, namely GT Championship (GT3), GT Challenge, and GT Production will be eligible for the Event.
Australian GT participation in the Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour will be as a stand alone event and will not be part of the 2011 Vodka O GT Championship that is likely to commence again at the Clipsal 500 Adelaide.
The inclusion of GT cars in the Event has been endorsed by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS).
Graham Fountain Chief Executive Officer CAMS said today: ''The GT Category has proven to be spectacular and its inclusion will significantly enhance the standing of the Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour'.
The likelihood of international drivers and teams participating in the Race is high with Irish international driver Hector Lester greeting the news enthusiastically.
Speaking at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne today where he is competing in the Cleanevent Vodka O Round 2 of the Australian GT Championship Lester who finished second in the 2010 British GT Championship said: "If the Event is promoted well to overseas drivers well in advance they will be interested. There is absolutely no downside to the announcement and the timing of such an Event means it is possible for internationals to consider it',
Tony Quinn, a veteran of two Bathurst 24 hours races and three Bathurst 12 hour events in addition to competing at Nurburgring is thrilled with the announcement.
'In global terms Bathurst is an iconic circuit. There will be no problem running GT cars with production cars at a circuit like Bathurst and I will be there with the Mosler and will most likely also enter another car', Quinn added.
The fifth running of the Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour will be held in February next year.
This year's race was won by Garry Holt, John Bowe and Paul Morris (BMW 335i) covering 1254 kilometres through rain, fog and even the obstacle of a fallen tree in the most grueling Race to date.
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