The reputation of the race and interest from local and overseas entries has grown so much in the last 12 months that next year’s race may require the field to be capped at the maximum 60 entries.

Last year saw just 25 starters, including nine in Class A, but when the race gets underway on Sunday, there will be more than 50 cars on the grid, with18 of those competing for the outright win. 

Event organiser James O’Brien and Bathurst councillor Warren Aubin have been two of the driving forces behind the race. They have travelled the globe trying to recruit international teams and their efforts have paid off.

“We’ve doubled last year’s field and that’s really a word-of-mouth thing and the fact that James and I have been overseas. I’ve been to Malaysia, James has been to Le Mans, Macau and talking to the right people. The people who were here last year spoke to other people and it’s snowballing,” Cr Aubin said.

“It’s reaching the stage where next year we will possibly be capping the field, which is a great position to be in.”

Richard Craill has been the Bathurst 12 Hour media manager since 2007 and he has been impressed by the increase in profile and interest in the last 12 months.

“The growth we have seen for this year’s race has been incredible. I think we always knew that introducing GT cars would attract international interest but it would take time, but now they have come and the quality is amazing,” he said.

“I hope people start to understand when they see the event this year that they understand what we have got. I think there have been question marks amongst the fans in the last couple of years but I hope this year, they see how awesome it is.

“It’s an international event and the best part of all is that it is an incredible motor race.”

While the Bathurst 1000 is an exceptional event in luring Australians to the track, Mr Craill said the 12 Hour is helping to raise the profile of Bathurst and Mount Panorama.

“Having such high quality international drivers coming out does wonders for the international profile of the event. Mika Salo is hugely respected for what he did in Formula 1 and in his GT career since then. Rob Huff is a very welcome guest. We’ve never had a defending World Touring Car champion before,” Mr Craill said.

“Bernd Schneider is probably the biggest get of the lot. He’s the German Peter Brock. He’s won five German titles and is a legend of the sport. He’s massive to have.”