# 2015 Bathurst 12 Hour

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53 cars were entered for the race and 50 cars started the race, with two entries withdrawn following crashes in practice and the other due to drivers being injured in a road accident prior to the event. Katsumasa Chiyo, Wolfgang Reip and Florian Strauss won the event driving a Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3. Reip and Strauss had both come through the GT Academy programme.
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.

## Class structure

Cars competed in the following five classes.
* Class A – GT3 Outright
** Class AP – GT3 Pro-Am, for driver combinations including one unseeded driver.
** Class AA – GT3 Am, for driver combinations including two or three unseeded drivers.
* Class B – GT3 Cup Cars
* Class C – GT4
* Class D – Invitational (Production)
* Class I – Invitational (Non Production)

## Official results

| Pos. | Class | No. | Team / Entrant | Drivers | Car | Laps | Time/Retired |
| Pos. | Class | No. | Team / Entrant | Drivers | Engine | Laps | Time/Retired |
| 1 | AA | 35 | NISMO Athlete Global Team | Katsumasa Chiyo Wolfgang Reip Florian Strauss | Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 | 269 | 12:00:11.0280 |
| 1 | AA | 35 | NISMO Athlete Global Team | Katsumasa Chiyo Wolfgang Reip Florian Strauss | 3.8 L Nissan VR38DETT twin-turbo V6 | 269 | 12:00:11.0280 |
| 2 | AP | 15 | Phoenix Racing | Marco Mapelli Laurens Vanthoor Markus Winkelhock | Audi R8 LMS Ultra | 269 | +2.4529 |
| 2 | AP | 15 | Phoenix Racing | Marco Mapelli Laurens Vanthoor Markus Winkelhock | 5.2 L FSI 2×DOHC Audi V10 | 269 | +2.4529 |
| 3 | AP | 97 | Craft-Bamboo Racing | Alex MacDowall Stefan Mücke Darryl O'Young | Aston Martin Vantage GT3 | 269 | +2.8016 |
| 3 | AP | 97 | Craft-Bamboo Racing | Alex MacDowall Stefan Mücke Darryl O'Young | 6.0 L Aston Martin V12 | 269 | +2.8016 |
| 4 | AP | 10 | Bentley Team M-Sport | Matt Bell Steven Kane Guy Smith | Bentley Continental GT3 | 269 | +3.7821 |
| 4 | AP | 10 | Bentley Team M-Sport | Matt Bell Steven Kane Guy Smith | 4.0 L Volkswagen twin-turbo V8 | 269 | +3.7821 |
| 5 | AP | 36 | Erebus Motorsport | Dean Canto Jack Le Brocq Richard Muscat | Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG | 269 | +3.9430 |
| 5 | AP | 36 | Erebus Motorsport | Dean Canto Jack Le Brocq Richard Muscat | 6.2 L Mercedes-Benz M159 V8 | 269 | +3.9430 |
| 6 | AA | 49 | Vicious Rumour Racing | Renato Loberto Andrea Montermini Benny Simonsen | Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 | 268 | +1 lap |
| 6 | AA | 49 | Vicious Rumour Racing | Renato Loberto Andrea Montermini Benny Simonsen | 4.5 L Ferrari F142 V8 | 268 | +1 lap |
| 7 | AP | 32 | Lago Racing | Roger Lago Steve Owen David Russell | Lamborghini Gallardo LP600 | 268 | +1 lap |
| 7 | AP | 32 | Lago Racing | Roger Lago Steve Owen David Russell | 5.2 L Lamborghini V10 | 268 | +1 lap |
