Defending winner bolsters US 12 Hour squad

SunEnergy1 Racing has confirmed its Mount Panorama return for this year’s LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour.

The team, which finished second in 2018, has bolstered its driving line-up with 2020 winner Jules Gounon.

French driver Gounon was at the wheel when Bentley M-Sport secured its maiden 12 Hour win in 2020.

Gounon will be joined by team owner Kenny Habul, Martin Konrad and Luca Stolz.

The team, which runs under the US banner, will field a current-specification Mercedes AMG GT3 in the race.

It will also receive trackside support from Triple Eight Race Engineering.

The team is skippered by Gold Coast-born Habul, who is motivated to improve on his team’s 2018 podium.

M-Sport celebrates Gounon's 2020 win

"It's my favourite race in the world and in my opinion the best track in the world," Habul said.

"I've done okay racing around the GT series, Suzuka, Spa, South Africa and Daytona, but to me it's the most special, it's the most difficult.

"I grew up going to the races there and I worked with Brock as a teenager in '87, and worked with teams in the 90s and I even bought the property there on Conrod, which I haven't seen yet.

"It's been tough not being there for a couple of years, but it's my favourite track and favourite race and I'm excited."

Habul and Gounon recently combined to finish third in the Dubai 24 Hour.

Konrad was part of SunEnergy1 Racing's 2020 12 Hour campaign, which was his first Bathurst start. Supercars veteran David Reynolds was also part of the line-up.

Stolz will make his fourth 12 Hour start; the German finished third in the 2018 race driving for Black Swan Racing.

The Mercedes-AMG supported driver will split his time between DTM and GT World Challenge Europe commitments.

"We're still with AMG, they've been good to be. I won the Pro-Am trophy with SRO last year which was nice," Habul said.

"I've got a good group of drivers around me I like, the same group of AMG drivers around me.

"Whenever there's a Pro-Am race I always drive with Martin Konrad, he's quick and fast.

"Luca Stolz is a great guy, super-fast and then Jules Gounon who used to be Bentley factory team but is now with AMG.

"We like each other, we get along and everyone is pretty similar on the setup.

"Congrats to the series and everyone in the race to make it a Pro-Am race, it makes it so much better for us rather than me going up against the Pro's."

"I'm excited. I'm thankful it's back on and I know everyone is keen to get there."

This year’s 12 Hour will be held across May 13-15.