V8 Touring Cars eligible for B12hr invitational class
21 Mar 2022
V8 TOURING CARS will join the broad array of cars eligible for the 2022 LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour Invitational Class.
Ex-Supercars with a V8 Touring Car logbook - that currently compete in the Dunlop Super3 Series - will be eligible to join cars from MARC Cars Australia and 'GTC' Sports Cars, from one-make categories including the Ferrari Challenge, Lamborghini Trofeo Supercup and Audi R8 Cup, in the race this year.
The addition of the pre-Car of the Future Supercars to the eligibility list gives competitors with suitable machinery a chance to tackle a long-distance race at Mount Panorama, outside of their Dunlop Super2/3 commitments and sprint racing opportunities in the Combined Sedans category.
The move is also not without precedent: well-known Touring Car privateer Mal Rose pairing up with Aaron Tebb and Adam Wallis to power his ex-Garry Rogers Motorsport VZ Commodore to 12th place outright and the Invitational category win in the 2013 12-hour.
Rose had campaigned his car, modified for long-distance racing, internationally, including in the Sepang 12 Hour and Nürburgring 24 Hour, and had long harboured an ambition to compete in the 12-Hour with the machine.
After qualifying 23rd outright, the car performed reliably all day to deliver the trio victory in the Invitational class that weekend.
V8 Touring Cars currently compete under the Super3 banner alongside the Dunlop Super2 Series.
Eligible cars are pre-Car of the Future Holden Commodores (up to VEII) and Ford Falcons (FG).
The addition of the cars to the Bathurst 12 Hour eligibility list comes with the support of V8 Touring Cars' Category Managers, ARG, and Supercars.
Young guns Kai Allen and Bradley Vaughan currently co-lead the Super3 Series following their opening round, held recently at Sydney Motorsport Park.
Nash Morris, the son of former Bathurst 12 Hour winner Paul, is the reigning series champion.
The 2022 LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour will be held on May 13-15 this year, with tickets available now via Ticketek.
