The IRC GT will make its debut at this weekend’s Bathurst 12 Hour, with three entries across a trio of high-calibre teams.
The 550 HP Pace Innovations designed and built car will compete in the Invitational Class, which is a seven car field for this year’s event – highlighted by race-winning teams and drivers.
Matt Stone Racing have entered a car, which will be driven by the team’s Supercars stars Nick Percat and Cameron Hill. John Holinger will join the duo – in fact the IRC GT carries a Holinger MFT six-speed sequential transaxle gearbox. Percat previously raced in the Invitational Class in 2020, where he emerged with the class victory.
For T2 Racing, Adam Hargraves is joined by Daniel Jilesen and Cedric Sbirrazzouli. The line-up is a reunion for three quarters of the line-up that formed T2 Racing’s 2020 Bathurst 12 Hour attack. All three drivers are vastly experienced in this style of racing, with Hargraves and Jilesen carrying multiple races in the IRC GT under their belt. Sbirrazzouli, a Monégasque driver, is an extremely experienced GT racer, recently competing in GT World Challenge Europe and IMSA.
TekworkX Motorsport bring even more international talent to the field, in an IRC branded entry. Paul Tracy, the 2003 ChampCar Champion, headlines their four driver line-up. Australian GT Champion Geoff Emery, and race winner Max Twigg also add to the depth in the squad. Danny Stutterd, IRC owner, is another star addition to the team – brining the experience of a Highland 1-Hour victory in the IRC GT to the table.
The three teams will get six practice sessions to prepare for the big race, four of which pack into a busy Friday schedule. Two of those sessions are reserved solely for Bronze drivers, which will give extra track time to the Pro-Am competitors.
Qualifying on Saturday afternoon, following two more practice sessions earlier in the day, will determine the grid for the Bathurst 12 Hour – commencing at 5:45am local time on Sunday.
Schedule (AEDT:
Friday
8:15am – Practice 1 (40 mins)
9:50am – Practice 2 (40 mins – Bronze drivers only)
1:30pm – Practice 3 (40 mins)
4:10pm – Practice 4 (40 mins- Bronze drivers only)
Saturday
8:05am – Practice 5 (60 mins)
10:00am – Practice 6 (60 mins)
12:40pm – Qualifying (60 mins)
4:05pm – Top 10 Shootout (30 mins)
Sunday
5:45am – Race (12 Hours)