| 8 | AP | 33 | Clearwater Racing | Matt Griffin Weng Sun Mok Toni Vilander | Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 | 268 | +1 lap |
| 8 | AP | 33 | Clearwater Racing | Matt Griffin Weng Sun Mok Toni Vilander | 4.5 L Ferrari F142 V8 | 268 | +1 lap |
| 9 | AP | 16 | Phoenix Racing | Felix Baumgartner Christopher Haase Stéphane Ortelli | Audi R8 LMS Ultra | 268 | +1 lap |
| 9 | AP | 16 | Phoenix Racing | Felix Baumgartner Christopher Haase Stéphane Ortelli | 5.2 L FSI 2×DOHC Audi V10 | 268 | +1 lap |
| 10 | AA | 9 | Hallmarc Racing | Marc Cini Mark Eddy Christopher Mies | Audi R8 LMS Ultra | 267 | +2 laps |
| 10 | AA | 9 | Hallmarc Racing | Marc Cini Mark Eddy Christopher Mies | 5.2 L FSI 2×DOHC Audi V10 | 267 | +2 laps |
| 11 | AP | 12 | Competition Motorsports | David Calvert-Jones Patrick Long Chris Pither | Porsche 997 GT3-R | 267 | +2 laps |
| 11 | AP | 12 | Competition Motorsports | David Calvert-Jones Patrick Long Chris Pither | 4.0 L Porsche H6 | 267 | +2 laps |
| 12 | AA | 75 | Jamec Pem Racing | Dean Koutsoumidis Steve McLaughlin James Winslow | Audi R8 LMS Ultra | 265 | +4 laps |
| 12 | AA | 75 | Jamec Pem Racing | Dean Koutsoumidis Steve McLaughlin James Winslow | 5.2 L FSI 2×DOHC Audi V10 | 265 | +4 laps |
| 13 | AA | 74 | Jamec Pem Racing | Greg Crick Alessandro Latif Warren Luff | Audi R8 LMS Ultra | 265 | +4 laps |
| 13 | AA | 74 | Jamec Pem Racing | Greg Crick Alessandro Latif Warren Luff | 5.2 L FSI 2×DOHC Audi V10 | 265 | +4 laps |
| 14 | AA | 2 | Fitzgerald Racing | Michael Almond Peter Fitzgerald Matt Halliday | Audi R8 LMS Ultra | 264 | +5 laps |
| 14 | AA | 2 | Fitzgerald Racing | Michael Almond Peter Fitzgerald Matt Halliday | 5.2 L FSI 2×DOHC Audi V10 | 264 | +5 laps |
| 15 | I | 93 | MARC Cars Australia | Ben Gersekowski Adam Gowans Garry Jacobson | MARC Ford Focus GTC | 262 | +7 laps |
| 15 | I | 93 | MARC Cars Australia | Ben Gersekowski Adam Gowans Garry Jacobson | 5.0 L Ford Coyote V8 | 262 | +7 laps |
| 16 | B | 47 | Supabarn Supermarkets Racing | James Koundouris Theo Koundouris Marcus Marshall Sam Power | Porsche 997 GT3 Cup S | 261 | +8 laps |
| 16 | B | 47 | Supabarn Supermarkets Racing | James Koundouris Theo Koundouris Marcus Marshall Sam Power | 3.8 L Porsche H6 | 261 | +8 laps |
| 17 | B | 4 | Grove Motorsport | Ben Barker Stephen Grove Luke Youlden | Porsche 997 GT3 Cup | 259 | +10 laps |
| 17 | B | 4 | Grove Motorsport | Ben Barker Stephen Grove Luke Youlden | 3.8 L Porsche H6 | 259 | +10 laps |
| 18 | B | 64 | Motorsport Services | Tim Macrow Devon Modell Peter Rullo | Porsche 997 GT3 Cup | 257 | +12 laps |
| 18 | B | 64 | Motorsport Services | Tim Macrow Devon Modell Peter Rullo | 3.8 L Porsche H6 | 257 | +12 laps |
| 19 | B | 21 | Motorsport Services | Sam Fillmore Ross Lilley Danny Stutterd | Porsche 997 GT3 Cup | 256 | +13 laps |
