2017 Liqui Moly Bathurst 12 hour: Feb 3-5

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Originally Posted by dwh43scale

Well, I'd like to come back for the race next year ...

Would be good to see you again mate.

[one five five]

Originally Posted by peckstar

reading there might have been a few BOP related issues With the Huracans over the weekend

That is to do with IMSA and their own parity rules, nothing to do with the SRO BoP that the Bathurst 12hr uses

[velly4]

Originally Posted by scudd

not sure how the owners of the properties would feel being locked in/out for longer than what happens already?

No longer an issue Scudd. All property owners now have alternate routes to get in and out. Been that way for about 5 years now.

[Tony C]

Back in the early days of the 12 hour we had evening sessions. It did help the teams set their lights but it made the day VERY long for teams. It was a good spectacle.

If it were to be reintroduced you would probably only need one session on Friday night to 'bed in' your starting driver.

[scudd]

Originally Posted by velly4

No longer an issue Scudd. All property owners now have alternate routes to get in and out. Been that way for about 5 years now.

Haha! I didn't know that.

Thanks.

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The 2016 date was announced about 10 days after the 2015 race, so the 2017 dates should surely be announced soon ?

[peckstar]

the 12 hour site has gone very quiet post race

suspect the delay is due to the new media deal

[one five five]

Originally Posted by peckstar

suspect the delay is due to the new media deal

The event moving to Fox Sports perhaps?

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by peckstar

the 12 hour site has gone very quiet post race

suspect the delay is due to the new media deal

Shouldn't affect the date of the event - not too many options there.

One would hope they don't change media deal much - especially with the progression that has been achieved here

[RedZedMikey]

Perhaps, with V8SC now handling the race, their focus has been on test days and Clipsal ...

Perhaps, as part of a series, V8SC need to work with SRO to agree dates ... assuming (and hoping) the Intercontinental GT Challenge continues beyond this year.

I assume V8SC does not have anyone specifically focussed on B12 2017 at this point, whereas James O'Brien would have been. The 2017 Dubai 24hr dates are set, so if that is a factor in determining the B12 dates, they can move forward. I'm hoping that the Fox factor is not a factor at all.

[mayhem]

No date for the race yet, but a date for a pseudo test day at Mt Panorama has been set: James Obrien launches new Bathurst event

[chavez]

Of course under the new ownership return on investment will be the prime consideration as to if the event takes place next year.

And then they'll decide on when.

[naca]

Originally Posted by chavez

Of course under the new ownership return on investment will be the prime consideration as to if the event takes place next year.

And then they'll decide on when.

Remember that the Bathurst Regional Council still have half ownership in the event, and they would obviously want to have it next year.

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2016 Geneva Motor Show: Aston Martin to launch Bathurst 12 Hour assault

• By Alex Inwood
• Mar 03, 2016
• Motorsport

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ASTON Martin will launch a factory-backed assault on the 2017 Bathurst 12 Hour, with the company’s boss one of the drivers.
Wheels can exclusively reveal that Aston Martin boss Andy Palmer will campaign a single car at next year’s event alongside one of Aston Martin’s factory GT3 drivers. A local recruit, as yet unnamed, is also likely to join the Aston line-up.
“I’m planning on racing in it [the 12 Hour] next year,” Palmer told Wheels at the Geneva Motor Show. “I’m personally going to be driving, and I don’t believe we’ve publically announced it. Well, until now.
“For me it has always been one of those dreams to go and race at Bathurst and now there’s an opportunity to go and do it next year.”
Palmer confirmed he has already started assembling a team for the event, with the single car to have full factory support. The car in question will be an Aston Martin V8 Vantage, prepped to either GT3 or GT4 spec.
He ruled out racing the brand’s new DB11, shown at the Geneva show, saying Vantage would remain the British brand’s racing car of choice. Aston recently revealed its new V8 Vantage GTE (pictured), which will contest this year’s World Endurance Championship and 24 Hours of Le Mans. There it will challenge the likes of Audi, Porsche, Ford and Ferrari for class honours.
“It’ll be a factory team,” said Palmer. “I don’t think we’ll team up with any local teams. We may bring in a local driver but we’ll work that out. We’ve started to put a team together.
“We’ll find a good Aussie to help us along; there are plenty of them.”
As for who else will fill the driver’s seat alongside Palmer, a factory Aston driver is the logical choice. Interestingly, New Zealander Richie Stanaway is one of the drivers on Aston’s roster.
Palmer has no illusions of winning the event, revealing he’s setting himself realistic expectations. He does, however, have previous GT racing experience, having campaigned an Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT4 in last year’s Britcar 24 Hour race at Silverstone.
“I’m not going there [to Bathurst] for outright honours, I’m going to survive!” he said. “We’re going there for the experience.”
Next year’s Bathurst 12 Hour won’t be the first factory excursion that Aston Martin has made to the home of Australian motorsport. Several Wheels readers reported in mid-February that an Aston Martin DB11 development prototype sent here for testing had visited the track for a recce.

