A RECORD 12 overseas entries will make the 2012 Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour the most ‘international’ race to be held at Mount Panorama since the 1987 Bathurst 1000 that doubled as a round of the World Touring Car Championship.

A 32 car field has entered to take the starter of the February 26 race, the second to be held under regulations that allow international GT3-specification vehicles to enter. Last year Audi finished 1-2 in the race, though the outright field is substantially deeper this time around and looks set to offer a much sterner challenge for the outright win.

Last year the race had 26 entrants including six from overseas.

16 International entrants started the 1987 Bathurst 1000, the last time that Bathurst had a true international invasion of competing vehicles and crews.

An improved 14 cars make up the combined Production and Invitational classes, continuing the great Bathurst tradition of class racing on the mountain.

Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour Entry List – In facts and figures:

- 32 Cars (up from 26 in 2011)
- 16 Marques, 23 models
- 12 International vehicles (includes Erebus Racing Mercedes – Australian ‘entrant’ but international car.)
- 10 cars in ‘Outright GT3 Class A’.
- Current Australian Porsche Carrera Cup Champion (3x champion Craig Baird)
- Current Touring Car Masters Champion (John Bowe)
- Current Australian GT Champion (Mark Eddy)
- 4 former Bathurst 1000 winners (totaling 11 wins) (Craig Lowndes, Steven Richards, John Bowe, Bob Holden)
- 2 former Australian Touring Car / V8 Supercar champions (Craig Lowndes, John Bowe)
- 6 former Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour winners (Craig Baird, Rod Salmon, Damien White, John Bowe, Christopher Mies, Daryl O’Young).
- 33 International drivers (At present – several drivers yet to be confirmed)
- 1 Porsche International Supercup Champion (2x Champ Jeroen Bleekemolen)
- 2 LeMans 24 Hour Class winners (Bleekemolen, LMP2 in 2008 & Peter Kox, GTS class in 2003)
- 1 Daytona 24 Hour Class winner (Farnbacher, Porsche, 2005)
- Teams that finished first, second and third in 2011 Production Car (High Performance) class.
- Teams that finished first, second and third in 2011 Production Car (Performance) class.
- Current Bathurst ‘outright’ Lap Record holder (Allan Simonsen)
- Winners of the most two recent major endurance races (Jeroen Bleekemolen – Dubai 24hr, Matt Griffin – Gulf 12 Hour / Abu Dhabi)

Click HERE to download the entry list.

GRANDSTAND SEATING at the Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour has sold out – however there are still plenty of affordable ticketing options available for fans interested to attend the Event.

Event Ticket retailer Ticketek sold the final few three-day grandstand passes late last week, the first time the main pit straight stand has sold out since the return of the race in 2007.

No temporary stands will be erected; however fans can still purchase three-day general admission passes for as low as $30.00 (Concession) that provides access to all GA areas around the circuit, plus the paddock area.

Single-day admission starts as low as $10.00 on Friday and ranges to $25.00 for a full adult ticket on Sunday for the Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour race itself.

Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour spectators have unparalleled access to facilities and the teams, with paddock entry free to spectators across the weekend. Big Screen coverage is provided on pit straight with cameras around the circuit and a dedicated commentary team ensuring not a moment is missed.

In addition to children under 12 being admitted free of charge, in 2012 all secondary school students will also be admitted free of charge on producing their student ID.

Promoter James O’Brien said he was pleased with the way sales were progressing – with more than a month remaining until the February 24-26 Event begins.

“Pre-sales are tracking higher than they were at the same time last year and the fact the main grandstand is sold out reflects the growing interest in the Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour,” He said.

“This is not an Event that traditionally has a significant pre-sale component to ticketing, our attendance is from walk-ups across the weekend and from people making a weekend of it – but this year it seems more people are making sure they get in early.

“Camp site and corporate hospitality bookings are also very healthy. There is still a lot of work to do and a long way to go but we are pleased with the response to the 2012 Event so far.”

Tickets are available online at Ticketek.

