Bathurst 12 Hour - 2014

[TheFamousEccles]

Am looking forward to this race, it seems to be growing in stature amongst the serious GT competitors globally if the entrant list is anything to go by:

http://www.bathurst12hour.com.au/?q=com ... entry-list (http://www.bathurst12hour.com.au/?q=competitor-info/entry-list)

And lotsa Audi's :

http://www.motorsport.com/endurance/new ... and-rotek/ (http://www.motorsport.com/endurance/news/bathurst-12-hour-eight-audis-on-the-entry-list-including-phoenix-and-rotek/)

[TheFamousEccles]

More bits about the upcoming Bathurst 12hr - there's a video on this link that shows the Nismo GT-R at Brands - it's quick!

http://www.speedcafe.com/2014/01/17/fou ... rst-entry/ (http://www.speedcafe.com/2014/01/17/four-man-line-nismo-bathurst-entry/)

[TheFamousEccles]

I know that these are not pukka GT cars, but I am still very curious to see how they fare against the real thing. The idea of an invitational class is an interesting thing, IMO. Similar to the Garage 52 thing at Le Mans, though obviously not as technically "out there".

http://www.speedcafe.com/2014/01/15/ing ... focus-v8s/ (http://www.speedcafe.com/2014/01/15/ingall-seton-test-focus-v8s/)

[steveaki13]

I am looking forward to this too. Anyone know where it will be shown UK. Its sometimes a case of finding a feed.

[TheFamousEccles]

a couple more titbits on the B12H - one of the last bastions of the (seriously cashed up) gentleman racer...

http://www.speedcafe.com/2014/01/21/eri ... t-12-hour/ (http://www.speedcafe.com/2014/01/21/eric-bana-confirmed-bathurst-12-hour/)

And the full entry list.

http://www.speedcafe.com/2014/01/20/qui ... rst-field/ (http://www.speedcafe.com/2014/01/20/quinn-mclaren-completes-bathurst-field/)

Its gonna be cool to watch (for example) a Nismo GT-R at full noise down Conrod whistle past an Abarth 500 - the converging speed is gonna be interesting.

@steveaki13, this race has been webcast for the full 12hrs previously, and http://www.bathurst12hour.com.au/ is streaming the entire race live.

[steveaki13]

Cheers FamousEccles. I normally catch some of it at least, so I might make more of an effort this year.

Thanks too for the entry list.

[TheFamousEccles]

more bits - some of the local entries having a gallop around PI to shake down new cars, familiarise and test durability.

http://www.speedcafe.com/2014/01/22/dav ... track-hit/ (http://www.speedcafe.com/2014/01/22/davison-enjoys-maiden-erebus-track-hit/)

[TheFamousEccles]

An Audi R8 LMS Ultra pilot gets ready for her first go at the Mountain...

http://www.motorsport.com/endurance/new ... ahel-frey/ (http://www.motorsport.com/endurance/news/bathurst-12h-a-word-from-rahel-frey/)

[TheFamousEccles]

Okay, it seems that the Bathurst 12hr is now "one of the classic international endurance races". I do think that it might get there, given time and patronage, but it still has a long way to get to the level of even the Petit LeMans. Still, it's going to be very cool seeing a world class field of racers and cars thrash around the Mountain - I will be wasting as much of the 12hrs as I can watching the stream feed! Yes, it's been a verrrrrryyyy slow and boring off season, particularly in Oz where motor racing rates very low on the radar for the media - you know it's a slow news day when you see anything related to motor sport on TV here - Schuey's skiing accident not withstanding (but that was more a morbid curiosity thing from the media IMO).

Anyway,

http://www.motorsport.com/endurance/new ... -bathurst/ (http://www.motorsport.com/endurance/news/audi-customer-teams-ready-for-the-12-hour-race-at-bathurst/)

It seems that Audi is the best at keeping the masses fed in the off-season.

[TheFamousEccles]

And one more post, this time the Focus V8's in the Invitational class. Cool looking rides....

http://www.speedcafe.com/2014/02/03/foc ... -bathurst/ (http://www.speedcafe.com/2014/02/03/focus-v8-colours-unveiled-bathurst/)

[journeyman racer]

I like the emerging presence of this race amongst the Australian domestic motorsport calendar. It's growing with more and more cred amongst hardened fans. At latest, by early next decade it'll take over as the biggest race on the domestic scene, and in effect take over from where the 1000 was hijacked by Cochrane and the V8Superidiots. There's a practice session for motorkhana competitors in Melbourne, which I'm going to pass on to watch the live coverage.

[TheFamousEccles]

The ultimate sacrifice, journeyman ;)

Some links for y'all...

http://www.speedcafe.com/2014/02/07/ere ... -practice/ (http://www.speedcafe.com/2014/02/07/erebus-stamps-authority-final-practice/)

http://www.speedcafe.com/2014/02/07/ban ... -bathurst/ (http://www.speedcafe.com/2014/02/07/bana-building-confidence-bathurst/)

the SLS's sound evil -

http://www.speedcafe.com/2014/02/07/vid ... t-12-hour/ (http://www.speedcafe.com/2014/02/07/video-sights-sounds-bathurst-12-hour/)

http://www.speedcafe.com/2014/02/08/mor ... en-trophy/ (http://www.speedcafe.com/2014/02/08/morning-battle-looms-simonsen-trophy/)

[inimitablestoo]

I am looking forward to this too. Anyone know where it will be shown UK. Its sometimes a case of finding a feed.
There's live coverage on the radiolemans.com website - and that's TV and words! They've currently got a full replay of yesterday's action (practice sessions and support races) as well, which has allowed me to catch up with the stuff that happened after I (eventually) submitted and went to bed last night.