The 2018 B12hr grid - the cars

ITS a mouth-watering array of machinery with 11 brands and a host of different models represented - with some of the most impressive machinery around.

Here's a look at the brands involved in the 2018 race - it's quite a mix!

Audi

Two-time 12-hour winners Audi will field perhaps their best attack ever on Bathurst, boosted by the addition of the two Audi Sport Team WRT entries which will both definitely contend. Powered by the mid-mounted V10 and famed for it's aero performance across the top of the Mountain, the R8 is one of the most successful GT3 cars ever constructed.

Bentley

More renowned for their supreme luxury range of high-end motor vehicles, Bentley's Continental GT3 is now an icon of the class. With essentially 1000kg removed from the road car weight and a wide, stable platform the car is supremely effective at Bathurst. And it's thumping turbocharged V8 sounds like no other race car the Mountain has seen. Bentley has finished fourth, third and third in the last three 12-hour races in Bathurst. What will 2018 bring?

BMW

2018 marks BMWs best shot at a Bathurst victory since they closed the Production Car era with a victory in 2010. While the M6GT3 has now had a full year's worth of development and testing in local hands, the M4 GT4 is a highly anticipated arrival to the 'baby' GT category. Six entries in two classes give them a very good chance in each.

Daytona / Dodge

The Melbourne-based privateer Daytona Sportscar team returns with two cars this year - their home grown Daytona Coupe and their converted GT3 Dodge Viper. Both have enormous engines - the Coupe' a V8 and the Viper 10 cylinders - and they are both the fastest cars down Conrod and up Mountain Straight.. the Coupe' clocked at over 307km/hr two years ago. Aussie privateer ingenuity at its finest.

Ginetta

The renowned British racing car constructor was in GT4 competition basically before GT4 was really 'a thing' and their cars are highly effective. The cars were well suited to the Mountain last year and should compete with the factory BMWs and KTMs again in 2018.

KTM

Built by two-wheel constructor KTM, the X-Bow is one of the most insane cars around. Four cylinder turbo power is bolted into a lightweight all-carbon chassis and.. that's about it. Their fighter-pilot style cockpit and raw carbon appearance make these things totally unique. Fielded one car last year and it was quick, so an expanded two-car attack this year is expected to deliver more results for the now four-wheeled brand.

Lamborghini

Lambo will be represented by two models. The Gallardo RE-X was developed by German company Reiter Engineering and is now in essentially its last evolution cycle before the end of its run. Sharing much of the driveline and platform with the Audi R8, it's different aero properties give it different strengths and weaknesses. The Hurracan GT3 was developed in-house by the Italian brand and is the future for their racing in GT3.

MARC

Aussie designed, sourced and built, the MARC Cars entries have become a popular addition to endurance races everywhere. Based on a custom chassis with bolt-on panels from a Mazda 3 or Ford Focus, the cars are powered by a Ford Coyote V8 and will lap Bathurst all day without much stress - as they are designed to do. 2018 will witness the global debut of the MARC II racer, which aims to evolve the concept to the next level but with more performance and a sharp new suit as well.

McLaren

While the original 12C GT3 was fast but fragile, the 650S GT3 has become one of the best GT3 cars around since its inception. Mid-mounted turbo V8 power, plenty of aero and incredible looks make this car one of the most popular. Strong in almost all areas of a lap, the 650S  GT3 remains the fastest ever car officially around Mount Panorama to this day..

Mercedes-AMG

If anything follows the Bathurst recipe of success it's the AMG GT3: Put a massive engine up the front, a big wing at the back and send it. The GT took everything good about its predecessor, the SLS - including the thumping 6.2-litre V8 - and added it to a svelte new body with better aero. It has since become the preeminent GT3 car of the last three years and has swept all before it in Europe. After coming so close last year, AMG has doubled down in 2018 with arguably its best ever all-round attack.

Porsche

Bathurst is just about all that remains on Porsche's 'to-do' list in World Motorsport, outside perhaps of Formula 1. The World Endurance Champions have never won Bathurst but have tasted success in almost every other GT 'major' around the world. Porsche are the most numerical brand this year and are the only one represented in three classes. The Cayman GT4 will aim to defend it's class victory, while Class B is all about the Cup Cars that usually compete in one-make competition. Meanwhile, the GT3R finished second and fourth on its Bathurst debut last year and this year returns with four entries that each could be considered contenders. The Weissach wonders are playing for keeps this year..