2007 BIMF & the Bathurst 12 Hour Race (Merged x3)

[RotorFan]

I haven't seen much of a mention of this and I am suprised. I read that Aus GT is going to be an exclusive support class to the V8 Supercars. Isn't this a very, very bad thing? It means it is impossible to the GT's racing at any Bathurst 12 Hour...

Hasn't AVESCO just killed the (competing) Bathurst 12 Hour by signing them onto the support card?

It also rules out Channel 10 covering them, assuming they ever had any interest in it.

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by Senna05

With the reviews of the VE SS-V floating around, I look forward to seeing an RX-8SP taking on a VE GT!

I think the MPS 6 will be a monster accross the top, and will take the WRX/EVO's to task!

A Ralliart-prepped Evo IX (as rumoured to be under development) with the right drivers at the wheel and all the goodies in the diff & suspension areas would be the rocketship that would be difficult to catch.

Across the top or anywhere...

Big question would hang around keeping the engine alive at the higher boost levels for that length of time, given the turbo cops a mega workout climbing hills for 1/2 the day.

Please consider?

[mtpanorama]

Originally Posted by RotorFan

I haven't seen much of a mention of this and I am suprised. I read that Aus GT is going to be an exclusive support class to the V8 Supercars. Isn't this a very, very bad thing? It means it is impossible to the GT's racing at any Bathurst 12 Hour...

Hasn't AVESCO just killed the (competing) Bathurst 12 Hour by signing them onto the support card?

It also rules out Channel 10 covering them, assuming they ever had any interest in it.

If you read post from myself and gmonline and a few others in this thread you will know that AUs GT is not elligable for the 12 hour.
At the risk of repeating myself again the idea of the 12 hour is for production cars, not sportscars, cars such as evo lancer, wrx, gt falcon, hsv, ss , xr8/xr6 turbo, bmw, etc.

[RotorFan]

Originally Posted by mtpanorama

If you read post from myself and gmonline and a few others in this thread you will know that AUs GT is not elligable for the 12 hour.
At the risk of repeating myself again the idea of the 12 hour is for production cars, not sportscars, cars such as evo lancer, wrx, gt falcon, hsv, ss , xr8/xr6 turbo, bmw, etc.

Sorry to make you repeat yourself.

I didn't realise they had already done the regs for the 12 Hour.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by RotorFan

Hasn't AVESCO just killed the (competing) Bathurst 12 Hour by signing them onto the support card?

well thats an interesting thought. I dont understand why VESA felt the need to have exclusive contracts with its support categories.

These other events dont really pose a threat to VESA events, so I am left scratching my head.

[stmorri]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

well thats an interesting thought. I dont understand why VESA felt the need to have exclusive contracts with its support categories.

These other events dont really pose a threat to VESA events, so I am left scratching my head.

I'm not so sure about that. The GTP category is a much closer reflection of what the original Bathurst 500 and later Bathurst 1000 concepts were all about. Performance road-going saloon cars, and is also much closer to Group A touring cars that were replaced by the V8 category. Personally I think it is a much more interesting category than the V8's and it is a shame that VESA will probably stop it from growing to it's full potential.

[D.R.T.]

Are GTP a full time VESA support? I remember reading the list, must have skimmed over GTP ?

[stmorri]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

Are GTP a full time VESA support? I remember reading the list, must have skimmed over GTP ?

D.R.T. look at the 7th post on the first page by racer69, about the 12hr race incorporating GTP and APCC.

[D.R.T.]

Ok, I can see the angle now.

[AussieV8]

If the the 07 12hr is run similar to the ones in the 90's and maybe with a $100k cap it should evolve to a great event. Having bog stock cars (with a few adjustments for safety) would be more apealing than having some of those exotics.....Having the family mans 6cyl class full of variety from Holden, Ford, Mitsu, Toyo and throw in a Sonata V6 the eye would be on who has the staying power. The AWD class would be on with Mitsu and Subie at it with a MPS6 and maybe an Euro pushing the Aussie blokes V8's and lapping the 1.6ltr littlens every few laps could be a an event that may eclipse the old ones for excitement. If it's well marketed and gets many manufactures behind it we could be surprised with the crowd....I will be there anyway.

