MOTOR SPORT
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INTERNATIONALLY experienced Australian driver John Martin has targeted a Bathurst 12 Hour start in 2015 and could be a star signing for a team looking for an outright or class victory.
Martin won the 2006 Australian Formula Ford Championship but left for Europe soon after, forging an open wheel career in British F3, A1GP and the Superleague Formula with success.
However, it will be his considerable depth of sports car and endurance racing experience that will make the personable 30-year-old from Gosford attractive to teams seeking a Bathurst victory.
Since his open wheel career ended, Martin has successfully raced in key long-distance series including the World Endurance Championship, the LeMans 24 Hour and IMSA Tudor United Sports Car Series in the United States.
Martin also finished third in the Rolex 24 at Daytona earlier in 2014 driving for Action Express Racing.
“Bathurst is such an iconic Australian circuit and a place that I have always wanted to race at. Every year I have followed the race closely and watched the event continue to grow and become one of the best world class endurance events,” Martin told Bathurst12hour.com.au.
“Over the last few years I have competed in various categories and classes around the world, such as A1GP, Superleague Formula and in most recent years made the switch from open wheelers to sports cars, where I competed in the Tudor United Sportscar Championship and the FIA World Endurance Championship.”
Martin said the experience gained in key international races puts him in a good position to tackle the demanding Bathurst 12 Hour endurance epic at Mount Panorama next February.
“Over the last couple of years I have certainly gained a lot of experience in endurance-style sports car events and was privileged enough to compete at the 24 hours of Le Mans, Daytona 24 hour, Sebring 12 hour and Petit Lemans,” he said.
“I would like to think all this experience would allow me to be competitive at the Bathurst 12 Hour and I would love the opportunity to compete and race in Australia again.”
