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FIELD SET FOR 2019 HI-TEC OILS BATHURST 6 HOUR
THE FINAL make-up of the 2019 Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour grid points to another competitive Bathurst classic this Easter Sunday. The field has firmed at 44 competitive combinations, spread across six classes.ENTRY LIST – Click here for the final 2019 Bathurst 6 Hour Entry ListLate changes include the addition of experienced racer Garth Walden to the Race for a cure Mitsubishi Lancer EVO shared by Sydney brothers, Ben and Michael Kavich.The addition of the former World Time Attack champion is expected to further elevate that cars chances of an outright result.GWR also confirmed this week the return of their popular Mercedes AMG A45, the same as the car that finished third in the race last year.The hot hatch will be piloted by Michael Auld, Richard Bloomfield and Brian Walden in the trio’s fourth consecutive 6-hour together – a record that includes two class victories.Dylan Thomas has confirmed Kyle Austin will share his HI-Tec Oils Mitsubishi, while the always exciting Jordan Cox returns for a second six-hour stint in a similar Lancer, driving with father, Graeme, and Daniel Smith.Bathurstians will have a strong local car to cheer for, Brad Schumacher’s Kelso Electrical Subaru to be shared by fellow local Brad Shiels and experienced GT racer Mark Griffith.The A1 (Extreme Performance, Forced induction) class also includes current Formula 4 champion Jayden Ojeda sharing a BMW M135i with Simon Hodges and Iain Salteri.Defending champions Grant and Iain Sherrin (BMW M4), 2018 polesitters Beric Lynton and Tim Leahey (BMW M3) plus the Jeremy Gray, Andrew Miedecke and George Miedecke FPV Falcon and Joe Krinelos, Tony Virag and John Bowe HSV Commodore add to the list of strong contenders.Class A2 (Extreme Performance, Normally Asiprated) includes the debut of an E92 BMW M3, built for the race by Garage 1 in Melbourne for Porsche Carrera Cup racer Anthony Gilbertson and Andrew Mill.Class B will be contested over one class, the forced induction and normally aspirated entries merged for this year.Highlights include the father and son combination of Geoff and David Russell sharing a BMW 135i and the Orange-based Midwest Multimedia VW Golf of James Keene, Matt Thewlis and Richard Best.Ellexandra Best is also a new addition to the field, sharing a Subaru Impreza with Christopher Gleeson.The highlight of class C will be the debut of the brand new N-Gen Racing outfit, which will field two cars for the first time.The pair of Hyundai I30N entries mark the first time that the extremely popular hot hatch will have competed at Mount Panorama.Meanwhile, David Baker and Brian Callaghan will attempt to defend their 2018 Class D victory with a return to their Honda Integra Type R, against a host of competitive Toyota 86s.Class E includes a team entered by a majority Kiwi-based team, the No. 51 Mazda including two New Zealand drivers and a crew mainly from across the Tasman as well.They will need to beat the defending class champions (Andrew McMaster, David Noble, David Worrell, Mazda SP25) should they wish to be the first Kiwi team to win their class in the six-hour.The Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour field will tackle practice on Good Friday (19 April) ahead of qualifying for the big race on Saturday. The 2019 edition commences at 11:30am on Easter Sunday (21 April) and will be shown live on FOX Sports 506, Kayo Sports and via an international live stream available via the Bathurst 6 Hour website.Ticket sales are available online via the event website, while campgrounds can still be purchased at the gate.