For more information head to the all new website – www.bathurst12hour.com.au, or follow the race on Facebook (facebook.com/Bathurst12hour) or twitter (@bathurst12hour).

EREBUS Racing will enter the Armor All Bathurst 12 hour this February after all.

After months of speculation and rumour, the highly professional Australian GT team will partner with German team Black Falcon Racing and will run one of the two Mercedes Benz SLS AMG entries nominated for the February 24-26 Event.

That international cooperation is also reflected in an all-star driver line up announced today.

Regular Erebus driver Peter Hackett, a former open-wheel champion, will lead the squad that will also include Stone Brothers Racing V8 Supercar star Tim Slade, two-time Porsche Supercup champion and A1GP race winner Jeroen Bleekemolen (who also won the Dubai 24 Hour in a Black Falcon Mercedes, at the weekend) and American sportscar racer, Bret Curtis.

The partnership between Erebus and Black Falcon looks to mix local knowledge – Erebus performed strongly at the Australian GT round held on the Mountain last October – with the German teams endurance experience in an outfit that will enter the race amongst the outright favourites against strong outright / Class A teams already confirmed from Audi, Ferrari, Lamborghini and Mosler.

“For Erebus Racing it is just about the ideal way to tackle the race,” Peter Hackett said.

“It will be a good thing to blend Black Falcon’s international GT racing experience and the local experience that Erebus Racing has to form the strongest team we can. We are really excited to be part of the Event, even if it took a bit longer than expected to put the deal together, and want to go out there and represent for our sponsors and supporters as best we can.

“Black Falcon have shown what they are capable of in long distance racing And I think Erebus has shown they we are to be taken seriously in Australia. The partnership makes a lot of sense and I believe it can bring a lot of success for both parties.”

Hackett explained securing a driving squad with a wide breadth of pace, experience and ability was critical to a successful campaign.

“We have a fantastic group of drivers locked in,” Hackett said.

“Jeroen and Bret obviously have plenty of experience at endurance racing and in working with the Black Falcon guys. Tim is one of the great young stars of V8 racing and we’re really pleased to have him on board. He’ll bring a lot of speed and experience to the crew and we already have a good working relationship from working together on drive days I run.

“Personally I’m really excited to get back to Bathurst in the Mercedes Benz SLS AMG and put on a great show.”

26-year-old Tim Slade finished 9th in the 2011 V8 Supercar Championship for Lucky 7 Racing in a season that included his first career podium finish, at Queensland Raceway.

Slade has one 12 Hour start to his credit – teaming up with Trevor Keene in a Mini in 2007 – but said there was no reason why the Erebus combination couldn’t challenge for victory in 2012.

“I can’t see why we won’t be going for a win,” Slade said.

“I’ve watched Bleekemolen for years in (Porsche) Supercup and A1GP, and Pete has been going really well in the GT Championship so it is a strong combination. It is great to be able to work with one of the most professional GT teams in Australia, Erebus Racing, and take it up to the Internationals that are coming down.

“It’s also a bit of an advantage for me to help my main job – any laps at Bathurst are great, especially in a car that runs at a similar pace to the V8. But I’m excited to be running and working with the Erebus guys and from AMG.”

Slade explained that he has started speaking to Hackett about the drive several months ago, whilst working together on a drive experience day Hackett’s company organises.

“I asked Pete what he was planning for the 12 Hour around the middle to latter half of last year when we were doing some driver training and since then I’ve been quite excited about getting in the car. He’s done a great job of pulling it all together and combining Erebus’ local knowledge with the experience at longer races and pit stops that Black Falcon has.

“Big thanks to Pete for making it all happen!”

Since its debut in 2010, the SLS has become one of the most successful GT3-specification cars around, having tasted success in major of the world’s major endurance races.

Much like Mark Eddy and his Audi R8, Peter Hackett became the first driver to race one of the 6.3-litre, gull-winged Supercars outside of Europe when Erebus Racing made its Australian debut in early 2011.

For more information follow the race on Facebook (facebook.com/Bathurst12hour) or twitter (@bathurst12hour).

The closing stages of the Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour will be broadcast live on SPEED Australia.