[mayhem]

There's a story doing the rounds that the announcement of the date for 2017 is being delayed whilst the promoters of the events figure out the fors and againsts of running one of their categories at the event on the Saturday afternoon in an enduro or perhaps test session. If rumours are led to be believed of course...

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by mayhem

There's a story doing the rounds that the announcement of the date for 2017 is being delayed whilst the promoters of the events figure out the fors and againsts of running one of their categories at the event on the Saturday afternoon in an enduro or perhaps test session. If rumours are led to be believed of course...

That is worrying

[Mixer]

I couldn't see it happening. The DVS cars have their own enduro and it would make zero sense for the main game to run as a support act to another race.

[velly4]

Originally Posted by mayhem

There's a story doing the rounds that the announcement of the date for 2017 is being delayed whilst the promoters of the events figure out the fors and againsts of running one of their categories at the event on the Saturday afternoon in an enduro or perhaps test session. If rumours are led to be believed of course...

Absolute idiots!

[mayhem]

Originally Posted by Mixer

I couldn't see it happening. The DVS cars have their own enduro and it would make zero sense for the main game to run as a support act to another race.

One of the options allegedly being looked at is a Dunlop mini enduro at the 12 hour, and a 250km GT race at the October meeting. Allegedly.

[Mixer]

Originally Posted by mayhem

One of the options allegedly being looked at is a Dunlop mini enduro at the 12 hour, and a 250km GT race at the October meeting. Allegedly.

Well if it were to happen, I don't have a problem with it.

Of course I am not looking at the effect on track time and so on for the 12 hour, but from an entertainment and fan perspective and for driver/team networking I can only see positives.

I love cars of all types racing around Bathurst!

[TCR]

Personally, I'd prefer to see a GT3 Challenge one hour race and/or Production Sports Car one hour race for those guys that don't get the chance to run at Bathurst very often, and don't have the budget to run the 12hr. Throw in a couple of demonstration runs for Museum cars from Porsche etc, and a few Group S sprint races and I'd be in heaven

Keep the Feburary 12hr meeting more about Sports Cars and the Easter 6hr meeting more about Touring Cars?

[RedZedMikey]

Pit garages? Are the 12 Hour teams going to be able to release space in their pits to allow all the fuel and other facilities required for another class/series to run an enduro on the Saturday? An enduro, mini or not, is a bit different to just running support races that really only need the actual pit apron space for a possible puncture replacement or minor fiddle.

[peckstar]

Originally Posted by RedZedMikey

Pit garages? Are the 12 Hour teams going to be able to release space in their pits to allow all the fuel and other facilities required for another class/series to run an enduro on the Saturday? An enduro, mini or not, is a bit different to just running support races that really only need the actual pit apron space for a possible puncture replacement or minor fiddle.

They do it at the 1000k race. Why would it be an issue at the 12 hour?

They do it at Clipsal also

[mayhem]

The alleged motivations behind these ideas being tossed up is the new promoters apparent disappointment in this year's crowd numbers. Allegedly, etc etc.

[Mixer]

Alleged.