Gounon: Six or seven cars could win 2025 12 Hour

THREE-TIME winner Jules Gounon believes "six or seven cars” could take out outright honours at this year's Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour.

The Andorran-based French driver will chase his fourth victory in the once-around-the-clock race alongside Luca Stolz and Aussie Kenny Habul with 75 Energy.

Winners in 2022 and 2023, Gounon/Stolz/Habul finished second last year, adding to their remarkable record at the Mountain. Last year's race, won by Porsche, saw the top six covered by just 7.3295s.

Gounon, who will pilot one of four Pro class Mercedes-AMG entries this weekend, is expecting another big challenge in 2025, this time from the likes of Team WRT BMW, Arise Racing Ferrari and Absolute Racing Porsche.

“There's a lot of competitive cars. It will be a very fast race, I think,” Gounon said on Thursday.

“The BMWs are very strong. The Ferrari, I think, will be a weapon, they have great drivers, great car. The Porsche also. Like every year, there are six or seven cars to win the race. We’re gonna try to do our best, like every year.

"When you enjoy and respect the Mountain.. it’s been quite kind to us at the moment, so we'll try again.”

Gounon has an affinity with Australia, and was one of 22 drivers to travel from the United States to Australia following last weekend’s Rolex 24 at Daytona.

However, the 30-year-old laughed about missing out on one of his Aussie traditions due to a delayed flight, not that it affected his race weekend plans.

"I'm super, super happy to be back,” Gounon said.

"I'm a bit sad because our first plane was delayed, so we lost one day in Bondi Beach, which is always the mandatory day for us.

“Missed out on a smashed avo, a flat white with oat milk, and watching nice people at the beach is our favourite day there.

"Every time we come back with Luca, we are driving there and we are like, ‘Man this place is so cool’. You go through the Blue Mountains. It's beautiful. "I love Australia. I love this track, I love the event."

Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour track action will commence on Friday with four practice sessions.