NEW CONTENDER FOR BATHURST 6 HOUR

New Contender for the Bathurst 6 Hour

JUST AS organisers announced that entries for the 2019 Bathurst 6 Hour were open, one of the cars that is sure to be one of the races strongest contenders is currently completing its initial build phase.

By HEATH MCALPINE

Krincorp Racing is set to spice up the European frontrunners with a new HSV GTS being built for the race, with team owner and driver Joe Krinelos confident that the car will provide the perfect attack on the race that has been dominated by the BMW marque.

“Last year we ran an SS and we were a threat until we had to change the brakes,” Krinelos told Auto Action. “We were running fourth at the time and ended up finishing 10th.”

Krinelos will be joined by fellow GTS driver Tony Virag after the latter paired up with John Bowe during the combined National and State Production Car round at Sandown with Virag and Bowe finishing second outright in one of the races. Negotiations for a third driver are well underway as October 14 has been earmarked as the car’s debut.

“It has just had the cage finished at Racebred Engineering and is heading to D-Sportz to be painted up,” said Krinelos.

“The car will be similar to Tony’s [Virag] car, though it will have the long distance fuel system and we will use the data already available to us through Tony’s development.”

Krinelos sees this as the final opportunity to race a V8-powered, production-based HSV or Holden at Mt Panorama and is determined to take on the European marques.

Entries are open for the Easter race, event director James O’Brien announced that the event will adhere to Group 3E Regulations, but sticking to Production Touring regulations meaning the Lotus Exige and Porsche Cayman will be ineligible to compete.

We have been careful in the evolution of the regulations to ensure that those competitors who have already invested in vehicles for the Event are not disadvantaged,” Event Director James O’Brien said.

“While we are aware of changes to other Production Car series, the Bathurst 6 Hour will continue to be for what can be described as a traditional ‘Production Cars’ and not those which also compete in various ‘Sports Car’ categories.

“Minor changes to areas like the Balance of Performance options aim to maintain the level of competition and hopefully foster a compelling race.”

For more of the latest national motorsport news, pick up the latest issue of Auto Action, on sale now. Also make sure you follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or our weekly email newsletter for all the latest updates between issues.