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[Australian GT Championship] GT BATTLE HEADS TO BATHURST FOR 30-CAR EASTER SHOWDOWN |
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Thursday, 13 April 2006 |
GT BATTLE HEADS TO BATHURST FOR 30-CAR EASTER SHOWDOWN
Some of the world’s most exciting performance vehicles will tackle one of the world’s most famous racing circuits this weekend, when the 2006 Speed Energy Drink Australian GT Championship visits the famous Mount Panorama circuit in Bathurst.
As one of the headline categories for the all-new WPS Bathurst International Motor Festival, a record 30-car field will contest the series’ second round for this year on the 6.213-km circuit in New South Wales.
Seven different manufacturers and some of the biggest names in the business have nominated for the round, set to bring a mix of Bathurst experience and eyes-wide enthusiasm to the hallowed circuit.
With current championship leader Allan Simonsen sidelined thanks to international racing commitments, the Dane’s closest challengers in the points race should be the two at the pointy end of the field next weekend, Bryce Washington (2nd) and Greg Crick (3rd) both taking prior successes at the circuit into the round as they look set to consolidate their points positions.
Crick is without doubt the most experienced driver entered, a multitude of starts in both the Bathurst 1000 touring car event and production / GT events set to give the Tasmanian star a head start in his thundering Dodge Viper GTS ACR.
Washington, on the other hand, takes a strong run in last year’s Bathurst Carrera Cup Championship event to this weekend’s round.
The young driver will drive the same Porsche 911GT3 Cup Car that he raced at the track last season and the data gained then should see him in good shape come race day this Easter.
Making his return to the Australian GT ranks is Victorian Open Wheel champion Peter Hackett.
Hackett finished second in the 2005 championship and will be re-united with the successful Team Lamborghini Australia outfit next weekend, driving, his race winning Diablo GTR Supercar at the Bathurst festival event.
Fortunately the man called ‘Hollywood’ has past experience in the car at the notoriously challenging circuit – he was one of four drivers to mount a challenge in the car at the Bathurst 24 hour event in 2003.
And whilst the leading three competitors take strong form and past results into next weekend’s meeting, a number of dark horses are building up for a shot at Bathurst Glory.
Sonic Motor Racing’s David Reynolds and Viper driver D’Arcy Russell should both be competitive given their 2006 campaigns to date.
Reynolds will make his first championship round start next week driving a Porsche GT3 Cup and is set to take strong 2006 form from the Carrera Cup into the weekend. The former Formula Ford race winner has quickly adapted to the world of Porsche driving and will post a considerable threat to the established series regulars.
Sonic – one of the most successful teams in Australian Open Wheel racing of late – will have double the chances of success at Bathurst, the team now preparing the Porsche GT3 of regular GT competitor Sven Burchartz this season.
Reynolds has been coaching Burchartz since last season and the pair should pose a considerable two-car threat at Bathurst.
D’Arcy Russell has been one of the leading competitors in this year Australian GT Championship, placing his 550hp Viper on the front row at Wakefield Park and recording competitive results despite a niggling mechanical drama that cost him a shot at a race win.
The Viper driver will be certain to make sure that he uses all of the American muscle car’s significant power at Bathurst as he looks to maintain his strong start to the season.
Looking set to capitalize on the absent Simonsen Ferrari will be Canberra brothers James and Theo Koundouris.
The pair currently sits third and fourth in the championship and both have past experience at the circuit. The brothers should pose a potent threat to the established contenders at the mountain circuit behind the wheel of their similar Porsche GT3 Cup Cars.
Fellow Porsche driver Anthony Skinner is coming off a strong run at the opening round of the championship, Skinner posting consistent top ten results at Wakefield Park to finish the round a superb eighth overall.
Max Twigg will also prove a leading Porsche contender at Bathurst after scoring 10th at Wakefield, whilst Paul Bolinowsky, Matthew Turnbull and Mark Eddy all add to what is set to be a frantic battle for Porsche honors.
Whilst there are plenty of Porsche’s entered for the second round this year, the Stuttgart manufacturer won’t be the only prestige brand storming up the Bathurst hills.
Their long time rival – Ferrari – will have a fighting presence, Neil Bryson set to make his 2006 Championship debut behind the wheel of his upgraded Ferrari after personal reasons kept him to the sidelines for the Wakefield Park.
Queenslander John Teulan will also compete in an F360 following delays in readying his new F430, whilst Dave Stevens will step into Ash Samadi’s Porsche for the round.
Stevens’ new car arrived in Sydney this week and will be ready in time for the championship’s next round at Oran Park in three weeks time.
Cars from Honda (Ian Palmer) and Lotus (Peter Lucas and Justin Levis) are also included in the competitive field.
Lucas has recently upgraded the specification of his Elise, replacing the existing Rover engine with a more powerful Toyota unit that brings the car to a similar specification to those seen racing in Europe.
The WPS Bathurst International Motor Festival is a new innovation created in the image of the world-renowned Goodwood festival in England.
The Speed Energy Drink Australian GT Championship is one of the headlining acts of the new event to be staged this Easter long weekend, the second of eight championship rounds set to be staged this season.
For more information please visit www.gtchampionship.com.au or www.bimf.com.au
About the Australian GT Championship
The Australian GT Championship pits Manufacturer against Manufacturer in a battle of some of the most prestige vehicles on the planet. Competing vehicles include the Ferrari F360 and F430 Challenges, Dodge Viper ACR, Lamborghini Diablo GTR, Porsche GT3 Cup, Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Corvette, Lotus Elise Sport and Honda NSX.
The series attracts one of most diverse groups of drivers in Australian Motorsport, with veteran drivers mixing it up with young, budding stars and those out for some high adrenalin action on a weekend for recreation.
The series will be contested over eight rounds this season, including a hit-out at Mount Panorama, Bathurst during the Bathurst International Motor Festival this Easter.
The championship will receive television coverage via the Nine Network Speed Machine, SBS’ Speedweek and Fox Sport’s Inside Speed.
For more information about the championship please visit www.gtchampionship.com.au
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