Triple Eight name sponsor, drivers for B12hr Pro entry

TRIPLE EIGHT Race Engineering has named their driving squad and major sponsor for their attack on the 2023 LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour. 

Supercheap Auto will take pole position on Triple Eight Race Engineering’s 2023 Bathurst 12 Hour entry, while the the #888 Mercedes-AMG GT3’s PRO line-up will feature Shane van Gisbergen and Broc Feeney, alongside Mercedes-AMG performance driver Maximilian Götz, and will represent Mercedes-AMG in round one of the Intercontinental GT Challenge Powered by Pirelli.

This year’s event in May, at which PRO-AM was the top class, was hugely successful for Triple Eight, whose two entries finished first and third outright.

This was the second win in the famed endurance race for the Brisbane-based team, which also claimed victory in 2017 while working with Maranello Motorsport.

Last time the Bathurst 12 Hour featured the all-PRO class was 2020 when the final hour came down to the wire and Triple Eight clinched third.

After his recent win at the Bathurst International’s three-hour GT race, Feeney is excited to be taking on Mount Panorama again in an AMG.

“Any day you get to drive at Bathurst is a good day, let alone in these cars. It’s really cool to have the top teams and drivers from around the world coming back to Australia, and getting the chance to go head-to-head with them around one of the best race tracks in the world will be next level.”

The 2022 Supercars Championship rookie has competed in the Bathurst 1000 three times and the Bathurst 12 Hour twice, and enjoys the opportunity to diversify as a driver.

“It’s definitely an adjustment switching between the right-hand drive supercar and the left-hand drive GT car,” he said.

“But once you’ve got your eye in and you’ve tuned in your spatial awareness, it’s so much fun. The AMG GT3 is a weapon and our Supercheap Auto livery is going to look incredible on track. I can’t wait to do our part to try to repeat the Mercedes-AMG podium lock-out we had in 2022.”

Benjamin Ward, Managing Director of Supercheap Auto added: “We’re excited to be partnering with Triple Eight Race Engineering in the 2023 LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour event.

“The once-around-the-clock race is a spectacular event with the worlds’ best drivers on track and great entertainment off-track.

“This announcement is an extension of our partnership with Triple Eight and also the Bathurst community, both of which we’re very proud to support.

“We can’t wait to get back to the mountain in February and make Bathurst SUPER.”

Stefan Wendl, Head of Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing added: “We’re honored to partner with the championship winning Triple Eight team for the 2023 Bathurst 12 Hour, fielding an all-PRO-outfit.

“With the support of strong partners and in the hands of Shane, Broc and Maxi I believe the team have what it takes to be a competitive trio to tackle the infamous Mount Panorama.”

The 2023 Bathurst 12 Hour is scheduled to run 3-5 February.