Porsche sends strong five car line-up down under to tackle Meguiar's Bathurst 12 Hour

Absolute Racing will make its second consecutive trip and third in total to New South Wales, with its first coming in 2020, where Matt Campbell scored a stunning first pole position at the event for Porsche. The Australian will be back competing for the squad, alongside current GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup titleholder Alessio Picariello and Porsche Driver Bastian Buus.

The marque’s second entry in the Pro class will be 2019 Bathurst 12 Hour winners Earl Bamber Motorsport, which returns for its first appearance since 2020. 2024/25 Asian Le Mans Series GT3 champion Klaus Bachler will make his Bathurst debut and will be joined by Laurin Heinrich, who took second place in the Pro-Am class during his maiden outing around the mountain last year. To complete the trio is Ricardo Feller, who has been ever-present on the Bathurst grid since 2022 and qualified second for the 2025 edition.

The first of three Porsche 911 GT3 R in the Bronze category is named by Danish outfit High Class Racing. Porsche Driver Dorian Boccolacci will team up with Anders Fjordbach and Kerong Li, with the duo having competed together in GT World Challenge Asia during 2025, clinching Silver-Am victory at Fuji Speedway.

Herberth Motorsport sends the same trio that took on Suzuka 1000km for the German squad in September, as Ralf Bohn once again joins brothers Alfred and Robert Renauer for the enduro. They have also raced together at other Intercontinental GT Challenge events in previous years such as 24 Hours of Spa, with this race acting as a Bathurst debut for all three drivers.

Finally, Tsunami RT will make its maiden appearance in both Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour and Intercontinental GT Challenge, as the Italian team confirms a familiar line-up. Two of the squad that tackled the 2024/25 Asian Le Mans Series season, Fabio Babini and Johannes Zelger, will pilot the #79 Porsche 911 GT3 R, alongside experienced Swiss driver Alex Fontana.

Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific has enjoyed successes in New South Wales in recent years, supporting teams that secured overall victories in 2019 and 2024 with Earl Bamber Motorsport and Manthey respectively. Other highlights around Mount Panorama Circuit include Matt Campbell’s stunning 2020 pole position for Absolute Racing and Manthey EMA’s Pro-Am win in 2024.

Mount Panorama Circuit offers some of the most stunning views for spectators but is also one of the most challenging tracks around the globe for drivers. The 6.213-kilometre circuit features 23 corners and 174 metres of elevation change between its lowest and highest point. The best overtaking opportunities are into Griffins Bend (Turn 2) at the end of the 1.11-kilometre Mountain Straight or before The Chase section located at the completion of the almost two-kilometre-long Conrod Straight. Even though passing may not be possible through the tight and winding Esses, it will test the drivers’ ability throughout the weekend.

In typical fashion, the 2026 Bathurst 12 Hour will feature the event’s unique sunrise-start, where the race begins in darkness before day breaks during the first hour of running. The 23rd edition of the enduro will also mark the 10th anniversary of the race becoming part of the Intercontinental GT Challenge calendar, once again acting as the opener for the 2026 campaign.

Track to Town kicks off the weekend on Thursday morning, with cars out on circuit for the first time on Friday morning with the first of six practice sessions getting underway at 08:45 local time (UTC+11). Qualifying starts on Saturday afternoon at 13:05 and the Pirelli Pole Battle concludes the day’s action at 16:15. Then it’s lights out for Meguiar's Bathurst 12 Hour at 05:45 on Sunday morning.

Matt Campbell, Absolute Racing: “This will be my third time competing at Bathurst 12 Hour with Absolute Racing. I’m looking forward to seeing lots of familiar faces and I think we’ve got a strong line-up with Bastian and Alessio. As an Australian it’s one of the highlights of the season, so we’re aiming to have a strong weekend and battle for a podium finish.”

Bastian Buus, Absolute Racing: “I’m super excited to be working with Absolute Racing for the first time at Bathurst 12 Hour! I know Matt and Alessio well so I’m sure that we will have a great event. With the driver line-up and the experience of the team, I’m confident that we can fight at the front throughout the enduro.”

Alessio Picariello, Absolute Racing: “I’m very happy to be back at the Bathurst 12 Hour for a third year in a row. It’s one of the coolest events of the season and one of the best racetracks in the world, and always brings extra excitement thanks to being early in the year. To return with Absolute Racing is a pleasure, and alongside Matt and Bastian, I believe we have all the ingredients to succeed in our Porsche 911 GT3 R.”

