Bathurst 12 Hour: BMW Team WRT Sets Early Pace in Practice
Bathurst, Australia – In a compelling start to the Bathurst 12 Hour, BMW Team WRT’s #32 BMW emerged as the fastest car in the opening 40-minute practice session. Driver Charles Weerts clocked a time of 2:03.8685, demonstrating the car’s potential in cool and overcast conditions.
The session featured varied competition among manufacturers, with four different brands finishing in the top four. Following an initial series of quick laps by Kelvin van der Linde, local driver Chaz Mostert surged ahead in the #222 Scott Taylor Motorsport AMG, recording a 2:04.15 just 10 minutes before the end of the session. He narrowly outpaced Alex Peroni in the #268 Team BRM Audi, who posted a 2:04.16.
Weerts reclaimed the top spot late in the session, while the top ten included Australian drivers across multiple teams, underlining the local dominance. Noteworthy performances also came from the #100 Grove Racing Mercedes and the #9 Hallmarc Audi.
However, the session wasn’t without incidents. The #888 Team GMR Mercedes, driven by Maxime Martin, encountered a suspected puncture and completed only nine laps after an early pit stop. Additionally, the #89 Team KRC BMW managed minimal running due to issues, while the #15 Volante Rosso McLaren did not participate at all.
The next practice session is scheduled for 11:00 AM Local Time (AEDT, UTC+11), focusing on Bronze driver performances.
Results Overview:
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32 BMW Team WRT – 2:03.8685
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222 Scott Taylor Motorsport AMG – 2:04.15
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268 Team BRM Audi – 2:04.16
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911 Absolute Racing Porsche – 2:04.2
Key Quotes:
- Charles Weerts: “We’ve got a solid base to build on after this session.”
As teams regroup, the pressure mounts ahead of the upcoming sessions in what promises to be an exhilarating weekend at Bathurst.
