Audi’s R8 LMS GT3s owned the day at the Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour, Australia’s premier endurance race, completing a record 292 laps of the 4-mile, 23-turn Mount Panorama circuit.
The #8 Team Joest Audi driven by Darryl O'Young Marc Basseng Christopher Mies crossed the line just a few seconds ahead of the its sister car, the #7, driven by Mark Eddy, Craig Lowndes, and Warren Luff.
The Audis, which qualified 1–2, traded the lead throughout the race. The #8 had a one-minute lead, due to pit strategy, but slowed in the final half-hour to let the #7 catch up, as the pair lined up for the photo op finish.
Third went to the #29 VIP Petfoods Porsche GT3 R of Tony Quinn, Klark Quinn, and Craig Baird. The VIP Porsche took the lead during Audi pit stops, but couldn’t match the pace of the R8s, to stay in front.
2011 was the first year FAI GT cars were admitted into the Bathurst 12 Hour. In order to balance performance with the less-modified production classes, a Compulsory Pit Stop rule was enacted. Class A cars, basically FIA GT3, were required to make twelve 90-seconds stops in the course of the race.
In Class B—GT3, the #23 Falcon Property Porsche 997 GT3 Cup of Roger Lago, Matthew Kingsley, and David Russell took the win, finishing fifth overall, completing 282 laps.
Class C—GT4 went to Beric Lynton, Mathew Mackeiden, John Modystach in the #80 Beric Lynton BMW M3, finishing 11th overall with 245 laps.
The #14 RSH Electrical/DrivingSolutions.com Mitsubishi EVO X RS of Peter Conroy, Anthony Robson, and Mark Brame won Class D—High Performance, completing 252 laps to finish 9th.
Finally, Class E—Production Performance went to the #26 G.W.S Personnel BMW 130i of Bruce Thomlinson, Geoff Fontaine, Richard Gartner, which finished 12th, covering 244 laps.
The race started sunny, but rain swept in during the third hour, dampening but never soaking the track, The day remained overcast, with new storms threatening in the final hour. These storms never materialized.
The picturesque Bathurst circuit, home of the Aussie V8 Bathurst 1000, stretches up the slopes of Mount Panorama in Bathurst, 2 ½ hours west of Sydney, Australia. The course features steep grades, 23 turns, the almost-2 km-long Conrod Straight, and beautiful scenery. The course is composed of public roads, closed to events, with private homes and businesses along the route.
Mount Panorama is an amazing venue for drivers and spectators alike. With the Bathurst 12 Hour now admitting one of the most popular classes of cars raced internationally, the event should grow in profile and popularity.
The #8 Team Joest Audi driven by Darryl O'Young Marc Basseng Christopher Mies crossed the line just a few seconds ahead of the its sister car, the #7, driven by Mark Eddy, Craig Lowndes, and Warren Luff.
The Audis, which qualified 1–2, traded the lead throughout the race. The #8 had a one-minute lead, due to pit strategy, but slowed in the final half-hour to let the #7 catch up, as the pair lined up for the photo op finish.
Third went to the #29 VIP Petfoods Porsche GT3 R of Tony Quinn, Klark Quinn, and Craig Baird. The VIP Porsche took the lead during Audi pit stops, but couldn’t match the pace of the R8s, to stay in front.
2011 was the first year FAI GT cars were admitted into the Bathurst 12 Hour. In order to balance performance with the less-modified production classes, a Compulsory Pit Stop rule was enacted. Class A cars, basically FIA GT3, were required to make twelve 90-seconds stops in the course of the race.
The #7 Audi ran afoul of this rule. Shortly after a schedules stop in Hour Nine, the #7 got a puncture and had to pit again.
Rules demanded a ten-minute wait between compulsory pit stops, so this second stop was not counted towards the required 12. The #7 Audi had to make an additional stop in the final hour, costing the team the win.
Craig Lowndes, in the #7 Audi, did get the glory for setting a new GT lap record at 2:09:0861, beating the old mark of 2:10:077.
Other Classes
In Class B—GT3, the #23 Falcon Property Porsche 997 GT3 Cup of Roger Lago, Matthew Kingsley, and David Russell took the win, finishing fifth overall, completing 282 laps.
Class C—GT4 went to Beric Lynton, Mathew Mackeiden, John Modystach in the #80 Beric Lynton BMW M3, finishing 11th overall with 245 laps.
The #14 RSH Electrical/DrivingSolutions.com Mitsubishi EVO X RS of Peter Conroy, Anthony Robson, and Mark Brame won Class D—High Performance, completing 252 laps to finish 9th.
Finally, Class E—Production Performance went to the #26 G.W.S Personnel BMW 130i of Bruce Thomlinson, Geoff Fontaine, Richard Gartner, which finished 12th, covering 244 laps.
The race started sunny, but rain swept in during the third hour, dampening but never soaking the track, The day remained overcast, with new storms threatening in the final hour. These storms never materialized.
The picturesque Bathurst circuit, home of the Aussie V8 Bathurst 1000, stretches up the slopes of Mount Panorama in Bathurst, 2 ½ hours west of Sydney, Australia. The course features steep grades, 23 turns, the almost-2 km-long Conrod Straight, and beautiful scenery. The course is composed of public roads, closed to events, with private homes and businesses along the route.
Mount Panorama is an amazing venue for drivers and spectators alike. With the Bathurst 12 Hour now admitting one of the most popular classes of cars raced internationally, the event should grow in profile and popularity.