| 19 | B | 21 | Motorsport Services | Sam Fillmore Ross Lilley Danny Stutterd | 3.8 L Porsche H6 | 256 | +13 laps |
| 20 | B | 68 | Motorsport Services | Angus Chapel Xavier West Mark Whyman | Porsche 997 GT3 Cup | 252 | +17 laps |
| 20 | B | 68 | Motorsport Services | Angus Chapel Xavier West Mark Whyman | 3.8 L Porsche H6 | 252 | +17 laps |
| 21 | AA | 63 | Erebus Motorsport | Austin Cindric Simon Hodge Nathan Morcom | Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG | 251 | +18 laps |
| 21 | AA | 63 | Erebus Motorsport | Austin Cindric Simon Hodge Nathan Morcom | 6.2 L Mercedes-Benz M159 V8 | 251 | +18 laps |
| 22 | B | 50 | Team LHI | Jeff Bobik Nick Cresswell John Goodacre Terry Knight | Porsche 997 GT3 Cup | 251 | +18 laps |
| 22 | B | 50 | Team LHI | Jeff Bobik Nick Cresswell John Goodacre Terry Knight | 3.8 L Porsche H6 | 251 | +18 laps |
| 23 | AA | 52 | Motionsport | Ben Gower Gordon Shedden Pete Storey | Aston Martin Vantage GT3 | 250 | +19 laps |
| 23 | AA | 52 | Motionsport | Ben Gower Gordon Shedden Pete Storey | 6.0 L Aston Martin V12 | 250 | +19 laps |
| 24 | C | 54 | Donut King Racing | Tony Alford Peter Leemhuis Mark O'Connor | Lotus Exige Cup R | 249 | +20 laps |
| 24 | C | 54 | Donut King Racing | Tony Alford Peter Leemhuis Mark O'Connor | 3.5 L Toyota 2GR-FE supercharged V6 | 249 | +20 laps |
| 25 | AA | 99 | Craft-Bamboo Racing | Jean-Marc Merlin Jonathon Venter Frank Yu | Aston Martin Vantage GT3 | 248 | +21 laps |
| 25 | AA | 99 | Craft-Bamboo Racing | Jean-Marc Merlin Jonathon Venter Frank Yu | 6.0 L Aston Martin V12 | 248 | +21 laps |
| 26 | C | 76 | Aston Martin Saint Gallen | Andreas Baenziger Florian Kamelger Christopher Porritt | Aston Martin Vantage GT4 | 245 | +24 laps |
| 26 | C | 76 | Aston Martin Saint Gallen | Andreas Baenziger Florian Kamelger Christopher Porritt | 4.7 L Aston Martin V8 | 245 | +24 laps |
| 27 | D | 23 | Bruce Lynton BMW | Beric Lynton John Modystach Rob Thomson | BMW 1M | 242 | +27 laps |
| 27 | D | 23 | Bruce Lynton BMW | Beric Lynton John Modystach Rob Thomson | 3.0 L BMW N54 twin-turbo I6 | 242 | +27 laps |
| 28 | D | 28 | GWS Personnel Motorsport | Matt Chahda Steve Devjak Ric Shaw Jake Williams | BMW 335i | 239 | +30 laps |
| 28 | D | 28 | GWS Personnel Motorsport | Matt Chahda Steve Devjak Ric Shaw Jake Williams | 3.0 L BMW N55 twin-turbo I6 | 239 | +30 laps |
| 29 | I | 43 | Stawell Cartage | Shane Bradford Phil Crompton Michael Robinson Shane Woodman | Mazda RX-8 | 234 | +35 laps |
| 29 | I | 43 | Stawell Cartage | Shane Bradford Phil Crompton Michael Robinson Shane Woodman | 2.0 L Mazda 3-rotor | 234 | +35 laps |
| 30 | B | 6 | Wall Racing | Garth Duffy Richard Gartner Michael Hector Aaron Zerefos | Porsche 997 GT3 Cup | 206 | +63 laps |
| 30 | B | 6 | Wall Racing | Garth Duffy Richard Gartner Michael Hector Aaron Zerefos | 3.6 L Porsche H6 | 206 | +63 laps |
| 31 | D | 18 | Sherrin Rentals Racing | Grant Sherrin Iain Sherrin Mike Sherrin | BMW 135i | 203 | +66 laps |