[Senna05]

Interesting to see the 1000m speeds on the latest PCOTY tests for Motor Magazine. (especially as the MPS-3 is quicker than the MPS-6... mind you, I didn't know it was the same motor until I read the article!)

IF they go for similar regs for this event as they did in the 90's (arguably the precurser for the PROCAR GT-P category) you will get some serious speed out of some of the middle-range classes.

[pplater]

Absolutely.

If memory serves me right, the quickest Procar GTP machine was Holt's Evo, with 2:28 or so... that's not too shabby IMHO.

[DAVID PATERSON]

Wow! That's only a second faster than Paul Stubber's '69 Camaro, with drum brakes and crossply tyres.

[Chucky]

And 400hp less..........

[stmorri]

Originally Posted by pplater

Absolutely.

If memory serves me right, the quickest Procar GTP machine was Holt's Evo, with 2:28 or so... that's not too shabby IMHO.

I think the latest offerings from Holden and Ford might be quicker than that as the long straights might suit them better......any opinions?

[Christopher]

Yep I agree, a VE GTS and a Supercharged (hopefully) GT Falcon be quicker on the straights, especially going up the mountain.

[pplater]

Supercharged?

The 'Phoon makes much more sense than a GT / XR8.

Besides, from a marketing perspective, the V8 engined cars have the supercars to promote them (not that there is much in common there...)

The F6 beating off STI's Evo's and HSVs might help their image a little.

[Christopher]

Yes, a F6 be handy as well and as you said be good marketing against the Turbo EVO and STi's. As for the Supercharged GT, I'm wondering whether it will be available when the BF2 comes out in a few months.

[AussieV8]

Exotics out of Bathurst 12-Hour

Expensive and exotic marques such as Porsche, Ferrari and Lamborghini will be banned from the revived Bathurst 12-Hour to be held at Mount Panorama next Easter, organisers say.

In a sign that the race will be kept for mass produced models with a price limit, the Bathurst International Motor Festival event director James O'Brien pre-empted the likely ousting of the millionaires' playthings.

Plans for the 12-Hour race are moving in the right direction after category manager Spherix (Bill West and Craig Denyer) and O’Brien, spent the last few weeks meeting with vehicle manufacturers and importers to canvas opinions.

The race's class structure is expected to be made public during August.

Mazda Australia's motor racing manager Allan Horsley said he was encouraged by his talks with the event people as they formulate eligibility criteria and technical regulations.

Horsley, whose factory RX-7 cars won the last three Bathurst 12-Hours in the early 1990s, says he is encouraged that organisers are planning for the 2007 race to be based on ‘regular’ production models with a price ceiling to avoid high-performance, low-volume sporting thoroughbreds.

"Allow race specials into the 12-Hour, and all other manufacturers will run a mile," he warned.

Horsley also is in favour of the regulations banning any modifications other than safety equipment, so the race would become a genuine consumers' guide to the reliability and performance (and economy) of today's cars

Race organisers say the car companies they've spoken with about 12-Hour participation have welcomed inclusion of a diesel or hybrid category.

Horsley anticipates great contests between hot hatches, the mid-sized sedans and large family cars.

He's happy for V8s to be allowed into the race, even though the rising petrol prices have hurt their appeal with consumers.

"I don't think they can win, anyway," Horsley said.

Debate is also ongoing among fans and the race community over whether all sports cars should be kept out of the 12-Hour; many believe the event should be limited to sedans and hatches.

[pplater]

Where'd you pull that from? not exactly any news there.

[DAVID PATERSON]

Say what! It looks like news to me and good news at that.

[Senna05]

So, is a Mazda SP, Ford XR/GT-P, an HSV considered "mass produced"?

Clubbies arent exactly low volume....

[pplater]

It's been public knowledge for weeks that the 12 hour will be GT-Performance and APCC based. There will be two diesel classes. KIA, Alfa Romeo, Mazda, Subaru and Mitsubishi are very keen. Not sure about Ford and Holden. Rumour has it that VAG are not interested in a one-off race...

[AussieV8]

I copied it from my Mazda site as one of the members posted it...

[Senna05]

Holden and Ford may not be keen, but there are guys out there who will buy a GTS or GT/F6 and probably get some meagre support....

But, if those marques are keen for the race, that logically means we'll have cars for the GTP/APCC series that they will be sorting out and using afterwards! Exciting times!