Season Opener for Title Defender Audi in Australia
Following its win of the drivers’ and manufacturers’ classifications in the 2016 Intercontinental GT Challenge, the racing series’ 2nd season will kick off at the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour in Bathurst, Australia, on February 5, 2017.
Ten automobile manufacturers are on the grid in the GT3 category, including eight marques in the Pro Class for professional drivers, who have the best chances of claiming overall victory. The facility 200 kilometers west of Sydney enjoys a worldwide reputation of being one of the great natural race tracks. On a distance of only 6.2 kilometers, the circuit at Mount Panorama features a vertical difference of 174 meters between its highest and lowest points. Bold combinations of turns make for a fluid rhythm at high speed, while the concrete barriers close to the edge of the track do not forgive the slightest driving mistake. 56 cars in total will be sharing the track.
Since 2011, the 12-hour race has been open to GT race cars as well. Audi, as a brand having competed in the event from the very beginning, clinched overall victory in 2011 and 2012, and since then has been the only manufacturer to have triumphed twice. This year, seven Audi R8 LMS cars will be on the grid. Team Jamec Pem Racing, supported by Audi Sport customer racing, competes in the Pro Class with two strong driver squads: Christopher Mies, a two-time winner at Mount Panorama, is sharing a cockpit with his German compatriot Christopher Haase and the Australian ace Garth Tander, who has won the legendary Bathurst 1000 touring car race three times. The sister car will be driven by Frank Stippler and Markus Winkelhock, together with Robin Frijns.
