Fog contingency plan for Bathurst 12 Hour

LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour organisers are prepared should fog envelop Mount Panorama on Sunday.

Sunday’s race is scheduled to start at 5:15am local time; it is the race’s earliest ever start.

Heavy fog hovered around the low-lying areas of Mount Panorama on Saturday morning.

However, Practice 5 for the Bathurst 12 Hour ran as scheduled from its 8:05am start time.

Sunday's race finish is locked in for 5:13pm local time/plus one lap.

The clock will start ticking on the race at the commencement of the formation lap behind the Safety Car.

Fog on Saturday morning

"The intention is for the race to officially start at the commencement of the formation lap, behind the Safety Car, at 5:15am, as per usual procedure,” said a Bathurst 12 Hour spokesperson.

"Conditions at the commencement of the formation lap will be assessed by Motorsport Australia Race Control, with a decision taken to proceed with the rolling start, continue behind the Safety Car or suspend the race taken from that point.

"Should the race commence without delay, but fog become present during the race itself, Race Control will monitor conditions and should it be needed, the Safety Car will be deployed.

"Should conditions become worse the race will be suspended under the regulations in place.

"Should any driving time be lost during a race suspension, the Motorsport Australia stewards of the event will determine how key factors (including minimum and maximum driving time) in the event sporting regulations will be applied to the remainder of the race."

This weekend’s event is the first Bathurst 12 Hour to be held in May.

The 2022 event was postponed from its traditional summer February slot.