6 manufacturers, 10 teams for a win at Bathurst

SRO

Feb 11

The Intercontinental GT Challenge season will kick off at the Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour this weekend with six manufacturers split among 23 entries (out of a total of 35 entries). We look at the 10 potential winners among BMW, Ferrari, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche who will be challenged by debutants Chevrolet and Ford to win Australia’s International Enduro.

📷© IGTC. #46 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 EVO ahead of GT3 pack at 2025 Bathurst 12 hour

The newcomers Chevrolet and Ford

The elders will remember the rivalry between GM and Ford at Bathurst in the 1960s when the two manufacturers have gone head-to-head for domestic Supercars honors. Now, and for the first time, the Corvette versus Mustang battle spills over into the GT3 ranks.

Chevrolet Corvette

In almost 30 years of competition, Corvette Racing has taken on and won at the greatest tracks in the world: Le Mans, Sebring, Daytona, Spa, Watkins Glen… just to name a few. Maybe the biggest one missing from that list gets crossed off this weekend with the program taking on iconic Mount Panorama at the Bathurst 12 Hour.

JMR claimed an overall Suzuka 1000km podium last year so knows what it takes to fight at the sharp end. #2 John Motorsports Racing’s Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R will be shared by full-time Corvette Racing factory drivers Alexander Sims – a JMR regular – and Nicky Catsburg who will team with Cadillac factory ace Earl Bamber in his first race in a Corvette since 2024.

📷© IGTC. #2 John Motorsports Racing’s Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R Alexander Sims, Nicky Catsburg, Earl Bamber

ALEXANDER SIMS, #2 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: "I've been fortunate to race at some of the best tracks in the world in my career, and I'm thrilled to finally be able to add Bathurst to that list. This is something that I've been looking forward to for quite awhile and have spent a good deal of time preparing for in the DiL (Driver-in-the-Loop simulator) and in talking with some of the Corvette Racing engineering team, as well as JMR. It's really exciting to be part of finally taking Corvette to The Mountain in the Pro class and to kick off the IGTC. The team has the experience of last year at Suzuka to fall back on, so that plus the pre-event work should hopefully have us in a decent spot to start this week. It's been a very busy and positive start to my season but I can't think of a better way to close out this run by tackling Bathurst."

NICKY CATSBURG, #2 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: "Bathurst this year will be extra-special for me. First, I get to team with my good friends Alex and Earl in what looks like an extremely competitive race. Just as important to me is being part of a Pro-class effort with Corvette. This is another big milestone race for the Z06 GT3.R, going back to our podium finish last year at Suzuka. We will have a few things to work on in practice to get us in a competitive window. But I'm confident that we will be in a good spot by the time qualifying and the race come around."

EARL BAMBER, #2 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: "Bathurst is a special place to me for a lot of reasons. It's a race I've basically grown up watching and racing in - both as a driver and a team owner. Being part of Corvette's first race there in the Pro class with JMR is something that means a lot and that I'm very thankful to do. I've driven the Corvette around the track in the DiL and think we should arrive in a pretty good window to make progress through the first couple of practices to get into the window for qualifying and the race. An overall victory as a driver at Bathurst is one of the few things missing from my CV, so I'm excited to see how we progress and how the Corvette feels around this iconic track." Source: Cadillac Racing

Ford Mustang

Nordschleife winning Ford Racing’s team partner, HRT, enters #64 Ford Mustang GT3. with 12 Hour winners Christopher Mies and Dennis Olsen will be co-driven by Broc Feeney. Featured behind the wheel will be past event winners Christopher Mies and Dennis Olsen, as well as Repco Supercars Championship Bathurst specialist Broc Feeney.

BROC FEENEY, #64 HRT Ford Racing Mustang GT3 – “It's the first time the Mustang GT3 has been to Mount Panorama, but it's 125 years of racing for Ford, so it’s cool to be aligned with a manufacturer that's been around for so long and has so much history. It's a great way to launch this car at Bathurst, then in a few weeks will be the first time we race our Ford Supercar. To have the opportunity to start a relationship with Ford, with HRT and be alongside two factory drivers like Chris and Dennis, it's a great opportunity.”

CHRISTOPHER MIES, #64 HRT Ford Racing Mustang GT3 – “Mount Panorama has such a tricky mix of corners with gravel run-off, and then sections where you’re right against the wall – there’s no room for mistakes. This event has grown massively since I first competed. To return with the Mustang GT3, and as a part of America’s Race Team, is a big honor. Same as for the Nurburgring Nordschleife, the nature of this track should suit the Mustang well.”

DENNIS OLSEN, #64 HRT Ford Racing Mustang GT3 – “The last time I was at Bathurst was when I won in 2019, which was a special moment for me. Going back with the Mustang GT3 adds to the excitement. We know the car very well now, and we have a great team. HRT is a very strong team, and paired with Mies and Feeney, we have a strong combination to bring success to Ford Racing.” Source: Ford Racing

Reigning Intercontinental champion BMW with Team WRT

Last year 12 Hour winning Team WRT will feature to BMW M4 GTE EVO:

#32 will be co-driven by reigning champion and 2025 winner Kelvin van der Linde, 2020 12 Hour winner and new BMW recruit Jordan Pepper joins KVDL and 2024 IGTC champion Charles Weerts.

📷© Team WRT. #46 BMW M4 GT3 EVO Augusto Farfus, Raffaele Marciello, Valentino Rossi

#46 will be shared by last year winner Augusto Farfus joined by Raffaele Marciello and Valentino Rossi.

2022 and 2023 winning Mercedes-AMG

Mercedes-AMG will be represented by three Pro Mercedes-AMG GT3 with “Platinum” drivers targeting a first Bathurst victory since 2022 and ’23 victories.

#75 Express reunite Kenny Habul, Luca Stolz ( both two times winners) and Jules Gounon (three times winner) in their quest for a fifth straight overall podium.

#77 Mercedes-AMG Team Craft-Bamboo Racing will be shared by last year’s pole winning combination of Lucas Auer, Maximilian Götz and Ralf Aron

%2377+Mercedes-AMG+Team+Craft-Bamboo+Racing+Lucas+Auer%2C+Maximilian+G%C3%B6tz+and+Ralf+Aron.jpg

📷© IGTC.

#888 Mercedes-AMG Team GMR co-driven by Maro Engel, Mikael Grenier and Maxime Martin is the third Mercedes-AMG featuring two “Platinum” drivers.

Porsche – 5x 911 GT3 Rs

2019 and 2024 winner, Matt Campbell, will co-drive the #911 Absolute Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) with Alessio Picariello and Bastiaan Buus.

2019 winning Earl Bamber Motorsport entry, the #61 EBM Porsche 911 GT3 R (992), will be shared by Ricardo Feller, Laurin Heinrich and Klaus Bachler.