2014 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour Preview

"willkinton247" (willkinton247)
02/07/2014 at 11:54 • Filed to: Racing, GT3, Bathurst, Endurance Racing, SVG

The 2014 Bathurst 12 Hour endurance race starts today tomorrow at 2:15PM ET and it looks like it will be a properly entertaining race. You'll get to see GT3 Spec cars race on the same track as Fiat 500 Abarths, an E46 M3-GTR, and Ford Focuses with V8s at one of the most beautiful tracks in the world. But the best thing of all? It's live streaming !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! Get excited, folks.

Here's a breakdown of the classes:

Class A - GT 3 Outright

There will be 14 cars represented in this class, run by 14 separate teams representing six different makes and models. But the most exciting thing about this class is V8 Supercar driver Shane Van Gisbergen driving the #37 McLaren. Look for him to cross the line upside down and on fire, with the announcers screaming excitedly "SHAYNE VAN GIZZBEGGIN!" Seriously check this video out, it's the best racing I think I've ever seen.

#SVGforever

1 - Erebus Motorsport - Mercedes SLS AMG GT3
3 - Phoenix Racing - Audi R8-LMS Ultra
5 - Rod Salmon - Audi R8-LMS Ultra
9 - Marc Cini - Audi R8-LMS Ultra
25 - United Autosports - Audi R8-LMS Ultra
32 - NISMO Athlete Global Team - Nissan GTR NISMO GT3
33 - Clearwater Racing - Ferrari F458 Italia GT3
37 - VIP Holdings - McLaren MP4-12C
48 - Justin McMillan/M Motorsport - Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4
49 - Tony Defelice/Vicious Rumour Racing - Ferrari F458 Italia GT3
63 - Erebus Motorsport - Mercedes SLS AMG GT3
77 - AF Corse - Ferrari F458 Italia GT3
84 - HTP Motorsport - Mercedes SLS AMG GT3
88 - Maranello Motorsport - Ferrari F458 Italia GT3

Class B - GT 3

This class is made of GT3 cars that are a bit older, and not current spec. It's mostly Porsches, but also has a couple of Gallardos and R8s.

4 - Grove Motorsport Pty Ltd - Porsche 997 GT3 Cup MY11
6 - Richard Gartner - Porsche 997 GT3 Cup MY07
12 - McElrea Racing - Porsche 997 GT3 Cup MY12
14 - Rotek Racing - Audi R8-LMS 2011
19 - Damien Flack - Porsche 997 GT3 Cup MY11
23 - Roger Lago - Lamborghini Gallardo
35 - Indiran Padayachee - Porsche 997 GT3 Cup MY06
45 - Indiran Padayachee - Porsche 997 GT3 Cup MY11
51 - Andrew Macpherson - Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S
67 - Motorsport Services Limited - Porsche 997 GT3 Cup MY10
68 - Motorsport Services Limited - Porsche 997 GT3 Cup MY10
69 - James Koundouris - Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S
71 - Dean Koutsoumidis - Audi R8-LMS 2011
99 - Racing Incident - Lamborghini Gallardo LP520 2008

Class C - GT 4

This tiny class is made of GT4 cars, including the Ginetta G50! Sure, it's only three competitors but that's the size of the LMP1 class last year. Sure, why not? Let's do this.

17 - Sam Chester - Ginetta G50
54 - Tony Alford - Lotus Exige Cup R
55 - Motionsport - Lotus Exige S

Class D - Invitational (3001cc +)

Look at the cars in this class. A Seat Leon Supercopa? An old M3-GTR? An Australian reproduction of the Shelby Daytona Coupe? Sure, why not? This will be so much fun to watch because it's such a hodgepodge of cars.

7 - Maximum Motorsport - Subaru WRX Sti
22 - GT Radial / Radio Hauraki - Seat Leon Supercopa
28 - GWS Personnel - BMW 335i
42 - Motorline BMW - BMW E46 M3-GTR
65 - Daytona Sportscars - Daytona Sportscar Coupe
66 - Motorsport Services Limited - Seat Leon Supercopa
97 - Mortimer Motorsports - BMW M3 E92

Class F - Invitational (up to 3000cc)

This is an entire class of Fiat 500 Abarths, all run by an Abarth works team. I don't think anyone told them that they will only be competing against themselves, or that this is a race of endurance. Fiat, a company known for stellar reliability, has entered into an endurance race. Sure, why not? I can't wait for a SLS to fly by one of these little things at a million miles an hour. I mean look at that little thing up there. It's so cute. It's so innocent. It's so naive.

