Quality field building for Bathurst Combined Sedans

THE diverse Duggan Family Hotels Combined Sedans grid returns to the Repco Bathurst 12 Hour support program in 2024.

The category, a combined grid of several different classes for both spaceframe and ‘chassis’ tin-top vehicles - including Sports Sedans, Improved Production, V8 Touring Cars, Trans AM / TA2 and Production Cars - has become a staple of the 12-Hour undercard - always providing both big fields and great racing.

While entries remain open, the broad 2024 grid already confirmed includes competitors from all corners of Australia – including several making the long journey from the West this year.

Those contenders at the pointy end are expected to include Mark Duggan in his Aston Martin DBRS9 Sports Sedan, plus 2023 winner Geoff Taunton aboard a brand-new Marc GT SS.

Former Combined Sedans winners including Paul Boschert (Corvette), Steve Lacey (MARC GT) and the similar MARC Cars of Tony Grove and Stuart Eustice also feature.

Experienced Kiwi Angus Fogg will run his fire-breathing Ford Mustang, having contested several Australian Sports Sedan series rounds in late 2023, while Antony Levitt’s Mercedes AMG C63, a Bathurst 6 Hour regular, is likely to be among the quicker Production Car entrants.

Michael Kavich, another 6-Hour contender, will field his BMW M2 Competition in ‘race for a cure’ colours, while Matt Longhurst will bring his wild, Sports Sedan-specification Honda Integra from Adelaide for the event.

New additions include the West Aussie husband and wife team of Sue and Lib Palermo, the former entering a Mercedes AMG C63 and the latter a VE Commodore.

Duggan Family Hotels will sponsor the category for the third consecutive year in 2024.

Bathurst Combined Sedans has been a stalwart category of the Bathurst 12-hour weekend since 2016, run by Category Managers, Steven & Bronwyn Lacey of Ripplestrip Motorsport.

This year’s event will represent a change for Lacey, the former NSW Sports Sedan champion stepping from his regular flame-throwing yellow Camaro of the past decade into a new Marc GT SS for the first time.

“This will be a whole new ball game, driving a car with power steering and paddle shift sequential gears,” Lacey said.

“With the car still in construction, I can’t wait to jump in for a shakedown at Queensland Raceway in January.”

Added Category Manager, Bronwyn Lacey: “Keep an eye out for the V8 giant killers in their turbo sixes and fours, that are very handy across the top of the Mountain and pretty quick on the straights, such as Greg Boyle in his Nissan R32 GTR and any of the Mitsubishi Evo & BMW’s that have entered.”

The Duggan Family Hotels Combined Sedans field will tackle three races across the Friday and Saturday of the 2024 Repco Bathurst 12 Hour, this February 16-18.

ENTRY LIST (As of 5 January, 2024)