The 2015 Liqui Moly Bathurst 12 Hour was an endurance race for a variety of GT and touring car classes, including: GT3 cars, GT4 cars and Group 3E Series Production Cars. The event, which was staged at the Mount Panorama Circuit, near Bathurst, in New South Wales, Australia on 8 February 2015, was the thirteenth running of the Bathurst 12 Hour.
53 cars were entered for the race and 50 cars started the race, with two entries withdrawn following crashes in practice and the other due to drivers being injured in a road accident prior to the event.[1] [2] Katsumasa Chiyo, Wolfgang Reip and Florian Strauss won the event driving a Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3.[3] Reip and Strauss had both come through the GT Academy programme.[4]
The highlight of the race came in the closing laps. The Nissan had been racing conservatively all day, just staying on the lead lap and in touch with the leaders. Matt Bell led the field in one of the M-Sport Bentleys, ahead of Laurens Vanthoor in the Phoenix Racing Audi with Chiyo in third. Stefan Mucke and Dean Canto were also on the lead lap. There were a few late safety car periods, with the last leaving two laps of racing to the finish. Once racing began Chiyo took second at the first corner before taking the lead going up Mountain Straight. As Chiyo built a gap over his rivals, a battle developed for second place, with Bell ahead of Vanthoor and Mucke. Mucke passed Vanthoor for third going down Conrod Straight on the final lap before attempting to pass Bell at the final corner. Mucke made contact with Bell, sending him into a slide, while Vanthoor drove around the outside of both cars to take second place behind Chiyo. Mucke took third while Bell dropped to fourth.
Cars competed in the following five classes.[5]
| Class | Team / Entrant | Drivers | Car | Laps | Time/Retired | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | |||||||
| 1 | AA | 35 |  NISMO Athlete Global Team | Katsumasa Chiyo Wolfgang ReipFlorian Strauss | Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 | 269 | 12:00:11.0280 |
| 3.8 L Nissan VR38DETT twin-turbo V6 | |||||||
| 2 | AP | 15 | Phoenix Racing |  Marco Mapelli Laurens VanthoorMarkus Winkelhock | Audi R8 LMS Ultra | 269 | +2.4529 |
| 5.2 L FSI 2×DOHC Audi V10 | |||||||
| 3 | AP | 97 |  Craft-Bamboo Racing |  Alex MacDowallStefan Mücke Darryl O'Young | Aston Martin Vantage GT3 | 269 | +2.8016 |
| 6.0 L Aston Martin V12 | |||||||
| 4 | AP | 10 | Bentley Team M-Sport | Matt Bell Steven Kane Guy Smith | Bentley Continental GT3 | 269 | +3.7821 |
| 4.0 L Volkswagen twin-turbo V8 | |||||||
| 5 | AP | 36 |  Erebus Motorsport | Dean Canto Jack Le Brocq Richard Muscat | Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG | 269 | +3.9430 |
| 6.2 L Mercedes-Benz M159 V8 | |||||||
| 6 | AA | 49 | Vicious Rumour Racing | Renato Loberto Andrea Montermini Benny Simonsen | Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 | 268 | +1 lap |
| 4.5 L Ferrari F142 V8 | |||||||
| 7 | AP | 32 | Lago Racing | Roger Lago Steve Owen David Russell | Lamborghini Gallardo LP600 | 268 | +1 lap |
| 5.2 L Lamborghini V10 | |||||||
| 8 | AP | 33 | Clearwater Racing | Matt Griffin Weng Sun Mok  Toni Vilander | Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 | 268 | +1 lap |
| 4.5 L Ferrari F142 V8 | |||||||
| 9 | AP | 16 | Phoenix Racing |  Felix BaumgartnerChristopher Haase Stéphane Ortelli | Audi R8 LMS Ultra | 268 | +1 lap |
| 5.2 L FSI 2×DOHC Audi V10 | |||||||
| 10 | AA | 9 | Hallmarc Racing | Marc Cini Mark Eddy Christopher Mies | Audi R8 LMS Ultra | 267 | +2 laps |