59 - Fiat Abarth Motorsport - Fiat Abarth 500
95 - Fiat Abarth Motorsport - Fiat Abarth 500
96 - Fiat Abarth Motorsport - Fiat Abarth 500

Class I - Invitational - Non Production

Wait, what happened to Class G and Class H? Eh, whatever. Class I consists of three Ford Focus Global Touring Cars with V8s. That's just awesome. Like the previous class, all cars are run by the same team.

50 - Ryan McLeod - Focus GTC
60 - Ryan McLeod - Focus GTC
70 - Ryan McLeod - Focus GTC

I recommend checking out !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! preview as well for a more detailed history and background on the race.

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Images from: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

I love racing and cars. I talk about that a lot on Twitter. Feel free to follow me at !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . If you want me to look into a particular series or topic, or have any feedback, let me know!

DISCUSSION (68)

William Byrd > willkinton247
02/07/2014 at 11:56

That I could get into. Very cool.

willkinton247 > William Byrd
02/07/2014 at 12:00

Yeah, I'm very excited.

ddavidn > willkinton247
02/07/2014 at 12:00

This will be a delicious race.

EL_ULY > willkinton247
02/07/2014 at 12:04

Thanks for this very nice breakdown, much appreciated

Autolegend86 > willkinton247
02/07/2014 at 12:09

Shame because of all the good teams that pulled out.

Mr.Rogers > willkinton247
02/07/2014 at 12:09

Doing Molly during anything other than Coachella sounds dangerous...

TheBaron2112 > willkinton247
02/07/2014 at 12:11

Between the Olympic Opening Ceremonies and this, I'm so glad I took off work today.

Hart88 > willkinton247
02/07/2014 at 12:12

Why isn't Ecurie Ecosse running in GT3?

EDIT: Never mind

Tom McParland > willkinton247
02/07/2014 at 12:13

Excellent work and way to get on the FP!

Mojonaut > willkinton247
02/07/2014 at 12:13

This sounds incredible. Shame it's on such an awkward time, being in the upside-down and back-to-front part of the world. Love the names of some of the teams too: "Vicious Rumour Racing" and "Racing Incident".

GT921 > willkinton247
02/07/2014 at 12:16

Apparently the organizers started to put a limit on how many beers you could bring to the race. I think it was something like 30 per person per day. So spectators will go our early and bury cases of beer to recover during the race. It's like an Australian Indy 500.

Kailand09 > willkinton247
02/07/2014 at 12:16

Looks like it'll be something fun to watch, but why the hell would you have 2 classes with one team in them?

willkinton247 > Kailand09
02/07/2014 at 12:17

Because they wanted to race. So they let them. Sure, why not?

willkinton247 > Mojonaut
02/07/2014 at 12:18

I mean hey, 2:15 in the Afternoon isn't really that awkward.

Kailand09 > willkinton247
02/07/2014 at 12:18

Well I mean it makes sense, but you'd think they'd at least find one more team to go against them lol.

Illegal Machine > willkinton247
02/07/2014 at 12:18

I've hated Bathurst on every video game that I've ever played it on. Hate hate hate that track.

Kate's Dirty Sister > willkinton247
02/07/2014 at 12:19

99 - Racing Incident - Lamborghini Gallardo LP520 2008

Best racing team name ever

BeaterGT > willkinton247
02/07/2014 at 12:19

Kinja'd!!!

This I want to see.

Mojonaut > willkinton247
02/07/2014 at 12:22

The streaming starts at 8pm my time. And that's going-to-the-pub time for me. It's a little bittersweet. I'm hoping MotorsTV UK show some of it. As far as I know the Radio Le Mans crew (heroes, each and every last one of them) are covering it so fingers crossed... there might be replays.

Jonathon Klein > willkinton247
02/07/2014 at 12:29

I'm just going to say I just swore very loudly watching that clip in a very quiet office and now people are looking at me, but holy shit that was some of the best racing I have ever seen. WE NEED MORE OF THIS IN THE STATES!!!!!

willkinton247 > Jonathon Klein
02/07/2014 at 12:37

I know, right? It's perfect.

redred > Jonathon Klein
02/07/2014 at 12:39

Couldn't agree with you more!!!! I don't understand why we don't have more race series like this here in the States.

warsofwords > willkinton247
02/07/2014 at 12:45

Looks Like 4:00PM EST according to the website....

EDIT: thats just practice and qualifying. Race is on Sunday, duh.

ApriliaFutura > Mojonaut
02/07/2014 at 12:49

yeah, the RadioLeMans crew is stellar.

warsofwords > BeaterGT
02/07/2014 at 12:50

Go up in flames? Because thats what always seems to happen when a Ginetta races and I watch it...

anti-everything > willkinton247
02/07/2014 at 12:55

Kinja'd!!!

