Last minute Bathurst 12 Hour withdrawal

The 2025 Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour field has been reduced to 22 cars after 111 Racing withdrew just three days out due to being “let down by a third party.”

The team has been forced to pull out due to an unfortunate situation where the last-minute failure of promised sponsorship left it short of the funds required to take on the Mount Panorama classic.

After stepping up to the Invitational class last year with a MARC car, 111 Racing was set to compete in the Bronze Class.

Darren Currie and Axle Donaldson and a yet to be named driver were going to steer a Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO.

They scrambled for as long as possible until late Sunday, but late notice forced their hand.

Currie said a last minute “let down” has left them with no choice.

“We had funding promised and even agreements in place that while promised, were not delivered on,” Currie explained.

“We’ve been let down badly by a third party who up to a week ago had promised us that the sponsorship was there. 

“Unfortunately, that has forced our hand – If we had one more week we might have had a chance to fill the void, but it’s all happened too late.

“We were all incredibly excited to be part of the GT3 field and compete against some of the world’s best drivers. 

“It’s something we have been working to for a long time and having our names on that entry list was a long-term goal.

“Unfortunately, the resources you need to contest the event are significant and we’re unable to do to it without external support, which until the last minute we believed were secured.

“We will be back in 2026, there’s no doubt about that.”

Making the absence harder is the fact both Currie and Donaldson claiming a pair of podium finishes in the Dubai 24 and Abu Dhabi 6 Hour, respectively.

Image: Mark Horsburgh

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