Bathurst-based racer Brad Schumacher has combined elements from Audi’s early Bathurst success and his company Kelso Electrical to form a spectacular livery for his 2025 GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS assault.
A loyalist to the Audi brand on-track, Schumacher has paid tribute to the brand’s early success at the Bathurst 12 Hour when it won the first two editions to include GT3 machinery in 2011 and 2012 in an effort spearheaded by multiple 24 Hours of Le Mans winning squad Team Joest.
Long-time GT fans will recognise the kangaroo on Schumacher’s fresh livery replicates the one featured on the Team Joest Audi R8 LMS GT3 to win the 2012 Bathurst 12 Hour shared by Christer Jöns, Christopher Mies and Darryl O’Young.
Audi Sport features are spread throughout the livery alongside sponsors Kelso Electrical, Game Over Family Fun Centres and Airworx HVAC on Schumacher's R8 LMS GT3 Evo II. Green and gold add to the patriotic theme, which is in response to the added New Zealand presence on this year's grid, plus the final round being held at Hampton Downs.
Although Triple Eight Race Engineering will be absent from the grid this year, Schumacher will run #888 instead as a tribute to his two co-drivers Will Brown and Broc Feeney, who will split the duties this season.
Feeney will co-driver alongside Schumacher at the opening round for GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS at Phillip Island on April 4-6 as part of the Shannons SpeedSeries.
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Brad Schumacher
#888 Kelso Electrical Team MPC Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II
“Last year we celebrated 10 years of Kelso Electrical’s incorporation,” said Schumacher.
“Kelso Electrical’s corporate identity branding is white, green and black, so for the 10 year anniversary we included gold into our advertising, which is where the colours for the livery came from.
“I’ve always liked the 2012 Bathurst 12 Hour winning Audi Sport entry featuring the kangaroo on the side and I wanted to rejuvenate the livery, with a modern spin. This is where the kangaroo comes from and with the tie-in between the Kelso Electrical 10th anniversary gold, it made for the best Aussie livery.
“With the increased New Zealand presence in GT World Challenge Australia this season and the final round being across the ditch, we thought it was fitting to run an Australian livery circulating at Hampton Downs later in the year.
“We were also given exclusive permission from Triple Eight to run the iconic #888 in-conjunction with Will and Broc’s involvement with the team.”