SOME OF THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS will head the field in Formula Ford’s debut at the Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour Event – but they are just one part of a massive support program in place.

More than 160 cars across four categories will take to the track across Friday and Saturday’s on track program; Saloon Cars, Improved Production and the return of thundering Sports Sedans all set to provide plenty of excitement across the weekend.

However it’s the Formula Ford 1600 field that has opened eyes, attracting some of the best young drivers coming through the ranks as they seek to further their racing careers.

New Zealand Formula Ford champion and NZ V8 Super Tourer racer Andre Heimgartner and V8 Supercar development series driver Tom Tweedie are key names on an entry list that also features Queensland state champion Hayden Cooper and National Formula Ford runners Ryan Simpson, Jonathon Venter and Andre Borell.

Victorian state series frontrunner Scott Andrews, Radical pilot Tim Berryman and historic open-wheel ace Sean Whelan are also expected to feature at the pointy end.

The return of Sports Sedans to the Mountain for the first time since the early 1990s has drawn a strong 32 car entry, that includes familiar names like Victorian champion Michael Robinson (Monaro), Chris Donnelly (Falcon), Chris Jackson (Holden Calibra), Bob McLoughlin (Commodore) and TranzAm Camaro driver Shane Bradford.

Bathurst will mark the first round of the 2012 Australian Saloon Car Series, the Holden versus Ford six-cylinder category once again providing a big field for the traditional mountain battle.

Reigning champion Matt Lovell (AU Falcon) will return to defend his hard-won inaugural crown however chasing him hard will be the two drivers who fought for second in the 2011 title, Mark Primmer and Geoff Brown. The field is a who’s-who of the current crop of top Saloon Car drivers in the nation, including regular front runners and race winners like Simon Tabinor, Tony Evangelou, Harley Phelan and Peter Dane.

More than 50 entries have been received in a mammoth Improved Production entry list, making it the biggest grid of the weekend.

Split into two divisions (over and under two-litres), a majority of the key contenders from the 2011 Mount Panorama round will return with Mark Short (Datsun 1600), Ray Hislop (BF Falcon), David Skillender (Commodore), and Saloon Car champion Bruce Heinrich (HSV) the likely key contenders for the outright victory.

Support category action will be staged over two days (February 24-25) in the lead up to the Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour race itself.

Friday is a big day for all concerned with practice, qualifying and the first of three races for each category to be staged across a massive day of action. Saturday features two further races for each category – interspersed with qualifying for the Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour.

THE ARMOR ALL Bathurst 12 Hour will again be broadcast globally following confirmation today that the live internet streaming of the race will continue this year.

Last year more than 12,000 unique viewers tuned in online across the duration of the 12 hour race, with that figure to grow this year thanks to keen interest from several websites and outlets to pick up the coverage.

As well as being streamed directly via the Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour’s own website, the live vision and commentary as the race unfolds will be available from several other (yet to be announced) sources, broadening the reach of the coverage.

Audi AG has expressed interest in broadcasting the race via their own, in-house ‘Audi TV’ online service, whilst all Event partners, teams and drivers will be provided with a direct link to the live steam for use on their own websites or social mediums.

Better and more comprehensive integration and promotion via Social Networking will also serve to drive viewership to the race coverage.

As in 2011, the coverage will feature full camera coverage, pit lane reporting and expert commentary across the day, with interaction from fans via social networking outlets such as Facebook and Twitter to be a key component of the broadcast. The Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour website will also include live timing to ensure fans don’t miss any of action across the day.

In 2011 the race became a ‘trending topic’ Australia-wide on Twitter in the closing two hours as the Audi’s battled Porsche battled for the race win.

The online coverage will compliment the final 90 minutes of the race that will be broadcast live on SPEED TV Australia across the FOX Sports network. A further 3-hour post produced show will air following the race (Saturday, March 24) covering highlights of all 12 hours.

The Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour will be contested across the February 24-26 weekend, with a full support program on Friday and Saturday bringing more than 200 cars to Mount Panorama.

Audi Sport has unveiled the pair of R8 LMS entries that they will bring to Australia for the 2012 Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour – and we reckon they look Hot. Smoking’ hot.

The team will once again feature an all-international entry (sporting a Kangaroo warning sign) and the all-Aussie combo featuring a traditionally lethal Aussie creature; the Red Back Spider. After narrowly finishing second to their team mates last year, Messers Lowndes, Eddy and Luff will be hoping the danger posed by their ‘mascot’ this year is equal to the danger posed by their speed!

Anyway… well done to Audi for so wholeheartedly embracing the event and stay tuned for more news later today!