Five key storylines for the 2026 Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour

IT’S a hard race to win — and that’s why they keep coming back.

It’s Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour time, with Mount Panorama alive with the sound of the world’s best GT3 racers and teams.

Across 35 cars, there are 115 drivers representing 22 nationalities. The field includes nine former winners for a total of 15 Bathurst 12 Hour victories.

You guessed it: it's a stacked field, and in 2026, good luck picking a winner.

Can WRT go back-to-back?

It has already been a year to remember for WRT, which is chasing a second straight Bathurst win. Valentino Rossi wants to be the man to do it in 2026, having finished second in 2025. However, WRT has two star entries, and after a 1-2 last year, there's every chance they can do it again.

Ford vs GM, Bathurst 12 Hour style

Ford and General Motors have dominated the Australian racing scene for decades, but now, they’re taking on the Mountain in February. The HRT Mustang is a leading contender for victory, while the JMR Corvettes have serious firepower. Amid the fight for overall victory, which one will emerge ahead of the other?

Australia vs the world

There’s a serious Aussie contingent at this year’s 12 Hour, led by 11 full-time Supercars drivers. Chaz Mostert, Broc Feeney, Cam Waters… the list goes on. The Waters/Mostert/Thomas Randle Mercedes-AMG will be one to watch, while Feeney has been entrusted a factory drive with HRT Ford Racing. Outside the Supercars contingent, look no further than two-time winner Matt Campbell, who wants to make it three.

Can Gounon cement legacy as 12 Hour GOAT?

A three-time winner already, Jules Gounon is arguably the Bathurst 12 Hour’s greatest driver. While we’ve boldly predicted the 75 Express car will miss the podium, Gounon and co. will be having none of that. An unprecedented fourth 12 Hour win would cement Gounon as one of the Mountain’s all-time greatest.

More cars = more drama?

With more contenders in the race, there’s every chance battles up and down the field will involve multiple cars. With everything on the line, that usually ends in drama in Bathurst. We’ve tipped the 2000 kilometre number will be breached, but Safety Cars will put paid to that.