THIS year's Bathurst 12 Hour has attracted it's best ever field and on Friday at Mount Panorama drivers from across the globe got their first chance to lap the iconic circuit.
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This year's edition features cars from a record 11 different GT3 manufacturers, while the field is comprised of drivers from 21 countries.
There are record nine former 12 Hour winners, including two of the defending champions in Matt Campbell and Dirk Werner, seven Bathurst 1000 victors plus Bathurst 24 Hour and Bathurst 6 Hour race winners.
Still, during the opening practice sessions at the Mount there were drivers who struck trouble.
In opening practice Josh Burdon went wide on the approach to Reid Park, ending up in the outside concrete wall and plucking a wheel off the KCMG #35 Nissan.
In practice two Maro Engel was quick in the #77 Craft Bamboo Black Falcon entry, but he also lost control at Griffin's Bend, causing a brief stoppage.
At the same time the #12 NED Racing Team Porsche GT3 R of Romain Dumas stopped on track, managing to get a tow back to the Pit Lane under the red flag conditions.