| 5.2 L FSI 2×DOHC Audi V10 | |||||||
| 11 | AP | 12 |  Competition Motorsports | David Calvert-Jones Patrick Long Chris Pither | Porsche 997 GT3-R | 267 | +2 laps |
| 4.0 L Porsche H6 | |||||||
| 12 | AA | 75 | Jamec Pem Racing | Dean Koutsoumidis Steve McLaughlin James Winslow | Audi R8 LMS Ultra | 265 | +4 laps |
| 5.2 L FSI 2×DOHC Audi V10 | |||||||
| 13 | AA | 74 | Jamec Pem Racing | Greg Crick Alessandro Latif Warren Luff | Audi R8 LMS Ultra | 265 | +4 laps |
| 5.2 L FSI 2×DOHC Audi V10 | |||||||
| 14 | AA | 2 | Fitzgerald Racing | Michael Almond Peter Fitzgerald Matt Halliday | Audi R8 LMS Ultra | 264 | +5 laps |
| 5.2 L FSI 2×DOHC Audi V10 | |||||||
| 15 | I | 93 | MARC Cars Australia | Ben Gersekowski Adam Gowans Garry Jacobson | MARC Ford Focus GTC | 262 | +7 laps |
| 5.0 L Ford Coyote V8 | |||||||
| 16 | B | 47 | Supabarn Supermarkets Racing | James Koundouris Theo Koundouris Marcus Marshall Sam Power | Porsche 997 GT3 Cup S | 261 | +8 laps |
| 3.8 L Porsche H6 | |||||||
| 17 | B | 4 | Grove Motorsport | Ben Barker Stephen Grove Luke Youlden | Porsche 997 GT3 Cup | 259 | +10 laps |
| 3.8 L Porsche H6 | |||||||
| 18 | B | 64 | Motorsport Services | Tim Macrow Devon Modell Peter Rullo | Porsche 997 GT3 Cup | 257 | +12 laps |
| 3.8 L Porsche H6 | |||||||
| 19 | B | 21 | Motorsport Services | Sam Fillmore Ross Lilley Danny Stutterd | Porsche 997 GT3 Cup | 256 | +13 laps |
| 3.8 L Porsche H6 | |||||||
| 20 | B | 68 | Motorsport Services | Angus Chapel Xavier West Mark Whyman | Porsche 997 GT3 Cup | 252 | +17 laps |
| 3.8 L Porsche H6 | |||||||
| 21 | AA | 63 | Erebus Motorsport | Austin Cindric Simon Hodge Nathan Morcom | Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG | 251 | +18 laps |
| 6.2 L Mercedes-Benz M159 V8 | |||||||
| 22 | B | 50 | Team LHI | Jeff Bobik Nick Cresswell John Goodacre Terry Knight | Porsche 997 GT3 Cup | 251 | +18 laps |
| 3.8 L Porsche H6 | |||||||
| 23 | AA | 52 | Motionsport | Ben Gower Gordon Shedden Pete Storey | Aston Martin Vantage GT3 | 250 | +19 laps |
| 6.0 L Aston Martin V12 | |||||||
| 24 | C | 54 | Donut King Racing | Tony Alford Peter Leemhuis Mark O'Connor | Lotus Exige Cup R | 249 | +20 laps |
| 3.5 L Toyota 2GR-FE supercharged V6 | |||||||
| 25 | AA | 99 | Craft-Bamboo Racing |  Jean-Marc Merlin Jonathon Venter Frank Yu | Aston Martin Vantage GT3 | 248 | +21 laps |
| 6.0 L Aston Martin V12 | |||||||
| 26 | C | 76 | Aston Martin Saint Gallen | Andreas Baenziger Florian Kamelger Christopher Porritt | Aston Martin Vantage GT4 | 245 | +24 laps |
| 4.7 L Aston Martin V8 | |||||||
| 27 | D | 23 | Bruce Lynton BMW | Beric Lynton John Modystach Rob Thomson | BMW 1M | 242 | +27 laps |
| 3.0 L BMW N54 twin-turbo I6 | |||||||
| 28 | D | 28 | GWS Personnel Motorsport | Matt Chahda Steve Devjak Ric Shaw Jake Williams | BMW 335i | 239 | +30 laps |
| 3.0 L BMW N55 twin-turbo I6 | |||||||
| 29 | I | 43 | Stawell Cartage | Shane Bradford Phil Crompton Michael Robinson Shane Woodman | Mazda RX-8 | 234 | +35 laps |
| 2.0 L Mazda 3-rotor | |||||||
| 30 | B | 6 | Wall Racing | Garth Duffy Richard Gartner Michael Hector Aaron Zerefos | Porsche 997 GT3 Cup | 206 | +63 laps |
| 3.6 L Porsche H6 | |||||||
| 31 | D | 18 | Sherrin Rentals Racing | Grant Sherrin Iain Sherrin Mike Sherrin | BMW 135i | 203 | +66 laps |
| 3.0 L BMW N55 twin-turbo I6 | |||||||
| 32 | B | 66 | Motorsport Services | Chris van der Drift Frank Lyons Michael Lyons Scott O'Donnell Hayden Knighton | Porsche 997 GT3 Cup | 192 | +77 laps |
| 3.8 L Porsche H6 | |||||||
| 33 | D | 65 | Daytona Sports Cars | Jamie Augustine Ray Hislop Benjamin Schoots | Daytona Sportscar | 173 | +96 laps |
