Full grid for Improved Production Bathurst Challenge

A full grid of 55 cars will compete at the Improved Production Bathurst Challenge at Mount Panorama over this Easter long weekend.

Running as a support category for the Bathurst 6 Hour, 2024 sees the return of the popular and diverse Improved Production cars for the first time since 2019.

The grid boasts everything from Tasmanian Mary White’s Under 2 litre Mitsubishi Mirage Cyborg to South Australian Adam Poole’s record-setting 6-litre V2 Monaro. There are 11 makes of car represented, and dozens of different models taking on Bathurst.

It will be the first time Revolution Racegear has sponsored a national IP event. Revolution Racegear is well known to racers for its 14 stores around Australia selling safety equipment and other racing gear, including its own RPM Racegear brand of protective clothing.

Pitcher Partners, which also supports Improved Production in NSW, has put up $2000 prize money for the fastest qualifiers in Outright and Under 2 litres.

NSW Over and Under 2L Champions, Steve Engel (EVO) and Kurt Macready (Silvia). Image: Andrew Teixeira from Wombat Industries Photography

Yokohama AO50s will be the control tyre for IP at Bathurst and has put up a set of tyres as a prize.

Yokohama is also the key supporter of the IP Nationals, which will be held at Darwin’s Hidden Valley Raceway in July.

IPRA Aus National Administrator Brett Watters said it was great for the category to be back at Mount Panorama for the first time since 2019 with strong national sponsors.

“Our category is very popular with crowds wherever we race because they get to see cars many people have driven on the road or as their family car growing up. We’re all looking forward to having race fans come and talk to us about the cars we’re racing,” Watters said.

“We’re a grassroots race category but these are serious race cars. We have everything from entry level to big horsepower builds with all the best parts.

“That’s the attraction of Improved Production: you can get as serious as you want or you can race happily on a budget.”

Revolution Racegear Improved Production Bathurst Challenge entry list

Images: Andrew Teixeira from Wombat Industries Photography

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