Veteran confirms Bathurst return after recovering from crash
Keith Kassulke will return to the Repco Bathurst 12 Hour in 2024
MARC Cars Australia-built MARC II V8 Invitational entry confirmed
Kassulke will return with Hadrian Morrall and Super3 star Cameron McLeod
Keith Kassulke will return to the Repco Bathurst 12 Hour in 2024, confirming the entry of his MARC Cars Australia-built MARC II V8 racer in the Invitational class.
The experienced Bathurst 12 Hour contender – 2023 will mark his eighth entry in the race – will return with regular co-pilots Hadrian Morrall and young gun Cameron McLeod in a bid to rebound from a disastrous 2023 event.
Then, Kassulke was behind the wheel when a brake failure saw the car have a significant accident at the Chase in the fourth practice session.
The damage forced the car to be withdrawn from the event, while Kassulke has since spent a year to ensure he is fully recovered from the impact to be ready for a Mountain comeback.
Ryan McLeod and his team will prepare the Gen II MARC racer for the event, while Morrall and Cameron McLeod make for strong copilots for the Wheels FX Racing entry.
Morrall is a veteran of eight 12 Hour starts, while 18-year-old McLeod is one of the hottest young stars on the Supercars pathway, winning eight races – including at Bathurst - and finishing third in the Dunlop Super3 Series this year.
The grandson of 1987 Bathurst 1000 winner Peter, McLeod also won at Bathurst in the final round of the V8 Touring Cars Series this year, and also swept the Sports Sedan round at the Gold Coast driving a similar MARC II racer to the one he’ll share with Kassulke and Morrall in the 12 Hour next February.
Kassulke said he was ready and waiting for a return to Bathurst, where he hopes better fortune awaits in 2024.
“We are returning in my rebuilt Mustang for another crack and I know we’ll have the speed gods on our side this year,” Kassulke said.
“We’ve had two miserable 12 Hour events and since I’ve been out of the car for 12 months, I am very keen to get back to Bathurst in February.
“Myself, Hadrian and Cameron are the designated pilots, and Ryan McLeod will team manage, with the usual group of suspects in the pit box taking car of the preparation.
“Amidst some tough competition in the Invitational class we are looking forward to getting to Bathurst in February.”
The Repco Bathurst 12 Hour will be held between February 16-18, 2024, at the Mount Panorama Circuit, Bathurst.
The Repco Bathurst 12 Hour is proudly supported by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.
Tickets, camping and corporate experiences are currently on sale via the official event website,www.bathurst12hour.com.au.
