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Record Bathurst endurance field set to start 6 Hour
THE Bathurst 6 Hour field has dropped below capacity courtesy of a race-day withdrawal, but still stands at 71 – well ahead of the record for the number of cars to start an endurance car race at Mount Panorama.
The #28 BMW 335i of Peter O’Donnell, Garry Mennell and Scott Turner is confirmed to be out of action due to engine issues, bringing the field down from the capacity 72 to 71, but still well ahead of the record of 64 starters set in 2014.
The Class B1 entry was one of six cars which failed to set a time in qualifying yesterday.
The 335i has had a history of success at Mount Panorama, twice winning the Bathurst 12 Hour.
The first of those outright triumphs came in 2007 with Craig Baird, Garry Holt and Paul Morris sharing the driving duties, before Holt, Morris and John Bowe steered it to another victory in 2010.
Two of the three cars which crashed during Practice 3 yesterday are back today, the #2 BMW 125i of Andrew McMaster/Brett Osborn/Luke Harrison and #142 Honda Integra of Rob Zoanetti/Shayne Nowickyj/Mitchell McGarry both having been repaired.
The other Practice 3 victim, BMW M3 outright contenders Michael Auld/Hayden Auld/Tyler Everingham, was withdrawn and replaced by the Ford Mustang of Tim Brook/Jarrod Hughes/Graham Cheney.
A total of 69 cars took part in the Sunday morning warm-up session which was topped by Tim Leahey on a 2m22.0648s.
The exceptions who didn’t make it out for the 20-minute hitout were the #58 Toyota 86 of Carlos and Annabelle Rolfo, and the Class B2 pole-sitting #19 BMW M3 of Richard Shinkfield/Ettore Vosolo/Chris Holdt.
Race start is scheduled for 11:15am with live coverage on SBS, Fox Sports and Kayo Sports, as well as a live stream for international viewers.
Coverage Provided by V8 Sleuth