KEY Australian Production Car racers have confirmed their participation in the 2018 Bathurst 6 Hour, despite 200 days still remaining until the race actually starts.
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Nearly 30 entries have already been received by event organisers for the Easter classic, with another bumper field across multiple classes expected to start the race on Easter Sunday.
Entries remain open until 23 February next year.
However, a record-setting 64-car field this year has promoted an influx of those keen to secure their place on the grid.
Singapore-based Australian driver Troy Williams has entered his B2-class Holden Commodore SS V8 to the race and says the Mountain is a lure felt by competitors both in Australia and abroad.
“At the end of the day, Bathurst is one of the most iconic tracks anywhere in the world,” Williams said.
“I speak to racers overseas where I am based in Asia, and even in Europe and America and they all talk about Mount Panorama. Bathurst is very, very special. It is the pinnacle for us I think.”
Turbo, all-wheel-drive cars continue to be popular on the Mountain with local team FullGas Racing confirming they will be returning after making their outright-class debut at Bathurst this year – having been class winners the year before in a smaller car.
The Subaru Impreza WRX STi driven by Dimitri Agathos and Lachlan Gibbons started 27th this year however worked their way through the field to finish a highly respectable 15th after a tough six hours.
“We are looking forward to it,” Agathos said of returning for a second attempt in the outright class.
“We did it this year and we did it last year as well, racing a Pulsar in Class E and managing to get a victory in that. This year, it was our first time running with the Subaru and we finished a strong 15th place.
“We have improved the car pretty much every time we have gone out and next year I think it will be the first time we will be running a dry brake system, which will definitely improve our pit stops as well.
“It is a great event, we get plenty of track time, one-hour practice sessions on Friday and then the one hour qualifying. With the number of cars on the track, it makes it interesting and fun.”