Klaus Bachler, Earl Bamber Motorsport: “I’m really looking forward to making my debut at Bathurst with EBM. It’s always been on my wish list to race at Mount Panorama Circuit as the track looks fantastic and the atmosphere of the whole event is very special. I’ve shared the car with Laurin and Ricardo before so I’m excited to work with both again. EBM is a very experienced team who won this enduro back in 2019 so I can’t wait to hit the track with them.”

Laurin Heinrich, Earl Bamber Motorsport: “It’s great to return to Bathurst after my first appearance here in 2025 and this time in a Pro car makes it even more special. I’m pleased that I was able to gain lots of valuable experience during my debut. I know the team as I’ve worked with them during Thailand Super Series, which was very successful. I’m confident that the brilliant combination of Klaus and Ricardo alongside the team will deliver a strong performance on track.”

Ricardo Feller, Earl Bamber Motorsport: “I’m looking forward to racing at Bathurst again as it’s definitely one of my favourite tracks. I’m very happy to be competing with EBM and sharing the car with Klaus and Laurin too. I think we’ll have a great chance and the goal is clear, we want to be fighting for the podium places.”

Kerong Li, High Class Racing: “It’s an honour to join High Class Racing for the Meguiar's Bathurst 12 Hour. This race is tough, unpredictable, and incredibly rewarding when everything comes together. The Porsche 911 GT3 R has shown great pace in testing, and the team environment has been fantastic. I’m looking forward to contributing to a strong performance against one of the best grids in GT racing.”

Dorian Boccolacci, High Class Racing: “This will be my first time racing at Bathurst, and that brings a mix of excitement and respect for such a legendary venue. I’ve spent a lot of time preparing and learning the track, but nothing fully compares to experiencing Mount Panorama Circuit for real. Joining High Class Racing with the Porsche 911 GT3 R is the perfect way to take on this challenge. We have a very strong team, and I’m eager to see what we can achieve together in my Bathurst debut.”

Anders Fjordbach, High Class Racing: “Mount Panorama is always a highlight of the season, and doing it with High Class Racing makes it even more special. We’ve worked hard to optimise the car for the unique challenges of Bathurst, especially across the mountain. With Dorian and Kerong alongside me, I’m confident we can deliver a result that reflects the quality and ambition of this team.”

Fabio Babini, Tsunami RT: “Bathurst is such a unique circuit, it combines high speed, huge elevation changes and the close walls are extremely unforgiving. It’s my first time at the track, so I’ll listen carefully to the team and look to improve lap-by-lap. The Australian fans are passionate and knowledgeable, this race is a massive one and it’s an honour for me to be part of such a global event.”

Johannes Zelger, Tsunami RT: “The location and track layout makes this one of the most incredible races in motorsport! There is such a small margin for mistakes so we will all need to retain our focus on every lap. My goal is to keep it clean and bring the car home for a solid finish.”

Alex Fontana, Tsunami RT: “I’ve raced here before but this will be my first Bathurst 12 Hour. It’s a big challenge that awaits us, we will need to maximise track time ahead of qualifying so us drivers can get to grips with the circuit. The twisty second sector will be key, this is where a lot of time can be gained. Teamwork is the most important aspect of an endurance race, trusting each other and the crew to do the best job possible. I believe we have a strong line-up and I’ll give it my all across the weekend.”

Valerio Speziale, Tsunami RT Team Principal: “This is a very special moment for the team. It’s our first time competing at Bathurst, a unique and historic circuit. We know this challenge requires good preparation, discipline and teamwork at the highest level. Being here is already an important step in the growth of the team, and every member of the squad plays a crucial role in making it possible. Bathurst will test us in ways we haven’t previously experienced, but we’re delighted to be taking on this incredible event with the support of our partners, starting with Acqua Eva, which helps us stay hydrated throughout such a demanding race. Moments like this define our journey, and we’re ready to embrace every lap.”

Alexandre Gibot, Managing Director Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific Ltd.: “We’re looking forward to supporting five entries at this year’s Meguiar's Bathurst 12 Hour. It’s great to be welcoming back Absolute Racing and Earl Bamber Motorsport in the Pro class, who have both enjoyed success at Mount Panorama Circuit. In the Bronze category, we’ll get to see all three teams making debuts at the enduro, with several of the drivers also set for their maiden appearances at this incredible event. It’s a tough and challenging race with the unique sunrise-start testing even the most experienced drivers. Meguiar's Bathurst 12 Hour is one of the world’s most iconic endurance races and we can’t wait to hit the track as we aim to clinch our third victory at this event.”