24 February 2016 | General

PRODUCTION CAR RESURGENCE SET FOR BATHURST 6 HOUR

THE Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour enduro looks set to drive a resurgence in Australian Production Car Racing thanks to the massive field entered for the inaugural race, to be held this Easter. 53 fully paid-up entries (see following list) have been received to date, with more yet to finalise details prior to having their entry ‘officially’ confirmed and added to the list prior to the March 25-27 event.Organisers now expect a field of at least 55 cars take to the track for first practice on Friday, 25 March.  The diverse field includes representation from 13 different brands and more than 20 different vehicle models, ranging from the outright-contending Mitsubishi Lancers to the popular Toyota 86 coupe that makes up a majority of Class D.BMW (12 entries) is the best represented marque while Mitsubishi (9), Holden Special Vehicles (7), Toyota (6) and Renault (5) models also feature strongly on the entry list.”We are very pleased with the reception to the inaugural Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour and the way Production Car competitors have again embraced their opportunity to headline a major endurance race at Mount Panorama,” Event Director James O’Brien said.”We have exceeded our target of 40 entrants, with a great cross-section of vehicles set to provide genuine class battles across the field.”We’re confident that this Race will be a boost for Production Car Racing and will also deliver the Bathurst region a new ‘destination’ Event for the Easter long weekend.”A majority of the most successful team and car combinations from the last five years of Production Car Racing have committed to Bathurst’s newest race, with a mix of national and state level champions confirmed.Reigning Australian Manufacturers Championship winners Sherrin Racing feature, as do regular national-level race winners Beric Lynton (BMW 1M), Melbourne Performance Centre (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X RS) and CXC Global Racing (Mitsubishi).Meanwhile, the two-time Bathurst 12 Hour winning BMW 335i Turbo will again seek to conquer the Mountain at an outright capacity thanks to its entry from local team, GWS Motorsport.21 cars make up the cars in Classes A1 and A2 – the Extreme Performance machinery expected to battle for outright honours.A further 9 cars in classes B1 and B2 for High Performance cars will also be highly competitive, while 9 will also fight for the competitive Production Performance Class C, made up of hot hatches from BMW, Renault and Mazda.Three Ford Falcon Saloon Car entries have been received with that trio to race under the Invitational banner. Entries closed on 19 February ahead of the race on 27 March 2016. The race will be streamed live via www.bathurstmotorfestival.com.au on Easter Sunday, with highlights to subsequently air on SBS Speedweek.Tickets and camping are on sale via the Bathurst Motor Festival website with savings available for those booking in advance.The Bathurst Motor Festival is proudly supported by the NSW Government as part of its Regional Flagship Events Program.ENTRY LISTS – As at 24 February, 2016. CLASSCOMPETITORNATIONALITYAUTOMOBILEA1Adam Proctor AustralianSubaru Impreza WRX StiA1Alan EastAustralianMitsubishi Lancer EVO IX RSA1Anthony AlfordAustralianBMW M Coupe (1 Series) E82A1Beric LyntonAustralianBMW M Coupe (1 Series) E82A1Glenn GerstelAustralianMitsubishi Lancer EVO X RSA1David SearleAustralianBMW M135i Hatch F20A1Dylan ThomasAustralianMitsubishi Lancer EVO IX  RSA1Dylan ThomasAustralianMitsubishi Lancer EVO IX  RSA1Jacques OosthuizenAustralianMitsubishi Lancer EVO V111 RSA1Jim PollicinaAustralianMitsubishi Lancer EVO X RSA1Jim PollicinaAustralianMitsubishi Lancer EVO X RSA1Kintyre Holdings Pty LtdAustralianBMW M Coupe (1 Series) E82A1Melbourne Performance CentreAustralianMitsubishi Lancer EVO X RSA1Melbourne Performance CentreAustralianMitsubishi Lancer EVO X RSA2Brett HeeleyAustralianHolden VX-HSV GTSA2Daniel FlanaganAustralianHolden VY-HSV GTSA2Graeme MuirAustralianHolden VE-HSV GTSA2Luke Spalding AustralianHolden VZ-HSV R8 ClubsportA2Stephen HodgesAustralianHolden VY CSV Monaro Mondo GTA2Trevor Symonds AustralianHolden VY-HSV GTSA2Tony ViragAustralianHolden VE-HSV GTSB1Adrian Stefan AustralianBMW 335i E92B1Barry MorcomAustralianBMW 355i E92B1Ben KavichAustralianSubaru Impreza WRX STi G-2B1Brett McFarlandAustralianSubaru Impreza WRX STi G-2B1Garry MennellAustralianBMW 335i E92B1Sherrin Racing Pty LtdAustralianBMW 135i E82B2Garth WaldenAustralianHolden VE-SVB2Scott SullivanAustralianHolden VY SSB2TW MotorsportAustralianHolden VE-HSV SSCBlake AubinAustralianRenault Megane RS 265CColin OsborneAustralianRenault Megane RS 265 Trophy RCColin OsborneAustralianRenault Megane RS 265 Trophy RCMark Eddy AustralianRenault Megane RS 265CMichael Sloss AustralianMazda RX-8CNicholas CoxAustralianBMW 130i E87CPeter O’DonnellAustralianBMW 130i E87CDouglas WestwoodAustralianBMW M3-E36CDaniel SugdenAustralianBMW M3 E36DChristopher ReevesAustralianToyota 86 GTS ZN SERDChristopher ReevesAustralianToyota 86 GTS ZN SERDDavid CroweAustralianToyota 86 GTS ZN SERDDavid BaileyAustralianToyota 86 GTS ZN SERDGosford European Car ServicesAustralianRenault Clio 197DGraeme HeathAustralianToyota 86 GTS ZN SERDGrant PhillipsAustralianToyota 86 GTS ZN SERDTrevor KeeneAustralianMini Cooper S JCW R53EAllan JarvisAustralianSuzuki Swift Sport RS416EDeclan KirkhamAustralianMazda MX6EDimitrios AgathosAustralianNissan Pulsar N15IAshley JarvisAustralianFord Falcon AUILindsay KearnsAustralianFord Falcon AUIJohn McClevertyAustralianFord Falcon AU