WHEN Italian Andrea Montermini gets behind the wheel at Mount Panorama next month for the Bathurst 12 Hour it will mark his 29th year of racing, but his passion for both motor sport and the Ferrari brand are as strong as ever.

Montermini is part of the Vicious Rumour Racing outfit for the Bathurst 12 Hour and will share the seat of the Ferrari 458 GT3 with team-owner Tony Defelice, Renato Loberto and Benny Simonsen – the brother of the late Allan Simonsen.

That combination snared a second place in the GT3 amateur class and sixth outright at last year’s endurance challenge, coming from 50th on the grid to be the highest finisher of the seven Ferrari teams that entered the 12 Hour.

The team overcame a mechanical issue that saw them miss qualifying, survived a number of incidents which saw 20 yellow flag periods, and dealt with a wide range of track temperatures to earn their podium. Only outright victors the Nismo Athlete Global Team bettered them in terms of class standings.

“We tried to survive many yellow flags and problems that happen on the track,” Montermini said of the 2015 race.

“We experienced many different track temperatures from 13 degrees to 60 degrees, but I think we put together a good package and the team did a fantastic job.”

Montermini said after that Bathurst 12 Hour experience he was keen to return for another shot at the race in a Ferrari and team boss Defelice was happy to have him on board once more.

“Tony, the team owner, I did some jobs for him in Italy with his Ferrari, so he said he was happy for me to be here for him in the 12 Hour,” the 50-year-old said of the original link.

“It is fantastic to be with my team-mates again, Renato, Benny, and this year be joined by our team owner, Tony, whom I wish to thank for the amazing opportunity. We aim to repeat the podium.

“It is my major focus to try and always put Ferrari in the best position possible.”

While Montermini has earned a reputation as a Ferrari GT3 specialist, he is perhaps better known for his time spent racing for struggling Formula 1 teams Simtek, Pacific and Forti.

He made 20 race starts between 1994 and 1996, with his best effort an eighth placing at the 1995 German Grand Prix for Pacific.

When it came to the Australian Grand Prix, Montermini did not fare as well.

In 1995 he qualified in 22nd place but after just two laps on race day, a gearbox problem forced his withdrawal. The following year the Italian suffered an even worse fate.

He did not make it to the starting grid as he was excluded under a new rule which stated any car that qualified 107 per cent slower than the pole time would not contest the race.

However, the man who boasts a pair of top 10 finishes in the 24 Hours of Le Mans has enjoyed his time at Mount Panorama thus far. 

“Mount Panorama is a wonderful circuit, and very hard. One of the most difficult in the world,” he said.

“We know there will be great competitors from all over the world, but we are working hard and we want to be on top.”

The Bathurst 12 Hour runs from February 5-7.