Reigning Australian Production Cars champion Beric Lynton says he and co-driver Tim Leahey will be heading to this year’s 2017 Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour spurred on by unfinished business from last year’s event.
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The April 14-16 event doubles as the first round of the 2017 Australian Production Cars season.
In 2016 during the inaugural running of the event, Lynton and Leahey started from pole position and went on to finish seventh after being plagued by a mechanical issue.
With that same issue resurfacing at the Sydney Motorsport Park finale of the 2016 APC season in November, Lynton says a solution has finally been found leaving them ready to make up for lost opportunities at ‘the Mountain.’
“Being on pole and then struggling throughout the race with mechanical issues wasn’t the best feeling and we certainly feel like we missed an opportunity last year at Bathurst,” Lynton said.
“Unfinished business doesn’t sit well with me, and now that we know that problem is solved once and for all after it reared its head at the SMP event late last year, Tim and I are really keen to make the most of this year’s event, which is also the first round of my APC title defence.”
In looking to get the best possible beginning of his 2017 APC season underway, Lynton will have a number of contenders to take on with a record-breaking 66 cars currently entered in the event.
“There are obviously several new cars in the entry list that are an unknown to us, but from having our own experience with the BMWs we know sight unseen that the new BMW M4 of the Sherrins will be fast – especially up the Mountain with so much more horsepower compared to our own car,” Lynton said.
When it comes to Lynton’s own machine, it is currently undergoing a birthday.
“The car is still being rebuilt following a nasty crash in the IPRA at Phillip Island at the end of November, and it has also had an engine refresh,” explained Lynton.
“As we continue to gather support for the car and our 2017 title defence, we are pleased to confirm that Castrol have already thrown their weight behind us and we look forward to delivering for them in April at the Mountain.”
The Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour across April 14-16 is the first round of a six-event calendar for the 2017 Australian Production Cars.
Along with more racing in 2017, the Series will also enjoy extended television coverage, enjoying an extended feature role in the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) Speedweek coverage of the Shannons Nationals rounds across the year (40 minutes of coverage per televised round) and featuring as part of the Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour post-event programming on SBS Speedweek.
