McLAREN PAIR HIGHLIGHT PROVISIONAL BATHURST 12H ENTRY LIST

McLAREN PAIR HIGHLIGHT PROVISIONAL BATHURST 12 HOUR ENTRY LIST 
 
THE FAMOUS McLAREN name will make its racing return at Mount Panorama at the 2013 Bathurst 12 Hour, with a pair of the stunning MP4-12C GT3 race cars already entered by United Autosports.

Anglo-American team United Autosports’ two-car McLaren entry headlines a 37-car provisional entry list released today for the February 8-10, 2013, event. 25 cars started this years’ race, won by Audi Sport Team Phoenix with an Audi R8 LMS GT3.

Cars built by the famous McLaren factory raced at Mount Panorama in the 1970s in open-wheel competition, Neil Allen’s famous 2m09.7s lap record set in the 1970 lasting 30 years before it was broken by current touring cars.

United Autosport competed in this years’ Bathurst 12 Hour with an Audi R8 LMS, failing to finish after a crash claimed the car after 59 laps, two and a half hours into the race - but that hasn’t stopped them from plotting their revenge.

The team runs their McLaren entries in the Blancipain Endurance Series (with a driver line-up that includes Australia’s David Brabham) and as such is perfectly geared to challenge at Bathurst with the British-built supercars.

It is expected that the McLaren’s Bathurst debut will also be the first time the stunning GT3-specification MP4-12C cars will race on Australian soil.

“United Autosport committed to running their two McLaren’s when I met with them overseas recently, and we have received their entry forms since then,” Event Director James O’Brien said.

“It is very exciting to have a team of their calibre commit to returning to the Event this early in the piece and it shows the growing respect in which the race is held overseas. People are very much aware of the Bathurst 12 Hour and that is reflected in the interest received to date.

“The McLaren is one of the most exciting of the ‘new’ GT3-specification cars now running in Europe and it is going to be very interesting to see them in action at Mount Panorama next February.”

2012 third-place finishers Clearwater Racing have also confirmed their return, again with a Ferrari 458 Italia, the similar Ferrari of local outfit Maranello Motorsport also on the list again following their lap-record breaking heroics of driver Allan Simonsen in the early stages of this years’ race.

A Ford GT also features amongst the GT3 (outright) class list, set to be run by the Asian Racing League team.

A pair of Audi R8LMS GT3 cars that compete in Australian GT have also listed their plans to compete, Peter Conroy Motorsport stepping up from several competitive 12 Hour campaigns in the Production Car ranks to enter the GT3 (outright) class battle.

A host of Porsche power is entered in Class B (GT3), but also of note is the Trofeo Motorsport Chevrolet Corvette GT3, owner Rod Wilson taking advantage of the opening of tyre restrictions to enter his Pirelli-shod American muscle car for the first time.

Amongst regulars, Hampton Downs-based Motorsport Services, from New Zealand, have nominated cars across three classes, including one of their newly purchased SEAT Leon Supercopas’.

Dean Herridge’s Maximum Motorsport, Parkes (NSW) based GWS Motorsport, Tony Alford’s Nissan GTR and Rob Thompson’s Lotus Exige – driven this year by Christian Klien – are amongst other familiar faces set to return.

The newly revamped Invitational classes have attracted strong interest, the appearance of Mal Rose’s VY Commodore, an ex-V8 Supercar, on the list set to bring the Sydneysider’s extensive experience at the Nurburgring to Bathurst in 2013. 

A Daytona Sportscar – a winner at Bathurst in the ranks of Production Sports Car racing – is also listed amongst the invitational ranks that look to be bolstered thanks to the inclusion of vehicles of up to 7000cc for the first time this year. 

The 2013 Bathurst 12 Hour will be held on February 8-10, with entries closing on December 12 this year.

PROVISIONAL ENTRY LIST: BATHURST 12 HOUR
Correct as of July 3rd, 2012.

CLASS A – GT3 OUTRIGHT
United Autosports – McLaren MP4-12C GT3  
United Autosports – McLaren MP4-12C GT3
Asian Racing League – Ford GT
Maranello Motorsport – Ferrari 458 Italia
Peter Conroy Motorsports – Audi R8 LMS
Rod Salmon – Audi R8 LMS GT3
Clearwater Racing – Ferrari 458 Italia
Muehlner Motorsport – Porsche GT3R
Muehlner Motorsport – Porsche GT3R
Amac Motorsport – Mosler MT900GT3

CLASS B – GT3

Big Pineapple Music Festival – Porsche 997 GT3 Cup Car **
Rentcorp – Porsche 997 GT3 Cup Car 
Trofeo Motorsport – Chevrolet Corvette GT3
Motorsport Services – Porsche 997 GT3 Cup Car
Motorsport Services – Porsche 996 GT3 Cup Car
James Koundouris – Porsche GT3 Cup S
Speed Lover – Porsche 997 GT3 Cup Car
Level Racing – Porsche 997 GT3 Cup Car

CLASS C – GT4

Tony Alford – Nissan GTR
Queenslandhouseandland.com – Lotus Exige S
Simply Sports Cars - Lotus Exige S


CLASS D – Production (High Performance)

Dean Herridge – Subaru Impreza WRX STi
Bruce Lynton BMW – BMW 1M
Motorsport Services – BMW 135i
GWS Motorsport – BMW 335i

CLASS E – Production (Performance)

Adam Dodd – Mazda 6 MPS
GWS Motorsport – BMW 130i
GWS Motorsport – BMW 130i

CLASS I1 – INVITATIONAL

Massell Racing – Mazda RX-7
Ric Shaw Racing – Mazda RX-7

CLASS I2 – INVITATIONAL

Racer Industries – Opel Astra VX-R
Motorsport Services – SEAT Leon Supercopa
Jim Hunter Motorsport – Subaru WRX STi

CLASS I3 – INVITATIONAL

Mal Rose Racing – Holden VY Commodore
Daytona Sportscars – Daytona Coupe
Steve Anslow – Mazda FD-RX-7

CLASS I4 – INVITATIONAL

Red Camel Jordans – SEAT Leon Supercopa Tdi
** First official entry to the 2013 Bathurst 12 Hour

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