IndyCar champion joins 12-Hour grid

PAUL TRACY, the 2003 Champ Car series champion and a former winner of the Gold Coast IndyCar race, will join the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour grid in 2019.

The Canadian racer will replace Boris Said aboard the MARC Cars Australia entry alongside Paul Morris and car owner, Keith Kassulke.

Said, who was initially announced to return to Bathurst just before Christmas, was unfortunately injured while training on his dirt bike ahead of the event - necessitating a replacement driver.

Tracy was suggested to Morris by Australian broadcaster Leigh Diffey, who works with him on NBC Sports coverage of the IndyCar series.

It will be his first start at Mount Panorama, though the now 5o-year-old is hardly short of racing experience.

Having made his IndyCar debut with Dale Coyne Racing in 1991, Tracy was quickly signed by Roger Penske, and raced for Penske Racing's IndyCar outfit through the 1997 season.

He remained a regular contender for five subsequent seasons with Team Green, before a fruitful switch to Forsythe Racing finally delivered him a long-awaited championship in the 2003 Champ Car World Series.

Tracy also has experience in NASCAR competition as well as multiple starts in long-distance racing in GrandAm and IMSA competition.

Click here for comments from Tracy about his Bathurst 12-Hour debut.