HE enjoyed a class podium in his Bathurst 12 Hour debut two years ago, but now as Tyler Everingham prepares to take on the world's best driver once more he is thinking of the bigger picture.
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The talented 19-year-old from Dubbo knows the experience he gains competing against a field which includes factory drivers from across the globe will be valuable as he looks to further build his reputation as a driver.
He will share a seat with Hadrian Morrall and James Kay in one of the Invitational class Ford Mustangs from the MARC Cars garage.
It is a team which has earned six class victories since its Bathurst 12 Hour debut in 2014 and the same team Everingham drove for in 2018 when making his debut in the annual enduro.
"We've always had a relationship with MARC Cars, so that's how I got the seat," Everingham said.
"They're a great team to have a relationship with."
I'll just be trying to get as many miles in as I can
- Tyler Everingham
While the MARC Cars Mustangs are expected to be class contenders, last year's Mike Kable Young Gun award winner is heading into the 12 Hour with the goal of "getting as many laps in as I can".
"There's no real set game plan, I'll just be trying to get as many miles in as I can going into the rest of the year," Everingham, who's regular seat is in the Supercars' Super2 Series, said.
While Everingham will be one of the youngest on the 12 Hour grid, he is no stranger to that scenario.
At the age of 15 he was the youngest driver to compete in the Australian Formula 4 Championship.
Everingham is also confident that his previous experience at Mount Panorama will help him negotiate the challenge which lies ahead.
"I've driven at Mount Panorama four times I think, so that will help," he said.
"You can never underestimate the track though."
This time, Everingham will be tackling the Mount with the added challenge of steering a Mustang for the first time. It means he will have to adjust to a left-hand drive.
"This year I'm jumping into a new car. I've never driven a left-hand drive before, so I'm kind of going in blind," he said.
"Trying to negotiate the walls of the Mount with the left hand car will be my main challenge."
Though his rivals include some of the biggest names in motor sport, he will get the chance to learn from some talented drivers who will form part of the MARC Cars assault on the 12 Hour.
The MARC cars team includes experienced endurance driver Warren Luff and former Bathurst 1000 winner Nick Percat.
It also includes another Central West driving talent in Bathurst's Brad Schumacher.
"You can learn a lot from drivers like that," Everingham said.
"I've been lucky enough to get a lot of help from older drivers over the the years."
