Audi attack out for Bathurst 12 Hour redemption
Audi will arm itself with a swathe of cars to enhance its successful Bathurst 12 Hour standing.
Audi Sport Customer Racing Australia will field “at least six” 2022-specification R8 GT3 LMS entries in the LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour.
The German marque has won the Bathurst 12 Hour three times since it became a GT3 event in 2011.
Audi won consecutive races in 2011 and 2012, before it added a third in 2018.
The most recent 12 Hour in 2020, however, was a shocker for Audi.
The Hallmarc Pro-Am entry was Audi’s highest-placed entry in 18th in February 2020.
That's the word from team boss Troy Russell, who is preparing his fleet in a bid to return the 12-Hour's most successful GT3 brand to the top of the podium this May 15-17.
Audi kicked off the 2022 Fanatec GT World Challenge powered by AWS with a podium sweep.
Two-time 12 Hour winner Christopher Mies and Yasser Shahin recently beat Liam Talbot and Chaz Mostert at Phillip Island.
Audi Sport Customer Racing Australia team boss Troy Russell is looking at international and local talent to fill the cars.
"We're in the process of pinning down who is in what car and what the pro driver component will look like in the Pro-Am combinations we are running this year," Russell said.
"We will be representing Audi in the Intercontinental GT Challenge so there is that element to consider along with it being the opening round of the local Endurance championship too.
Victory in 2018
"Then there's our customers and the team in general so there's lots of moving pieces to piece together, but we have the makings of a really strong squad.
"There will be at least six cars run by us there but possibly more depending on how things shape up between now and May, but it's going to be a pretty exciting line up."
Audi Sport Customer Racing Australia has never won the 12 Hour, something Russell is determined to change in 2022.
"It's a challenging race and one that hasn't gone our way for the last couple of years, but we know we have the ability and the people to do the job," Russell said.
"The R8 has always been a really solid car at Bathurst, it's fast across the top but tends to perform everywhere so we know it's up to the job. Every year we go there we are in the mix.
"Winning a 12-Hour race is a huge challenge, no matter the circumstances or the grid you are racing. It's always competitive and always a challenge and we can't wait to tackle it again this year.”
Tickets are on sale now for the May 13-15 LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour.
