THE record for the biggest-ever Bathurst endurance race grid is set to be smashed next April.
Eighty-four entries have already been received for the Bathurst 6 Hour production car event ahead of the discounted ‘early bird’ entry cut-off on November 30.
The final entry deadline is not until March 11, after which point organisers (the Australian Racing Group) will whittle the list down to the circuit’s grid capacity of 70.
The record for the largest Bathurst endurance race grid stands at 64 cars, set by the 2017 Bathurst 6 Hour.
Sixty-eight cars were entered the 2020 edition of the race that was cancelled due to COVID-19, while 60 took part this year.
Event director Ken Collier hailed the success of the event that was started by James O’Brien in 2016 and acquired by ARG three years later.
The 2021 Bathurst 6 Hour was won by a BMW M4 co-driven by Shane van Gisbergen, Shane Smollen and Rob Rubis.
“We asked our fantastic partners at the Bathurst Regional Council very nicely if they would be able to build some more pit lane garages in time for the race next year – but they seemed to think that lengthening pit straight might have been a bit too much work between now and April,” joked Collier.
“This is an unprecedented scenario for an endurance race at Mount Panorama and a phenomenal response from Production Car competitors around Australia.
“70 cars will be able to start the race based on the grid capacity at Mount Panorama and, just as importantly, the number of available pit lane garages to allow teams to work safely throughout the event.”
Collier stressed that the entries will be culled in a way that is fair to all classes.
“We will base our final selected entry list on ensuring the best possible Bathurst 6 Hour grid, both in each respective class and in terms of the quality of the field overall,” he said.
“We have put in place a very thorough processes with very experienced people who understand the race to make sure we come out with the right outcome.
“Unfortunately, not everyone will make the final entry list and it will be very sad to advise those who do not make it to the final entry list of 70 cars.
“However, those who do not make the final grid will have the option for a full refund, or to be retained on an active standby list in case there are withdrawals nearer to the race.
“Anyone on a standby list who does not make the actual Bathurst 6 Hour field will of course have their entry fee fully refunded.”
