The Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour has concluded for another year, and for the first time ever, a Porsche has taken top spoils in the event.
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After half a day of grueling action at Mount Panorama yesterday, the EBM Porsche crew of Matt Campbell [Australia], Dennis Olsen [Norway] and Dirk Werner [Germany] finished first.
It was a grand run home from Campbell that snatched victory for Porsche in the dying minutes of the race.
“It was an absolutely phenomenal race and the car performed perfectly towards the end,” he said.
“We struggled with the heat in the middle of the race, but it’s awesome to send an old car like this off with a win.”
The crowd figures once again reflect the event’s exponential growth in popularity.
This year’s event has set a new record for the 12 Hour in terms of crowd numbers, with a grand total of 49,495 fans in attendance across the four days.
“It has been another fantastic event from start to finish,” event director Kurt Sakzewski said.
“The four-day crowd led to an additional 8000 people in attendance and no doubt stretched some stays in the region a little longer.”
“The additional day of racing was received really well by the teams and the fans while the Town to Track was a glowing success, one that we will definitely do again, perhaps at the 1000.”
“This morning, more than 30,000 people from around the world watched the start of the race live online across the various live streams and of course it was live across the country on Seven. That is terrific, money can’t buy exposure for Bathurst, the region and New South Wales.”
“Our international teams have no hesitation in calling this one of the best events they attend,and have been beaming back social media, pictures and stories of the race and their time in Bathurst.”
Bathurst mayor Graeme Hanger said the record numbers have continued the event’s positive upward trend.
“There has been a 16 per cent increase on crowds from last year,” Mr Hanger said.
“When the event first started there was around 200 campsites set up, and at this year’s event, around 2500 campsites have been erected around the Mount."
Mr Hanger said the quality of the racing has been a key factor in increasing the appeal of the event over the years.
“We’ve got so many European drivers who come here because they want to experience the splendours of Mount Panorama,” he said.
“In terms of what we’ve been hearing from the teams taking part, the drivers have had a lot of fun tackling the Mount.”
While the event is, in many ways, still the younger brother to the iconic Bathurst 1000, Mr Hanger is eager to see how the event develops over the next few years.
“We’ll take it on year by year, and just see how it goes,” he said.
‘If it increases by 16 per cent next year, that’ll be good.”
“There’s people at home right throughout Australia and the world watching.”