| 31 | D | 18 | Sherrin Rentals Racing | Grant Sherrin Iain Sherrin Mike Sherrin | 3.0 L BMW N55 twin-turbo I6 | 203 | +66 laps |
| 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 |
| 32 | B | 66 | Motorsport Services | Chris van der Drift Frank Lyons Michael Lyons Scott O'Donnell Hayden Knighton | 3.8 L Porsche H6 | 192 | +77 laps |
| 33 | D | 65 | Daytona Sports Cars | Jamie Augustine Ray Hislop Benjamin Schoots | Daytona Sportscar | 173 | +96 laps |
| 33 | D | 65 | Daytona Sports Cars | Jamie Augustine Ray Hislop Benjamin Schoots | 6.0 L GM LS1 V8 | 173 | +96 laps |
| 34 | I | 41 | Stawell Cartage | Ian Cowley Bruce Henley Mark King Jason Walsh | Mazda RX-8 | 149 | +120 laps |
| 34 | I | 41 | Stawell Cartage | Ian Cowley Bruce Henley Mark King Jason Walsh | 2.0 L Mazda 3-rotor | 149 | +120 laps |
| DNF | AA | 8 | Flying B Motorsport | John Bowe David Brabham Peter Edwards | Bentley Continental GT3 | 254 | Crash |
| DNF | AA | 8 | Flying B Motorsport | John Bowe David Brabham Peter Edwards | 4.0 L Volkswagen twin-turbo V8 | 254 | Crash |
| DNF | AP | 11 | Bentley Team M-Sport | Maximilian Buhk Harold Primat Andy Soucek | Bentley Continental GT3 | 245 | Drivetrain |
| DNF | AP | 11 | Bentley Team M-Sport | Maximilian Buhk Harold Primat Andy Soucek | 4.0 L Volkswagen twin-turbo V8 | 245 | Drivetrain |
| DNF | AA | 27 | Trass Family Motorsport | Jono Lester John McIntyre Graeme Smyth | Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 | 221 | Overheating |
| DNF | AA | 27 | Trass Family Motorsport | Jono Lester John McIntyre Graeme Smyth | 4.5 L Ferrari F142 V8 | 221 | Overheating |
| DNF | I | 91 | MARC Cars Australia | Ivo Breukers Jake Camilleri Keith Kassulke | MARC Mazda3 GTC | 203 | Crash |
| DNF | I | 91 | MARC Cars Australia | Ivo Breukers Jake Camilleri Keith Kassulke | 5.0 L Ford Coyote V8 | 203 | Crash |
| DNF | AA | 7 | Garth Walden Racing | Dean Grant Ash Samadi Max Twigg | Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG | 171 | Crash |
| DNF | AA | 7 | Garth Walden Racing | Dean Grant Ash Samadi Max Twigg | 6.2 L Mercedes-Benz M159 V8 | 171 | Crash |
| DNF | AA | 77 | AF Corse | Michele Rugolo Steve Wyatt Davide Rigon | Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 | 163 | Crash |
| DNF | AA | 77 | AF Corse | Michele Rugolo Steve Wyatt Davide Rigon | 4.5 L Ferrari F142 V8 | 163 | Crash |
| DNF | AP | 48 | M Motorsport | Craig Baird Justin McMillan Steven Richards | Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 | 129 | Gearbox |
| DNF | AP | 48 | M Motorsport | Craig Baird Justin McMillan Steven Richards | 5.2 L Lamborghini V10 | 129 | Gearbox |
| DNF | AA | 29 | Trofeo Motorsport | Ivan Capelli Jim Manolios Ryan Millier | Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 | 114 | Crash |
| DNF | AA | 29 | Trofeo Motorsport | Ivan Capelli Jim Manolios Ryan Millier | 4.5 L Ferrari F142 V8 | 114 | Crash |
