The Bend's 12-Hour Audi breaks cover

THE BEND Motorsport Park supported Audi R8 LMS Evo to be raced in the LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour has broken cover. 

The striking car will be driven by Yasser Shahin, the reigning GT World Challenge Australia champion, two-time 12-Hour winner Chris Mies and young-gun Ricardo Feller.

The predominantly Silver livery from Shahin's regular black-based theme which has been a staple for several seasons in the domestic GT scene.

The familiar Audi red and grey add highlights to the car, with the recognisable 'The Bend' signage as the primary backer.

The car sports Number 777, Shahin's regular racing number, which is also the length of The Bend's GT circuit which at 7.77km is Australia's longest.

The combination of Shahin - arguably one of the quickest Pro-Am drivers in Australia - the raw speed of Feller and Mies' enormous experience makes the Melbourne Performance Centre-run car one of the early favourites in the Bausele Watches Pro-Am class.

The 'race within a race' is expected to be fiercely competitive this year with a host of key contenders.

Among them are the Grove Racing Porsche - the car that won the Pro-Am class the last time the race also included all-pro combinations in 2020 - and the Boost Mobile-backed Triple Eight entry.

That car features Prince Jeffri Ibrahim, Jamie Whincup and Richie Stanaway in his 12-hour debut.

The Makita Volante Rosso entry of Tony Bates, David Reynolds and Jordan Love and the Fuchs Lubricants Racing Audi are also expected to feature - among other contenders.

In domestic GT racing, Shahin has claimed the last two GTWC Australia sprint titles in his Audi.

He finished seventh in last year's Bathurst 12 Hour, also racing for Audi.