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Team Eastern Creek Karts Confirms Bathurst 12 Hour Plans |
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Friday, 30 March 2007 |
Less than two weeks out from the return of the renowned WPS Bathurst 12-hour Production car endurance race at Mount Panorama, Bathurst, Team Eastern Creek Karts has confirmed an all-star driving line up and a powerful thoroughbred race car that they hope will take them to victory.
Reigning Australian Performance Car Champion Garry Holt will be joined by current V8 Supercar ace Paul Morris and Carrera Cup Championship leader Craig Baird behind the wheel of a brand-new BMW 335i Twin Turbo, competing in the Performance Cars over 4.5 litre class.
The Eastern Creek Karts team will also support a second entry at the
event, a sister 335i to be driven by Barry Morcom, Beric Lynton and
Chris Pither.
The Bathurst 12 hour race will be the worldwide racing debut for the 335i coupe’ in any form of racing.
A manufacturer with huge amounts of Motorsport successes, BMW’s latest
creation is powered by a 3.0-litre straight six that powers the car
from standstill to 100kph in five seconds and produces well over 300hp.
The Eastern Creek International Karting Raceway-sponsored car has been
constructed by renowned engineers Bob Riley – formerly the chief
engineer for Ralliart Australia – and Nigel Bolling, who has engineered
many successful cars including Holt’s Championship winning Mitsubishi
Lancer last season.
A waiting list of six months has left preparation on the car to the
last minute and whilst the team will not have an opportunity to test
prior to the gruelling event, Holt said that the package would be
ideally suited to endurance racing at the world-renowned 6.213km
circuit in New South Wales.
“We expect the car to hit 280 to 290kph down Conrod Straight, so it will be a quick car,” he explained.
“However because it is turbocharged it also produces a lot of torque
which will make it ideal for climbing the mountain. We chose the car
because it is a fantastic overall package and I think that it’s going
to be a very strong car for the 12 hour race.
“It has taken a long time to get the car and then to build it so we are
going to be relying on it to be quick and reliable from the first lap
in opening practice.
“We believe that with all the research and development that we have done on the car we will have a strong package.” He said.
Joining Holt behind the wheel, Baird and Morris bring a wealth of Bathurst and endurance racing experience to the team.
Both are veterans of the Bathurst 1000, whilst Baird has recent
endurance racing experience behind the wheel of a Porsche Turbo in
Dubai, and in the famed Nurburgring 24 hour event in Germany.
Paul Morris also finished third in the Bathurst 24 hour in 2003 driving a Porsche 911.
Garry Holt has been one of the most consistently successful drivers in
Australian Performance Car and Production car racing throughout the
last five years, finishing inside the top three in the Performance Car
Championship in each of the last four years.
In 2006 he dominated the championship and won it in the final round at Eastern Creek.
He has also started three Bathurst 1000 races and contested two Bathurst 24 hour endurance events.
“Paul and Craig’s résumé’s speak for themselves,” Holt said.
”I don’t think there will be many stronger driving combinations in the
race and I am confident that we have one of the strongest teams out
there. It’s going to be a challenging event but we certainly have all
of the ingredients together to make it a successful one for us.” He
said.
The Team Eastern Creek Karts team will be supported by Sydney’s Eastern
Creek International Karting Raceway, Yokohama Tyres, 2UE and Racer
Industries.
The WPS Bathurst 12 hour will be contested as part of the second-year
Bathurst International Motoring Festival this Easter Long Weekend.
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