News
Bathurst 6 Hour field locked at 70
THE FIELD for the 2022 Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour has been confirmed at 70 cars.
88 official entry forms were lodged for the event, a modern record for an endurance race at Mount Panorama.
Grid density for the race has been set at 70 cars, based on the number of available garage spaces available for competitors at the event.
Should more than 64 cars start the 2022 race next Easter, it will be the largest ever grid for a Bathurst enduro.
With a larger entry for the race than spots available on the grid, Event Organisers reverted to the rulebook – which allows for such a scenario – and implemented a thorough process to select the 70 cars that would be offered a place on the Bathurst grid next Easter.
Emphasis was placed on a broad scope of criteria, including ensuring a strong spread of competition across each of the eight classes.
Entrants not selected for the race have been notified by organisers and placed on a standby list should an existing entrant withdraw prior to the race.
The full Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour entry list will be released early in the new year.
KEN COLLIER – Event Director, Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour
“This is an unprecedented situation, and it comes two months before entries were due to originally close for the race,” Collier said.
“The demand for spots on the Bathurst 6 Hour grid resulted in 88 teams lodging the correct entry paperwork and paying their entry fees for the race.
“Unfortunately, the track density and pit lane garage capacity means we can not run more than 70 cars so we had to work through a process to select the 70 that will make the final entry list.
“We have written personally to every entrant who was not fortunate enough to make the final cut.
“We understand their disappointment and we share in it because it was a very difficult process to undertake, and its one we did with as much respect for the competitors and their entries as possible.
“We are very appreciative that they wanted to enter the race in the first place and hope that they continue to share that passion for the race moving forward.
“It is extremely rare that events or categories are placed in a position where there are too many entries rather than too few, so this has been a challenging experience for the Bathurst 6 Hour team as well.
“Everyone who has been contacted has the option to remain on the stand-by list for the race, meaning that should an entered competitor withdraw prior to the event they could be elevated into the main field.
“Those who don’t make the race will have their entry fee fully refunded.”