THERE will be a brand-new car tackling Mount Panorama next month, with Tim Leahey to wheel out a 2023-spec BMW G82 M4 at the Bathurst International.
Trumpeted as the first of its kind to race in Australia, Leahey will steer the car in the GT4/Production Invited component of the 45-car combined Australian Production Cars field.
While the G82 M4 is new to the Mountain, Leahey is not – he won the 2019 Bathurst 6 Hour with Beric Lynton in a BMW M3 F80 Competition. In recent years, the duo have teamed up with Will Davison for the Easter classic.
“I got the opportunity through BMW to get this car and I was quick to take it – it looks like a good thing,” said Leahey.
“It is the first BMW G82 race car, the first of that series to run here. They have been very successful overseas in America and Europe, so I see no reason why it shouldn’t be competitive.
“They have done a great job with the car, it is going to depend more on the thing between the seat and the steering wheel – he is a bit rusty and been enjoying the good life a bit too much, so is carrying a bit of extra ballast!
“We have put the car on the dyno and also did some test laps at Winton, and now we will go to Bathurst and have a bit of fun! And this new car has air conditioning! The only thing missing is the cup holder.
“In all seriousness though, we will be going there to win – you always have to race with that mindset.”
While the 6 Hour is routinely dominated by BMWs, there’ll be a few different brands for Leahey to compete with at the International.
“It will be good to be up there, and it will be great to see how the car goes against the Porsches and McLarens,” said Leahey, who’ll be supported by Ashley Seward Motorsport.
GT4 will have at least one standalone category in Australia next year, with SRO Motorsports Group promoting a Motorsport Australia-sanctioned series.
