BMW’s factory Team WRT squad has given the German brand its long-awaited maiden Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour victory as the locals shone in an arduous edition of Australia’s international endurance race.
Brothers Sheldon and Kelvin van der Linde combined with Brazilian ace Augusto Farfus to lead a Team WRT BMW 1-2 from Valentino Rossi, Charles Weerts and Raffaele Marciello.
Check out below how the GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS teams fared in the once around the clock enduro.
Fourth in Pro Cup and outright
Chaz Mostert/ Will Brown/Daniel Serra
#26 Arise Racing GT
Ferrari 296 GT3
Arise Racing GT’s Pro Cup entry was in contention for most of the day, but drama began early when Will Brown tangled with the Craft Bamboo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo. Brown, Chaz Mostert and Ferrari factory ace Daniel Serra recovered to be positioned in the leading pack by mid-race. A stall from Brown three quarters into the race dropped the team position as it scored fourth to conclude Arise Racing GT’s maiden 12 Hour campaign.
Winner in Pro-Am Cup and eighth outright
Jaxon Evans/Elliott Schutte/Brad Schumacher/Alessio Rovera
#36 Arise Racing GT
Ferrari 296 GT3
The reigning GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS winning team did score success in Pro-Am courtesy of Jaxon Evans, Elliott Schutte, Brad Schumacher and Alessio Rovera in its second Arise Racing GT Ferrari 296 GT3. Penalties hampered the team, but a solid recovery drive delivered the team the win in Pro-Am and eighth outright.
Winner in Silver Cup and ninth outright
Tony D’Alberto/Brendon Leitch/Grant Denyer/Adrian Deitz
#93 Wall Racing
Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo2
Although not the quickest entry in Silver Cup across the event, experience came to the fore by the end race for the Wall Racing Lamborghini. Repeating Wall Racing’s victory from last year, Tony D’Alberto, Grant Denyer and Adrian Deitz were joined by renowned Lamborghini gun Brendon Leitch to again take the prize.
Second in Bronze Cup and 11th outright
Lee Holdsworth/Dean Fiore/Marc Cini
#9 Hallmarc Team MPC
Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II
The leading Audi to finish the event. It was a tough event for Lee Holdsworth, Dean Fiore and Marc Cini as penalties dropped the trio out of Pro-Am Cup contention, but perseverance in the end delivered the long-standing line-up a class podium.
Second in Silver Cup and 12th outright
Luke Youlden/David Russell/Theo Koundouris/James Koundouris
#47 Supabarn Supermarkets/Tigani Motorsport
Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo
The pole winning entry in Silver Cup was unable to hold back the Wall Racing Lamborghini, but still walked away with second in class. Luke Youlden has mentored James and Theo Koundouris for the past couple of seasons, with another experienced hand in David Russell scoring another Bathurst podium.
Third in Pro-Am and 17th outright
Scott Andrews/Marcel Zalloua/Sergio Pires
#44 Geyer Valmont Racing
Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II
An early casualty through no fault of its own, the Geyer Valmont Racing Audi fought hard all day following an early collision with a GT4 entry at the top of the Mountain. The team never gave up and took the final step on the Pro-Am podium as reward. GT World Challenge Australia Am Cup contenders Marcel Zalloua and Sergio Pires were joined by sports car ace Scott Andrews, who gave the team a highlight by making the Top 10 Shootout.
DNF
Ricardo Feller/Broc Feeney/Liam Talbot
Jamec Racing Team MPC
Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II
It was an unfortunate end to Audi’s sole Pro Cup entry as it was right in contention before a mechanical failure ended Jamec Racing’s day in The Chase gravel trap. Reigning GT World Challenge Australia Drivers’ Champion Liam Talbot had just completed a superb stint leaving it to Ricardo Feller and Broc Feeney to bring it home.
DNF
Fabian Schiller/Brenton Grove/Stephen Grove
#4 Grove Racing
Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo
An unfortunate collision resulted in the Grove Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo being spun into the fence entering The Esses. Stephen Grove was transported to Orange Hospital for further tests leaving son Brenton and Mercedes-AMG factory pilot Fabian Schiller without a drive for the day.
DNF
Cam Waters/Craig Lowndes/Thomas Randle
#222 Scott Taylor Motorsport
Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo
An uncharacteristic mistake by Craig Lowndes led to the demise of the Scott Taylor Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo after sunrise. Nudging the wall at The Dipper, Lowndes tried to limp the entry back to pit lane, but fell short. A stunning opening stint by Thomas Randle elevated the team into the podium places early.