I honestly cannot think of a better way to start my morning as a nissan fanboy. In sure @FireFox would be happy with this bit o' news as well.
Yes, it's the first win for a GTR in an endurance race down under since 91/92, when the R32 dominated Group A racing! The car, piloted by GT Academy graduates, battled alongside numerous other Blancpain teams in one of Australia's classics, fighting it out through 20 safety cars that essentially made the last 5 minutes a full on sprint race.
A little background: the Blancpain Endurance Series was established in 2011 and brings together some of the most spectacular GT3 racing at the world's most iconic tracks. Bringing together cars from 12 (yes, 12!) different manufacturers. The mix of endurance and sprint class racing eclipses those of TUSCC's GT-LM/GT-D and is on the heels of the ADAC GT Masters in terms of spectacle. Although Bathurst isn't on the official Endurace Series calendar, teams are still eligible to enter in competition so long as their cars meet GT3 specifications. The Liqui Moly Bathurst 12 Hours is actually a standalone event that sees an equally diverse field of cars and experienced talent.
So how did it happen? Bell's Bentley was leading the field from the safety car when Chiyo's Nissan immediately passed Vanthoor's Audi at the start finish, presumably on fresher tires. A few corners later, and Chiyo passes Bell going down the Conrod straight with 3:36 left in the race (what a sight, two of the largest cars in the field going wheel to wheel).
However, Bell still had two laps to hold off the Mucke in the Aston Martin and Vanthoor if he wanted to keep P2; but alas, it was not meant to be. Bell had been admitted into the medical center earlier in the day for exhaustion, and given these Bentley GT3 cars are notorious for being physically taxing in long enduros, its not surprising to see a mistake. And what a mistake it was - Bell went wide into the last corner into the gravel and fell to P4, as both Vanthoor and Mucke pass him for P2 and P3 respectively.
Congratulations to Katsumasa, teammates Florian Strauss, Wolfgang Reip, and the rest of the crew at RJN Motorsport for battling, and beating, the mountain. The team has a lot of momentum with its young crop of drivers going into the start of the Blancpain season, especially since this victory builds ontop their P3 finish at the 24 Hours of Dubai. Here are those final laps, courtesy of NISMO TV.
And the Dubai race highlights:
Here is what one battle on the mountain looks like, from last year's Bathurst 12 hours.
If you're not a fan of GT-class racing by now, you should be. Forget single seaters and stock car racing - next to stage rally and ahead of spec-class racing, this is the most action you will get on any given weekend. I have booked and purchased tickets for both the TUSCC race at Mosport and Formula 1 Canadian GP this year, so you'll have that content to look forward to.
Anywho, this is eerily similar to last year's Canadian Grand Prix, where for the last 6-7 laps there was a 5-way battle for P1 between Rosbrg, Ricciardo, Perez, Massa, and Vettel that unfortunately ended in a last lap yellow when Massa plowed into the back of Perez. How similar? Well, Rosberg (P1) was in a car that was low on power so there was nothing he could do to defend. Ricciardo, who started the battle at the back of the group, pushed through the pack and finished P1, with you guessed it - fresher tires. 10/10 you watch this race as well.
aerways reacted to chaozbandit in Nissan NISMO Wins the 12 Hours of Bathurst!
aerways got a reaction from Whaler_99 in Your Folding Rig(s)
