Audi To Attack Bathurst 12 Hours In Force

Audi Sport Customer Racing Australia will field ‘At least six’ 2022-specification R8 GT3 LMS entries in the 2022 LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour.  That’s the word from team boss Troy Russell, who is preparing his fleet in a bid to return the 12-Hour’s most successful GT3 brand to the top of the podium this May 15-17.

The team will head to Mount Panorama fresh from a crushing 1-2-3 result in the opening round of the Fanatec GT World Challenge powered by AWS, where Yasser Shahin and Christopher Mies edged out Liam Talbot and Chaz Mostert and Tony Bates / David Reynolds for the round win at Phillip Island.

Russell says elements of their sprint series combinations will carry over to the 12-Hour, however several combinations are still being sorted.

“We’re in the process of pinning down who is in what car and what the pro driver component will look like in the Pro-Am combinations we are running this year,” Russell explained.

“We will be representing Audi in the Intercontinental GT Challenge so there is that element to consider along with it being the opening round of the local Endurance championship too.

“Then there’s our customers and the team in general so there’s lots of moving pieces to piece together, but we have the makings of a really strong squad.

“There will be at least six cars run by us there but possibly more depending on how things shape up between now and May, but it’s going to be a pretty exciting line up.”

Russell said the driving squad would include both local and Audi international factory talent.

While Audi have won the 12-Hour on three occasions – the first-gen R8 triumphed in 2011 and 2012 while the second-generation model won in 2018 – the Australian-based team is yet to stand on the top step of the Bathurst podium – at least in 12 Hour form.

However, the team has shown their potential over previous editions and remains focussed on claiming the ultimate prize this year.

“It’s a challenging race and one that hasn’t gone our way for the last couple of years, but we know we have the ability and the people to do the job,” Russell said.

“The R8 has always been a really solid car at Bathurst, it’s fast across the top but tends to perform everywhere so we know it’s up to the job. Every year we go there we are in the mix.

“Winning a 12-Hour race is a huge challenge, no matter the circumstances or the grid you are racing. It’s always competitive and always a challenge and we can’t wait to tackle it again this year.”