| 6.0 L GM LS1 V8 | |||||||
| 34 | I | 41 | Stawell Cartage | Ian Cowley Bruce Henley Mark King Jason Walsh | Mazda RX-8 | 149 | +120 laps |
| 2.0 L Mazda 3-rotor | |||||||
| AA | 8 | Flying B Motorsport | John Bowe David Brabham Peter Edwards | Bentley Continental GT3 | 254 | Crash | |
| 4.0 L Volkswagen twin-turbo V8 | |||||||
| DNF | AP | 11 | Bentley Team M-Sport | Maximilian Buhk Harold Primat  Andy Soucek | Bentley Continental GT3 | 245 | Drivetrain |
| 4.0 L Volkswagen twin-turbo V8 | |||||||
| DNF | AA | 27 | Trass Family Motorsport | Jono Lester John McIntyre Graeme Smyth | Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 | 221 | Overheating |
| 4.5 L Ferrari F142 V8 | |||||||
| DNF | I | 91 | MARC Cars Australia | Ivo Breukers Jake Camilleri Keith Kassulke | MARC Mazda3 GTC | 203 | Crash |
| 5.0 L Ford Coyote V8 | |||||||
| DNF | AA | 7 | Garth Walden Racing | Dean Grant Ash Samadi Max Twigg | Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG | 171 | Crash |
| 6.2 L Mercedes-Benz M159 V8 | |||||||
| DNF | AA | 77 | AF Corse | Michele Rugolo Steve Wyatt Davide Rigon | Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 | 163 | Crash |
| 4.5 L Ferrari F142 V8 | |||||||
| DNF | AP | 48 | M Motorsport | Craig Baird Justin McMillan Steven Richards | Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 | 129 | Gearbox |
| 5.2 L Lamborghini V10 | |||||||
| DNF | AA | 29 | Trofeo Motorsport | Ivan Capelli Jim Manolios Ryan Millier | Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 | 114 | Crash |
| 4.5 L Ferrari F142 V8 | |||||||
| DNF | C | 73 | TM Motorsports | Grant Bromley Robert Hackwood Michael Hovey Tony Martin | Ginetta G50 GT4 | 112 | Bellhousing failure |
| 3.5 L Ford Cyclone V6 | |||||||
| DNF | I | 92 | MARC Cars Australia | Michael Benton Tim Miles Hadrian Morrall | MARC Ford Focus GTC | 106 | Crash |
| 5.0 L Ford Coyote V8 | |||||||
| DNF | AA | 5 | Rod Salmon Racing | Nathan Antunes Oliver Gavin Rod Salmon | Audi R8 LMS Ultra | 103 | Crash |
| 5.2 L FSI 2×DOHC Audi V10 | |||||||
| DNF | D | 55 | Kintyre Racing | Matthew Cherry Glyn Crimp Stuart Kostera | Audi TT RS | 85 | Crash |
| 2.5 L R5 TFSI Audi I5 | |||||||
| DNF | AA | 59 | Keltic Racing | Kévin Estre Klark Quinn Tony Quinn | McLaren MP4-12C GT3 | 80 | Spun off |
| 3.8 L McLaren M838T twin-turbo V8 | |||||||
| DNF | AA | 51 | AMAC Motorsport | Matt Campbell Andrew Macpherson Bradley Shiels | Porsche 997 GT3-R | 41 | Crash |
| 4.0 L Porsche H6 | |||||||
| DNF | B | 14 | Peter Conroy Motorsport | Tony Bates Peter Conroy Grant Denyer | Porsche 997 GT3 Cup | 36 | Crash |
| 3.8 L Porsche H6 | |||||||
| DNF | D | 42 | Hallmark Homes | Karl Begg Jason Clements Anthony Gilbertson | BMW M3 GTR | 5 | Hit Kangaroo |
| 4.0 L BMW P60B40 V8 | |||||||
| DNS | B | 38 | Wall Racing | Daniel Bilski Matt Kingsley Paul Tresidder | Porsche 997 GT3 Cup S | Crash in Practice 2 | |
| 3.8 L Porsche H6 | |||||||
| DNS | AP | 88 | Maranello Motorsport | Ben Collins Tony D'Alberto Mika Salo | Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 | Crash in Practice 1 | |
| 4.5 L Ferrari F142 V8 | |||||||
| DNS | B | 69 | Motorsport Services | Frank Lyons Phil Mauger Lindsay O'Donnell | Porsche 997 GT3 Cup | Road Accident | |
| 3.8 L Porsche H6 | |||||||
| Sources:[6] | |||||||
– Scott O'Donnell, Phil Mauger, Lindsay O'Donnell & Hayden Knighton were unable to drive in the race following a car accident on the Thursday. Knighton & Scott O'Donnell were replaced by Frank Lyons (who moved from the withdrawn #69 car) and Chris van der Drift.