AFTER last year's highly successful inaugural Hi Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour, it was predicted that this event may finally be the one to succeed over the Easter weekend at Bathurst.
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The once traditional weekend of motorsport at Mount Panorama was run for cars and motorcycles, with the cars finishing in 1973 after both competitor and spectator numbers had declined seriously.
There were then several different events run, but none stood the test of time. Judging by the amazing interest in next weekend's edition of the 6 Hour production touring car race, however, this is looking like a winner.
All motorsport competitors love to race at Bathurst, but when it is an enduro, and over a sensible length, they are coming from everywhere - and with them, perhaps, will come the fans.
Last year's race was a thriller. Supercar top gun Chaz Mostert’s victory in the race with Nathan Morcom in their BMW 335i E92 was really great for the growth of the race, showing that such big name drivers were not only competing, but winning.
There were several other teams that were unlucky not to win, and they all led at different stages. They included Beric Lynton and Orange car dealer Tim Leahey in a BMW M Coupe (1 Series), former Bathurst driver Garth Walden and Ben Porter giving a Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG a most successful Australian racing debut and state Production touring car champion Dylan Thomas in his CXC Global Mitsubishi Evo X with Terry Nightingale.
Another out of luck, but one of the fastest on track, was Luke Searle in a BMW 135i Hatch. Paul Morris was drafted into the team on the Friday after original co-driver Barry Graham, a veteran of many years’ experience racing NASCAR in the United States, fell ill.
This year most of these teams are back, with a number of changes.
Champions Mostert/Morcom will defend their crown, but this time in a Ford Focus that is tipped to be quicker than the BMW, while Walden has two A45 AMGs. He has enlisted Craig Baird as his co-driver. Porter, meanwhile, will drive the second GWR entry with Rob Wood and Duvashen Padayachee.
Thomas is back with his Evo, still smarting after a spark-plug failure detonated an engine while he was in the lead last year, and has opted for BJR Supercar driver Tim Slade to share the driving.
Following a podium finish in the race’s inaugural running, racing legend John Bowe is back with David Wall in their Mitsubishi Evo 9. It is also believed another Supercar driver, Karl Reindler, will team up with Andrew Richmond in an Evo X.
Lynton/Leahey and Searle (with an unknown co-driver) will also return in their respective BMWs.
