Liqui Moly Bathurst 12 Hour confirmed to return on new date in 2022

The LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour event will return in 2022 with confirmation today the international endurance race will run over 25-27 February at Mount Panorama.

The race is now generally acknowledged and recognised around the world as one of the most significant races for GT vehicles on the calendar, alongside contemporaries like the Spa-Francorchamps 24 Hour and the Nurburgring 24 Hour.

A record crowd of 49,495 attended in 2019 when Queenslander Matt Campbell snatched a historic victory for Porsche, guiding the team of himself and co-drivers Dennis Olsen [Norway] and Dirk Werner [Germany] to victory in a drama-fuelled mammoth race around Mount Panorama.

Last year, the event was one of the final international events held in Australia prior to the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic: famous British brand Bentley taking the biggest win in their GT racing history, one that the iconic marque hailed as one of their most notable victories in their long history.

Millions watched it unfold on the Seven Network and Fox Sports around Australia and through the event’s most-viewed international stream yet.

The 2022 event’s new date is three weeks later than the traditional early February slot but also three weeks before the provisional weekend announced by SRO Motorsport Group in October.

With the new date now confirmed, that extends a run of February dates going back to 2008 and builds on the 12 Hour’s tradition of launching each new Australian motorsport season.

Australia’s International Enduro, as it’s now also known, was first held with local Series Production cars in 1991 before the switch to FIA GT3 regulations in 2011 heralded a new era of manufacturer-backed entrants from around the world.

Five years later Bathurst hosted the inaugural round of Intercontinental GT Challenge Powered by Pirelli, which has remained a cornerstone of the event ever since. That timeframe also coincides with five different winning manufacturers in as many seasons.

Tickets for next February’s race will go on sale in coming weeks along with information for 2020 holders of trackside, grandstand and campsite bookings.

QUOTES

Supercars Chief Operating Officer, Shane Howard:

“The LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour has become a favourite event of the motorsport landscape both in Australia and around the world.

“Being held on Australia’s spiritual motorsport home, Mount Panorama, the race has become one of the most popular on the GT racing calendar and is held in such high esteem by some of the best teams and brands globally.

“The team behind the event will work to offer a memorable experience for those attending trackside and we are very excited to have now locked in a date to bring the event back next February.”

Staphane Ratel, SRO Motorsports Group Founder and CEO:

“Bathurst is the championship’s spiritual season opener, has an atmosphere like no other, and is rightly considered one of the world’s great endurance races.

“IGTC’s teams, drivers and manufacturers have undoubtedly played a role in amplifying this status, and I cannot wait to see their return to the mountain in 2022.

“Maintaining the event’s traditional early February date wasn’t an option but after consulting with teams, manufacturers and Supercars it also became apparent that an alternative weekend that month would be preferable to March when the Australian, European and American seasons begin ramping up. I think we’ve found a good balance between the two, which also allows us to keep an important element of what makes Bathurst special.”

NSW Minister for Tourism Stuart Ayres:

“The NSW Government is proud to support the Bathurst 12 Hour and welcome race teams back to the track and motorsports fans back to Mount Panorama for what is set to be another thrilling instalment of this iconic race.

“It has been a challenging two years in regional NSW, and we know events like this will help turbocharge our social and economic recovery.”

General Manager Bathurst Regional Council David Sherley:

“It’s exciting to begin the countdown to one of Australia’s much-loved motorsports events – the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour.

“Mount Panorama and motor racing have a long association and so do Council and Supercars.

“We look forward to many more years of working together and continuing to promote the 12 Hour, our city and the racing circuit.”

Peter Baumann – Marketing Director LIQUI MOLY:

“We are extremely excited to have the LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12h back in the calendar in 2022.

“This has become a major international racing event and race teams, sponsors and fans have been waiting for.

“Also for us it’s a signature event in our sports portfolio.”

Tickets for next February’s race will go on sale in coming weeks along with information for 2020 holders of trackside, grandstand and campsite bookings.