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RACE WEEK UNDERWAY AT MOUNT PANORAMA
THE HI-TEC Oils Bathurst 6 Hour race week has commenced, the region set to welcome an influx of competitors, teams and fans from around Australia for the Easter long weekend.More than 300 competitors – including a record 66-car Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour grid – will compete this weekend, bringing a huge number of people to the region for the week.Last year more than 15,000 people attended the three-day Event, with this year’s strong fields and added interest set to continue the growth of Bathurst’s newest enduro upwards.Teams will begin to arrive at Mount Panorama on Wednesday, with pre-event scrutineering and media activities taking place on Thursday before the cars hit the track for practice on Friday morning.Recognised drivers including John Bowe, Craig Baird, Chaz Mostert, Tim Slade, Nathan Morcom and more will be part of the grid.Meanwhile, several brand-new cars will be shown off for the first time, adding to the ‘showroom showdown’ nature of the race.The debut of the Ford Focus RS Turbo will give blue oval fans something to cheer about, while an expanded fleet of Mercedes-AMG A45s will add to the euro flavour at the pointy-end of the grid.The class battles will also be a highlight with a huge array of cars from 18 brands set to take the start on Sunday morning.The packed on-track program includes 33 sessions that will culminate in the start of the second annual Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour at 11:30am on Easter Sunday.Other highlights will include qualifying for the race on Saturday, with the field split into halves to set the grid – the bottom 50% of cars to set their time first before the major outright contenders hit the track soon afterwards.Support categories include the Group C+A Heritage Touring Cars, Group N Historic Touring Cars, Production Sports, HQ Holdens and the NSW Porsche Club regularity.Live streaming of the entire six-hour race will be available through the www.bathurst6hour.com.au website, the event social media channels and the MotorsportsTV live app available for iPhone and Android platforms, opening the event to an international audience.Meanwhile, an expanded post-produced media package will see two hours of highlights broadcast on the popular SBS TV show Speedweek in the weeks following the Event.Mount Panorama’s world-class live timing system will be available from first practice on Friday, with timing and statistics from every session to be live via the Event website.The timing system includes a customisable running order page, vehicle tracker and statistics page allowing fans to follow the race from afar – or at the circuit – closer than ever. At the circuit, fans will have access to super screens to watch the race on Sunday, while commentary will be provided on the circuit radio FM frequency and the public address system.Tickets remain available and also remain the best way to watch the race.As well as enjoying general admission access to the entire circuit, a GA ticket also includes access to the paddock area, the pit straight grandstand and the pit building roof.Friday access starts at $10, while a three-day GA ticket purchased online is just $35. Children 12 and under will be admitted free alongside a paying adult.Tickets can be purchased online via the Bathurst 6 Hour website, with tickets purchased online priced more affordably than those purchased at the gate during the Event.Campsites can still be purchased on arrival at the circuit this week.For more information please visit www.bathurst6hour.com.au or interact with the event on social media with the #B6HR hashtag.