Frosty, DTM & F1 stars join BMW B12hr squad

Reigning Supercars champion Mark Winterbottom will join BMW Team SRM for the 2017 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour, along with DTM champion Marco Wittmann and Formula 1 and DTM star Timo Glock.

The three new additions to the squad will be spread across the two entries. Glock will join Tony Longhurst, Mark Skaife and Russell Ingall in the ‘Bathurst Legends’ entry. Winterbottom and Wittmann, meanwhile, will be paired with team boss and lead driver Steve Richards in the #100 BMW Team SRM M6 GT3.

Winterbottom joins the team as the reigning Supercars champion, having broken through for his maiden title with Prodrive Racing Australia last season. ‘Frosty’ and Richards have prior form at Bathurst, the pair teaming up to win the Bathurst 1000 back in 2013. His addition to the team takes the total number of Great Race wins across the two line-ups to 15.

“This is my first Bathurst 12 Hour, which is exciting. GT3 cars are obviously very cool to drive, and having all-professional line-ups in the top cars really makes it feel like a proper race to me,” Winterbottom said.

“It’s changed my whole view on it. To have all these well-credentialed drivers going at it for 12 Hours, that’s going to be very cool to be a part of.

“Steve and I have had a lot of cracks at Bathurst together. We won together in 2013, which was incredible. That was the last time we raced there together, so we’re coming off the back of a win, technically. ‘Richo’ is easy to drive with, and working with him will make it an enjoyable week. It’s good when you know someone and you’ve worked with them before. I really enjoyed all the times we raced at Bathurst together in the past, and that was one of the things that made the decision easy for me.”

Both Wittmann and Glock join through the team’s involvement with BMW Motorsport in Europe.

Wittmann cut his teeth in Formula BMW in Europe before a three-year stint in European Formula 3. He returned to the brand as a GT driver and DTM test driver in 2012, before being promoted to a DTM race seat in 2013. Wittman went on to win his first DTM title in 2014, backing this up with a second championship in 2016 aboard the BMW M4 DTM.

Glock also started his career in Formula BMW, before a long stint in open-wheelers that saw him win a GP2 title and spend five seasons as a full-time Formula 1 driver. After leaving F1 at the end of the 2012 season, he joined BMW’s DTM program, where he has raced for the last four seasons.

Steven Richards said he was confident the all-star driving squad ‘couldn’t possibly be better’ ahead of their 2017 12-hour campaign.

“It's fantastic that we can announce three exceptional drivers are joining BMW Team SRM for our two-car assault on the 2017 Bathurst 12 hour.

“Frosty and I have past experience at Bathurst, and share a career highlight together with our win there in 2013. Since then has added a Supercars championship to his CV, so there’s no doubt he’ll help us be in the hunt for a great result in February.

“BMW Group Australia has connected us with BMW Motorsport in Europe to help facilitate the inclusion of recently-crowned DTM champion Marco Wittmann in our driving lineup. As a two-time DTM winner for BMW, and with his experience driving the BMW M6 GT3, he will bring a huge amount to the table at Bathurst.

“With Timo joining Tony, Skaifey and Russell, I couldn't have possibly asked for a better lineup for BMW Team SRM to head to our first Bathurst 12 hour with.”

Tickets and Camping can be purchased for the 2017 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour via www.bathurst12hour.com.au.