THEY won a Bathurst 1000 together, but now David Reynolds and Luke Youlden have another Mount Panorama endurance crown in mind.
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The 2017 Great Race victors, along with quick amateur Yasser Shihan, will lead an Erebus Motorsport return to the Bathurst 12 Hour next February.
Erebus Motorsport won the 2013 Bathurst 12 Hour and in its five tilts at the annual enduro, has never finished outside the top five.
While Erebus has not fielded an entry in the two most recent editions, it is expected to be outright as well as class podium contenders in its 12 Hour return. The team will field a Mercedes-Benz AMG GT3 race car, prepared by Scott Taylor Motorsport.
Erebus Motorsport chief executive officer Barry Ryan believes the squad has the experience behind them to continue their good form at Mount Panorama.
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“The event holds a special place in the hearts of our team, it was the stage of our first big victory and somewhere we never finished outside the top five,” Ryan said.
“We always go there with high expectations; we want to push for the PRO/AM victory, but with the speed Yasser shows as an amateur driver, also give the outright victory a go.”
Shahin teamed up with Youlden in this year’s Bathurst 12 Hour and was faster and more consistent than any other amateur driver on the grid. Unfortunately they ended with a DNF.
Shahin also competed in the 2018 R8 LMS Cup this year, finishing third, and has conducted testing for the Erebus team.
“The team’s preparation for the test was second to none and I am incredibly excited to run in such a professional environment,” Shahin said.
Next year will mark Youlden’s fourth 12 Hour start, while he also contested the Bathurst 24 Hour in 2003, placing eighth outright.
Reynolds also has prior 12 Hour experience, having placed 15th this year in a Daimler Trucks Mercedes.
Ryan says he is thrilled to be returning to Bathurst, a place where the team has had much success in endurance races.
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“It’s great to be back at Bathurst with Luke and the team and even though it’s a different race and different car, we share great memories,” he said.
Having shared a seat with both Reynolds and Shahin in the past, Youlden is excited to get the chance to race alongside both next year.
“I’m wrapped it’s worked out this way, having a previous relationship with Yasser, David and the team,” Youlden said. “It gives me a huge amount of confidence and really good motivation to try win; we have all the ingredients, so I don’t think we could go into a 12 Hour more prepared.”
The Bathurst 12 Hour will be held from January 31 to February 3.