BALLS to the wall racing in a glamour machine at a track that can be a dream-crusher - it's a scenario that Bathurst driver Grant Denyer can't wait to find himself in.
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Denyer will form part of the Trofeo Motorsport bid in this year's Bathurst 12 Hour and while racing that Lamborghini Huracan GT3 around Mount Panorama will be a new experience, he has a good idea of what lies ahead.
When the 12 Hour event gets underway with practice this Friday it will mark Denyer's eighth tilt in the enduro, one he first contested 13 years ago in a Subaru Impreza he shared with Neil Crompton.
Since his debut in 2007 the event has evolved to now be a battle of GT3 machinery in a race which doubles as the series opener of the Intercontinental GT3 Challenge.
"It's such a mega event the 12 Hour, it's now international calibre and I just love GT cars ... they are wild around there, nothing beats it, nothing comes close," he said.
"It's such a world class location and it's reputation around the globe is phenomenal. Every single racing car driver who has ever turned as steering wheel wants to come here.
"They're all flooding in from Europe and all parts of the world to come and race at this track. I love the fact it's as strong as it is now, you've only got to walk down Pit Lane and look at the pedigree and names ... it's cool, it puts Bathurst on the international map it well and truly deserves to be on it.
"These guys play for keeps, when they come out from Europe or America, it is balls to the wall. They take no prisoners and that first session can be a bit scary when you're tuning yourself in to the car and the track.
"I'm smiling now, even thinking about it. The speed that GT cars do around here is just next level. It's hard to comprehend because it's so special."
Denyer will share the Trofeo entry with Dean Canto, Liam Talbot and Marcel Zalloua, a driver line-up which sees them in the A-Silver class.
There are seven cars in that category and Denyer hopes he can add to his four prior class podiums in Subaru Impreza (2007), a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo (2008), a Ford Focus (2014) and Mazda 3 (2018). But as he's also learned through four DNF's just making it through the 12 hours is in itself a challenge.
"It's a glamour machine and any lap you can turn in one of these cars is a special day, let alone do it around Mount Panorama for 12 Hours," Denyer said.
"We are coming in at more of the amateur section. But we have got a fast, competitive car, it's not the latest spec, but the driver line up, we all have good pace.
"We'd be happy with a class win for sure because just finishing the 12 Hour can be an immense battle. We have seen over the years there's a high attrition rate and there have been some nasty accidents, especially later in the race when the marbles start to build up on the outside of the track.
"The passing is always super aggressive around Mount Panorama with high stakes. Just getting to the finish line can at times be the biggest hurdle because this mountain can be a dream-crusher."
Denyer and his team-mates will take to the track for the first time during Friday practice, which commences at 8.40am.