Cambered out bro #hashtag

Jonathon Klein > redred
02/07/2014 at 13:03

It has all the necessary items to make American's like it, Screaming loud V8's, excessive contact, and the craziest drivers, all thats different is that these actually make turns in unbelievably tight courses, I love it, I wish I could have gone to the exhibition they had at COTA last year!

BeaterGT > warsofwords
02/07/2014 at 13:11

Well now I really want to watch.

daender > warsofwords
02/07/2014 at 13:22

That's an Exige, this is a G50.

Kinja'd!!!

seriouslywhyiskinjastillterrible > willkinton247
02/07/2014 at 13:25

Yay. I will be watching the shit out of this.

last years race is worth a look:
Good intro to the Mount Panorama circuit by the drivers at the start. And flick to about ~2:30 to see what it looks like in the wet, as if the track isn't brutal enough as is.

BTDUBS > willkinton247
02/07/2014 at 13:25

Watched the video on the Abarth development last night and one of the issues they had was the car was getting up on 2 wheels a lot and not in the way you would think. Under hard braking the car would get up on its front 2 wheels.

RazorGP > willkinton247
02/07/2014 at 13:25

Watching that clip. The silver car gains a position through the off course trip when they miss the chicane. Not too sure of the legality of that pass off track.

If that passes then BS is to be called.

Mash_Tun > willkinton247
02/07/2014 at 13:26

WHOOO!

Oh my god, do the Aussies and Kiwis know what good racing is! Sweet Jebus, my blood gets pumping every single time I watch them.

nugget-australia > Jonathon Klein
02/07/2014 at 13:54

It was actually a full race weekend the year before last. There are three RECs for the championship still available and reportedly Jay Penske is interested in fielding a team in 2015.

Ntovorni > warsofwords
02/07/2014 at 14:10

I would like a confirmation you ARE going to be watching.

willkinton247 > warsofwords
02/07/2014 at 14:24

It's been fixed. Thanks!

willkinton247 > Mr.Rogers
02/07/2014 at 14:24

lolwut?

willkinton247 > Mash_Tun
02/07/2014 at 14:26

I think their announcers are a huge part of it.

Samios > Jonathon Klein
02/07/2014 at 14:59

Have you never heard of the Tudor united sports car series and the Pirelli world challenge?

warsofwords > daender
02/07/2014 at 15:00

Whoops you are right. Not sure how I missed that...

warsofwords > Ntovorni
02/07/2014 at 15:01

Just wait for the flames, then you'll know.

Jonathon Klein > Samios
02/07/2014 at 15:03

Yes I watch them, none of that compares to that video anymore with the new grid of cars. I watched the 24hrs of Daytona, it was boring. Last season when it was still ALMS, VIR was kinda like this to a lesser degree, but come on this is way cooler than that. I am still going to give the new Tudor races a chance but they aren't as good so far as the ALMS races.

Mash_Tun > willkinton247
02/07/2014 at 16:16

Actually, I had it on mute because I'm at work. So I went back and watched in on my phone with headphones, and it was even more gooder.

Grant Leavitt > willkinton247
02/07/2014 at 16:31

wait... what's a "Ginetta"? My American mind is soooo confused.

Grant Leavitt > Grant Leavitt
02/07/2014 at 16:33

and wait... GT4?! *I know what I said about how Kia should have a GT4 Stinger race car* Heard about GT4 but never knew it "existed".

All the GT3 cars are FIA-spec, just like what was in ALMS or LeMans 24 Hour?

willkinton247 > Grant Leavitt
02/07/2014 at 16:42

Here's some more info about Ginetta . It's a pretty obscure brand.

And GT4 is below GT3. GT4 is more of an amateur spec class, and the cars are essentially track-only versions of production cars.

The GT3 class is essentially the same as the GTD class in TUSC, except with a different wing.

GT3 is not represented in Le Mans 24 or the WEC.

Frogger49 > willkinton247
02/07/2014 at 16:49

I think the Aston Martins you see in the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge and Pirelli World Challenge are, if not outright GT4-spec cars, very close to GT4-spec.

willkinton247 > Frogger49
02/07/2014 at 16:51

They more or less are.

Grant Leavitt > willkinton247
02/07/2014 at 17:07

LeMans is run by the ACO, not the FIA, which is why I understand the GT3 (GTD) class not being represented. I also asked about GT LeMans/ALMS class GT3 cars. Or are those more closer to GT2 spec? And is GT1 still going on? last I heard it was dominated by 12Cs, GT-Rs, a Murcielago or two, and 458s

RollaRider > Jonathon Klein
02/07/2014 at 17:37

In Australia, we have corners . That means we get epic racing.

