BATHURST, Australia — A remarkably diverse group of drivers represent the who’s-who of international GT and sports car racing have entered this weekend’s Repco Bathurst 12 Hour at the famed Mount Panorama circuit.
Ninety-seven drivers from 18 different countries have entered the once-around-the-clock event, including defending winners Kenny Habul, Jules Gounon and Luca Stolz, who will aim for a Bathurst historic three-peat aboard their SunEnergy1 Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3.
The event will be broadcast live on SPEED SPORT 1 and SPEEDSPORT1.com.
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Gounon, meanwhile, will aim for his fourth consecutive Bathurst victory as he searches for a feat never achieved in endurance racing at Mount Panorama.
Gounon claimed victory in 2020, 2022 and 2023, with the 2021 race not held due to the Pandemic.
Only Repco Bathurst 1000 legends Peter Brock, Jim Richards, Larry Perkins, Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup have claimed three Bathurst enduros in a row, while Gounon is the only one to achieve it in the 12 Hour.
The 29-year-old Frenchman, who calls Andorra home, is also the reigning Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC) drivers’ champion having claimed the title last year.
Eight former Bathurst 12 Hour victors will be represented on the grid this year for a total of 13 victories in Australia’s international enduro.
Four IGTC title winners will be on the grid, while both the current Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia outright (Liam Talbot), Am (Brad Schumacher) and European (Raffaele Marciello) champions are also entered, showcasing the best of GT3 racing around the world.
Success at Mount Panorama stretches beyond the 12-Hour in the 2024 drivers’ roster, with 8 former winners of the Repco Bathurst 1000 – totaling 18 Great Race victories – also set to compete including three, Craig Lowndes, Jamie Whincup and Jonathan Webb, who have won both Bathurst classics.
The Supercars talent pool is deep with 14 drivers accounting for 305 Repco Supercars Championship victories to race, as well as two former series champions.
The field also showcases the very best of international long-distance racing with winners of major GT3 enduros represented.
Eight different drivers entered this year have claimed a total of 13 victories in the Nürburgring 24 Hours, while 8 drivers have claimed 11 24 Hours of Spa Francorchamps victories.
Both iconic European races join the Repco Bathurst 12 Hour as rounds of the Intercontinental GT Challenge this year.
The field also includes two pairs of brothers for the first time.
South African stars Kelvin and Sheldon van der Linde will go head-to-head, while Belgian boys Laurens and Dries Vanthoor will also compete.
The field also includes the current champion of Daytona’s iconic 24-Hour race, in the form of Warwick, Queensland, born Matt Campbell – himself a former winner and polesitter at Mount Panorama.
Seven-time MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi will also remain a major drawcard for fans as he returns for a second attempt at Australia’s International Enduro.
Action commences this Thursday with the traditional track to town parade and autograph session in the center of Bathurst. Practice and qualifying are scheduled for Friday and Saturday, with the race on Sunday.
Tune-In on SPEED SPORT 1 on Saturday, Feb. 17 at at 1:45 p.m. ET.