The Sydney-based team has confirmed current Supercars championship driving standards observer and Bathurst 12 Hour winner Craig Baird will join Garth Walden in the team’s lead Mercedes-Benz AMG A45, the five-time Carrera Cup champion to make his six-hour debut this Easter.

The team will also enter a second AMG A45 for the first time, to be driven by Robert Woods, Ben Porter and Duvashen Padayachee.

Though it will be Woods’ first Bathurst experience, both Porter and Padayachee have significant experience at the famous circuit.

The team tested in Sydney last Friday and though Queensland’s storms forced Baird to miss the session, the other four drivers completed a successful day’s running, with performance and reliability improvements found on the pair of AMG hatchbacks.

Team owner Garth Walden said the chance to snare the highly experienced Baird was an opportunity too good to miss.

“Craig literally texted me saying ‘I’ve got a Mercedes-Benz race suit, how do I get in one of your cars?’ and it was as simple as that,” Walden said.

“Unfortunately he missed the test day, but we know he’s experienced enough to jump in the car and be on the pace. He brings a lot to the team and it was a no-brainer to grab him to drive alongside me. 

“He’s obviously got the Supercars and GT experience but he won the 12 Hour when it was a Production Car race too. I think we’ll be a good shot at a win and that’s what we’re going for.

“The sister car is also a real podium chance. Robert hasn’t been there before, but should be up to speed quickly working with the other two guys in that car. Both Ben and Duvashen tested the car and were really quick – in fact all four drivers who tested were within the same ball park.”

Walden said the team had significantly improved the A45 since its Bathurst debut last year when the car was fast and led the race early, before mechanical dramas pushed them out of the running.