BATHURST 12 HOUR CLASS STRUCTURE CONFIRMED

The class structure for this year’s Bathurst 12 Hour has been announced and will see the event run as a Pro-Am affair, as well as confirming the date for the 2023 edition.

The decision to make the top class Pro-Am, requiring at least one FIA bronze ranking driver required in each car was made due to quarantine requirements from Asia and New Zealand and the continued global freight challenges.

These make it difficult for international teams and drivers to fully commit to the event.

International teams and drivers will continue to be welcomed to this year’s event however is expected to be more of a local affair in 2022.

Organisers have confirmed that next year’s event will revert back to its traditional spot as the first weekend in February, from 3-5.

“The Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour has traditionally been the launching point for the Australian

motorsport season and brings the eyes of the world to Mount Panorama each February,” said Supercars CEO Shane Howard.

“We have worked closely with our partners at the Bathurst Regional Council, Destination New South Wales and SRO to secure a return to the traditional February race date next year, giving competitors, supporters and partners long-term confidence moving forward.”

Reigning Supercars Championship winner Shane van Gisbergen, will drive in the Triple Eight Mercedes entry alongside rising his new teammate Broc Feeney, and Bronze driver Prince Jefri Ibrahim were one of the first Pro-Am teams to be announced.

“Barring situations outside of our control I was determined that Bathurst would return to the Intercontinental GT Challenge Powered by Pirelli calendar in 2022, and this new class structure ensures it can do just that without diminishing the championship or event,” said SRO Motorsports Group Founder and CEO Stephane Ratel.

“Factory teams and drivers usually make the headlines but the fact is amateurs and the Pro-Am class are the bedrock of global GT racing. There are also few, if any, races of Bathurst’s international stature where Pro-Am crews are the stars of the show.

“But that won’t be the case in May when some of the world’s best amateurs have a chance to win one of motorsport’s great endurance events. It feels like a genuine throwback to previous 12 Hours and GT racing generally of old.”

Manufacturer support in the event will allow the Bathurst 12 Hour to remain as the opening round of the Intercontinental GT Challenge as well as the opening round of the 2022 GT World Challenge Australia Series.

This year’s event scheduled to take place in May will feature extra practice for amateur drivers and a qualifying format where an aggregate lap time across multiple drivers in each entry will be recorded.

The amateur driver in each car will be required to set a lap time in qualifying to help determine grid positions.

The Top-10 Shootout will remain as in previous years.

2022 LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour Class Structure:

Class A: GT3 Pro-Am

If 3 drivers, 2x are Platinum, Gold or Silver and 1x Bronze

If 4 drivers, 2x are Platinum, Gold or Silver and 2x Bronze

Class A: GT3 Am

Maximum of 1x Silver driver, the remaining drivers are Bronze

Class B GT3 Trophy Pro-Am

Maximum of 1x Silver driver, the remaining drivers are Bronze

Class B – GT3 Trophy AM

All Bronze

Class C: Porsche GT3 Cup Car

Class D: GT4

Class I: Invitational Class Cars

‘GTC’ cars from one-make categories including Ferrari Challenge, Lamborghini Supercup and Audi R8 Cup.

For more of the latest motorsport news pick up the current issue of Auto Action.