| DNF | C | 73 | TM Motorsports | Grant Bromley Robert Hackwood Michael Hovey Tony Martin | Ginetta G50 GT4 | 112 | Bellhousing failure |
| DNF | C | 73 | TM Motorsports | Grant Bromley Robert Hackwood Michael Hovey Tony Martin | 3.5 L Ford Cyclone V6 | 112 | Bellhousing failure |
| DNF | I | 92 | MARC Cars Australia | Michael Benton Tim Miles Hadrian Morrall | MARC Ford Focus GTC | 106 | Crash |
| DNF | I | 92 | MARC Cars Australia | Michael Benton Tim Miles Hadrian Morrall | 5.0 L Ford Coyote V8 | 106 | Crash |
| DNF | AA | 5 | Rod Salmon Racing | Nathan Antunes Oliver Gavin Rod Salmon | Audi R8 LMS Ultra | 103 | Crash |
| DNF | AA | 5 | Rod Salmon Racing | Nathan Antunes Oliver Gavin Rod Salmon | 5.2 L FSI 2×DOHC Audi V10 | 103 | Crash |
| DNF | D | 55 | Kintyre Racing | Matthew Cherry Glyn Crimp Stuart Kostera | Audi TT RS | 85 | Crash |
| DNF | D | 55 | Kintyre Racing | Matthew Cherry Glyn Crimp Stuart Kostera | 2.5 L R5 TFSI Audi I5 | 85 | Crash |
| DNF | AA | 59 | Keltic Racing | Kévin Estre Klark Quinn Tony Quinn | McLaren MP4-12C GT3 | 80 | Spun off |
| DNF | AA | 59 | Keltic Racing | Kévin Estre Klark Quinn Tony Quinn | 3.8 L McLaren M838T twin-turbo V8 | 80 | Spun off |
| DNF | AA | 51 | AMAC Motorsport | Matt Campbell Andrew Macpherson Bradley Shiels | Porsche 997 GT3-R | 41 | Crash |
| DNF | AA | 51 | AMAC Motorsport | Matt Campbell Andrew Macpherson Bradley Shiels | 4.0 L Porsche H6 | 41 | Crash |
| DNF | B | 14 | Peter Conroy Motorsport | Tony Bates Peter Conroy Grant Denyer | Porsche 997 GT3 Cup | 36 | Crash |
| DNF | B | 14 | Peter Conroy Motorsport | Tony Bates Peter Conroy Grant Denyer | 3.8 L Porsche H6 | 36 | Crash |
| DNF | D | 42 | Hallmark Homes | Karl Begg Jason Clements Anthony Gilbertson | BMW M3 GTR | 5 | Hit Kangaroo |
| DNF | D | 42 | Hallmark Homes | Karl Begg Jason Clements Anthony Gilbertson | 4.0 L BMW P60B40 V8 | 5 | Hit Kangaroo |
| DNS | B | 38 | Wall Racing | Daniel Bilski Matt Kingsley Paul Tresidder | Porsche 997 GT3 Cup S | | Crash in Practice 2 |
| DNS | B | 38 | Wall Racing | Daniel Bilski Matt Kingsley Paul Tresidder | 3.8 L Porsche H6 | | Crash in Practice 2 |
| DNS | AP | 88 | Maranello Motorsport | Ben Collins Tony D'Alberto Mika Salo | Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 | | Crash in Practice 1 |
| DNS | AP | 88 | Maranello Motorsport | Ben Collins Tony D'Alberto Mika Salo | 4.5 L Ferrari F142 V8 | | Crash in Practice 1 |
| DNS | B | 69 | Motorsport Services | Frank Lyons Phil Mauger Lindsay O'Donnell | Porsche 997 GT3 Cup | | Road Accident |
| DNS | B | 69 | Motorsport Services | Frank Lyons Phil Mauger Lindsay O'Donnell | 3.8 L Porsche H6 | | Road Accident |
| Sources: ||||||||
^1 – 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.
* Note: Class winners are shown in bold.
* Race time of winning car: 12:00:11.0280
* Fastest race lap: 2:03.3091 – Markus Winkelhock