Next weekend’s Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour, the opening round of this season’s Intercontinental GT Challenge Powered by Pirelli campaign, will feature a ‘Town to Track’ GT3 parade for the first time.
Cars representing each of the 10 GT3 marques contesting this year’s race – including 2019’s six Intercontinental GT Challenge-registered manufacturers – will be driven on public roads under police escort from Mount Panorama Circuit to the city centre’s Bathurst Court House building on Thursday 31 January.
After leaving the paddock at 11:20, the convoy will complete one lap of the circuit before exiting at Murray’s corner. It will then proceed up Panorama Avenue, turn left onto Brilliant Street and then right onto George Street. Cars then take a right turn onto Russell Street before parking opposite Bathurst’s Carillon war memorial.
Public and media are invited to attend between 11:45 and 12:45 when selected drivers will also be available for autographs and interviews. Cars will then proceed back to Mount Panorama Circuit via Russell Street, William Street and Panorama Avenue.
Bathurst becomes the third Intercontinental GT Challenge round to stage a city centre parade as part of its weekend build-up. A similar event has long been a tradition of the Total 24 Hours of Spa, while the Suzuka 10 Hours also holds a similar pre-race procession.
“The Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour continues to grow and the introduction of Town to Track is an exciting new initiative that will bring the excitement of the race to the centre of the city,” said Bathurst’s mayor, Graeme Hanger. “It provides a unique opportunity for race fans to get up close to the racing action in the heart of Bathurst.”
Event Director Kurt Sakzewski also believes Town to Track is the ideal way to begin Bathurst’s race week : “This is a great opportunity to showcase the city of Bathurst to a broad audience, and showcase the cars and stars of the Bathurst 12 Hour to the people of the city up close and personal,” he said. “This has been a collaboration between the Bathurst Regional Council, Bathurst Police and the Events team and it’s an exciting addition to this year’s race week build-up. “We appreciate the support of New South Wales Police and the team at Council in helping to put this together. It’s a great chance to showcase a different aspect to Bathurst’s great motor racing legacy. It will be a unique sight as the fastest cars ever to officially lap Mount Panorama drive through the city on Thursday.”
A final list of participating cars will be released in due course.
Four practice sessions kick off the event’s track action next Friday before further practice, two qualifying sessions and the Top-10 Pole Shootout are staged on Saturday. Sunday’s race begins at 05:45 local time.
Tickets can be purchased via Ticketek, with access via the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour website: www.bathurst12hour.com.au
Press release Intercontinental GT Challenge
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