The 2014 Bathurst 12 Hour endurance race starts today at 2:15PM ET and it looks like it will be a properly entertaining race. You'll get to see GT3 Spec cars race on the same track as Fiat 500 Abarths, an E46 M3-GTR, and Ford Focuses with V8s at one of the most beautiful tracks in the world. But the best thing of all? It's live streaming here. Get excited, folks.
Here's a breakdown of the classes:
Class A - GT 3 Outright
There will be 14 cars represented in this class, run by 14 separate teams representing six different makes and models. But the most exciting thing about this class is V8 Supercar driver Shane Van Gisbergen driving the #37 McLaren. Look for him to cross the line upside down and on fire, with the announcers screaming excitedly "SHAYNE VAN GIZZBEGGIN!" Seriously check this video out, it's the best racing I think I've ever seen.
#SVGforever
1 - Erebus Motorsport - Mercedes SLS AMG GT3
3 - Phoenix Racing - Audi R8-LMS Ultra
5 - Rod Salmon - Audi R8-LMS Ultra
9 - Marc Cini - Audi R8-LMS Ultra
25 - United Autosports - Audi R8-LMS Ultra
32 - NISMO Athlete Global Team - Nissan GT‐R NISMO GT3
33 - Clearwater Racing - Ferrari F458 Italia GT3
37 - VIP Holdings - McLaren MP4-12C
48 - Justin McMillan/M Motorsport - Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4
49 - Tony Defelice/Vicious Rumour Racing - Ferrari F458 Italia GT3
63 - Erebus Motorsport - Mercedes SLS AMG GT3
77 - AF Corse - Ferrari F458 Italia GT3
84 - HTP Motorsport - Mercedes SLS AMG GT3
88 - Maranello Motorsport - Ferrari F458 Italia GT3
Class B - GT 3
This class is made of GT3 cars that are a bit older, and not current spec. It's mostly Porsches, but also has a couple of Gallardos and R8s.
4 - Grove Motorsport Pty Ltd - Porsche 997 GT3 Cup MY11
6 - Richard Gartner - Porsche 997 GT3 Cup MY07
12 - McElrea Racing - Porsche 997 GT3 Cup MY12
14 - Rotek Racing - Audi R8-LMS 2011
19 - Damien Flack - Porsche 997 GT3 Cup MY11
23 - Roger Lago - Lamborghini Gallardo
35 - Indiran Padayachee - Porsche 997 GT3 Cup MY06
45 - Indiran Padayachee - Porsche 997 GT3 Cup MY11
51 - Andrew Macpherson - Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S
67 - Motorsport Services Limited - Porsche 997 GT3 Cup MY10
68 - Motorsport Services Limited - Porsche 997 GT3 Cup MY10
69 - James Koundouris - Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S
71 - Dean Koutsoumidis - Audi R8-LMS 2011
99 - Racing Incident - Lamborghini Gallardo LP520 2008
Class C - GT 4
This tiny class is made of GT4 cars, including the Ginetta G50! Sure, it's only three competitors but that's the size of the LMP1 class last year. Sure, why not? Let's do this.
17 - Sam Chester - Ginetta G50
54 - Tony Alford - Lotus Exige Cup R
55 - Motionsport - Lotus Exige S
Class D - Invitational (3001cc +)
Look at the cars in this class. A Seat Leon Supercopa? An old M3-GTR? An Australian reproduction of the Shelby Daytona Coupe? Sure, why not? This will be so much fun to watch because it's such a hodgepodge of cars.
7 - Maximum Motorsport - Subaru WRX Sti
22 - GT Radial / Radio Hauraki - Seat Leon Supercopa
28 - GWS Personnel - BMW 335i
42 - Motorline BMW - BMW E46 M3-GTR
65 - Daytona Sportscars - Daytona Sportscar Coupe
66 - Motorsport Services Limited - Seat Leon Supercopa
97 - Mortimer Motorsports - BMW M3 E92
Class F - Invitational (up to 3000cc)
This is an entire class of Fiat 500 Abarths, all run by an Abarth works team. I don't think anyone told them that they will only be competing against themselves, or that this is a race of endurance. Fiat, a company known for stellar reliability, has entered into an endurance race. Sure, why not? I can't wait for a SLS to fly by one of these little things at a million miles an hour. I mean look at that little thing up there. It's so cute. It's so innocent. It's so naive.
59 - Fiat Abarth Motorsport - Fiat Abarth 500
95 - Fiat Abarth Motorsport - Fiat Abarth 500
96 - Fiat Abarth Motorsport - Fiat Abarth 500
Class I - Invitational - Non Production
Wait, what happened to Class G and Class H? Eh, whatever. Class I consists of three Ford Focus Global Touring Cars with V8s. That's just awesome. Like the previous class, all cars are run by the same team.
50 - Ryan McLeod - Focus GTC
60 - Ryan McLeod - Focus GTC
70 - Ryan McLeod - Focus GTC
I recommend checking out Rennsport's preview as well for a more detailed history and background on the race.
Images from: Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour.
I love racing and cars. I talk about that a lot on Twitter. Feel free to follow me at @willkinton247. If you want me to look into a particular series or topic, or have any feedback, let me know!
2014 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour Preview