12 hour bathurst race production based cars

[perthcamry]

Just checking wheelsblog.com.au (a good place to keep an eye on) ;) .........

Exotics out of Bathurst 12-Hour

Expensive and exotic marques such as Porsche, Ferrari and Lamborghini will be banned from the revived Bathurst 12-Hour to be held at Mount Panorama next Easter, organisers say.

In a sign that the race will be kept for mass produced models with a price limit, the Bathurst International Motor Festival event director James O'Brien pre-empted the likely ousting of the millionaires' playthings.

Plans for the 12-Hour race are moving in the right direction after category manager Spherix (Bill West and Craig Denyer) and O’Brien, spent the last few weeks meeting with vehicle manufacturers and importers to canvas opinions.

The race's class structure is expected to be made public during August.

Mazda Australia's motor racing manager Allan Horsley said he was encouraged by his talks with the event people as they formulate eligibility criteria and technical regulations.

Horsley, whose factory RX-7 cars won the last three Bathurst 12-Hours in the early 1990s, says he is encouraged that organisers are planning for the 2007 race to be based on ‘regular’ production models with a price ceiling to avoid high-performance, low-volume sporting thoroughbreds.

"Allow race specials into the 12-Hour, and all other manufacturers will run a mile," he warned.

Horsley also is in favour of the regulations banning any modifications other than safety equipment, so the race would become a genuine consumers' guide to the reliability and performance (and economy) of today's cars

Race organisers say the car companies they've spoken with about 12-Hour participation have welcomed inclusion of a diesel or hybrid category.

Horsley anticipates great contests between hot hatches, the mid-sized sedans and large family cars.

He's happy for V8s to be allowed into the race, even though the rising petrol prices have hurt their appeal with consumers.

"I don't think they can win, anyway," Horsley said.

Debate is also ongoing among fans and the race community over whether all sports cars should be kept out of the 12-Hour; many believe the event should be limited to sedans and hatches.

-- Peter McKay

[76ACC]

Can't wait to see the hot hatches battle it out! Mazda all the way!!!

Edited August 11, 2006 by 76ACC

[MR22ZZ]

you'd have to allow suspenson and brake modification surely... as well as exhaust. Other then that it should be bone stock other then consumables (oil, filters, brake pads, brake lines, hoses etc)

[CAP]

Sounds more like it!

Honestly in recent years, I've been put off mainstream motor sport due to the fact that there has been a serious lack of old school production car racing, even GTP is now allowing more modifications.

Production car racing is the most exciting to watch IMHO, because rather than see cars with exact same specs, you're seeing cars with different strengths battle it out. I remember when I was much younger, going to Sandown to watch the 500, and watching the small BMW M3's battle against the 5.0 Group A Commodores, The M3 would kill the Group A in the corners, The Group A would eat the M3 on the straight, it was great to watch...

[ZEEROLLA]

Can't wait to see the hot hatches battle it out! Mazda all the way!!!

There should be 4 entrants!