DeltawingGothamDeserves > willkinton247
02/07/2014 at 17:50

Kinja'd!!!

I know who I will be rooting for.

willkinton247 > Grant Leavitt
02/07/2014 at 18:51

So GT1 used to be called GTS, but it stopped existing after 2009 due to budgets. These were the top of the line GT cars like the C6.R GT1, Aston DBR9 GT1, Maserati MC12, and the Murcielago.

GT2 is basically the same as the ACO's GTE. This is the same specification as the GTLM class in the Tudor Series.

GT3 is the class below that. The ALMS/Le Mans GTC class is made up of GT3 spec Porsche 911 GT3 Cups. The Tudor GTD class consists of GT3 cars with a different spec rear wing.

GT4 is essentially for Gentleman Drivers. They are very close to production cars with balancing done to create a level field. They don't have aerodynamic aids or body modifications. This class is pretty uncommon.

I think I'm going to need to write an article breaking all of these things down in detail. I bet a lot of people are confused by these.

willkinton247 > BTDUBS
02/07/2014 at 18:53

I can't get over how funny these cars are

Gifthorse > willkinton247
02/07/2014 at 19:00

First off thanks sooooooo much for the post!!!! I love racing and can't get enough, I love seein all types of racing around the world! Quick question, where can I watch more live stream or even races put up after live events like, v8 supercars and sportscars? Thanks again Iv enjoyed watching and will keep watching!

willkinton247 > Gifthorse
02/07/2014 at 19:48

You're welcome! I tend to write about racing a lot.

A lot of race series actually put races up on youtube a week or so after the race.

BTDUBS > willkinton247
02/07/2014 at 19:58

If you watch the video about them, they look like a riot to drive.

vermillion-fire > willkinton247
02/07/2014 at 20:31

im going, cant wait.

leave home 3 in the morning with my son, pick up dad on the way and get to the race for the 6:15am start. Will try to take plenty of pics.

Gifthorse > willkinton247
02/07/2014 at 20:43

Thanks man!

McChiken116 - Patrick H. > willkinton247
02/07/2014 at 22:53

Rooting for the batshit, fire breating McLaren GT3!

Grant Leavitt > willkinton247
02/07/2014 at 23:40

All I knew about GT4 was that Porsche made a 911 GT4, or perhaps it was more an unofficial, customer-bought GT3 or Carrera modded to GT4 specs. Not sure which it was, but the old Wikipedia page on GT4 listed a Porsche 911 GT4 as one of the models races in the series.

I think GT1 had a series at least as recently as 2010, which included the Sumo Power Nissan GT-R GT1 car, among others. In fact, there was a series called FIA GT1 World Championship which ran from 2010-2012 conforming to FIA GT1 (2010-2011 years) and GT3 (2012) specs. In 2013, it was rebranded as FIA GT Championship, retaining the GT3 specs from 2012 season of FIA GT1 series. (Yes, despite the name, the series in 2012 was GT3 only).

Robb Holland > willkinton247
02/08/2014 at 05:13

Hey guys I'm actually down here with Rotek Racing #14 Audi R8 with Ollie Gavin and Rob Huff. We Qualified P14 overall and P1 in Class B. The whole race will be epic but make sure you watch at least the first hour as thats where most of the excitement will be. Wish us luck!

Kinja'd!!!

willkinton247 > Robb Holland
02/08/2014 at 08:12

Hey Robb, thanks for stopping by! Good luck today!

SnowBallin > willkinton247
02/08/2014 at 09:53

Thank you so very much for posting this.

You made my weekend much better

stevegravelle > Jonathon Klein
02/08/2014 at 10:36

That's awesome racing, no question. But didn't the two leaders there straight-line the chicane? Did they get any penalty for that? Could argue the 3rd-place car should get the win.

Jonathon Klein > stevegravelle
02/08/2014 at 12:13

That's what it looked like, but I think they were ok since they had no way out, and in F1 they don't disqualify you since that line is usually a worse racing line.

FormerInstants > willkinton247
02/08/2014 at 15:51

I remember watching the race that SVG clip was from, and I became an *instant* SVG fan. So awesome.

undutchable > willkinton247
02/08/2014 at 17:26

Great, simple, useful preview. Thanks.

4x4Pilgrim > Kate's Dirty Sister
02/08/2014 at 22:11

Eric Bana (he of Star Trek and Blackhawk Down fame) is actually one of the drivers of that car. After watching Love the Beast, I'm really stoked to see them gaining some real ground as of 8 hours in.