The Mount Panorama circuit in Bathurst, Australia is one of the most dynamic and challenging circuits in the world. It’s 3.9 miles with long fast straights and 23 turns strung on the ascent up the mountain and descent back down, with walls close in on both sides. It’s one of the world’s great tracks.
To get an idea of the difficulty, check out an onboard video of Valentino Rossi taking a lap at Bathurst in the #46 M4 GT3 in 2025 below.
BMW will return to Bathurst in mid-February to defend 2025’s one-two finish earlier with Team WRT and also begin the defense of the Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC) championship. The Bathurst 12 Hour race is the opening round of the IGTC, which also includes the Nurburgring 24 Hour, the Spa 24 Hour, a 1000km at Suzuka and the Indianapolis 8 Hour finale. BMW will have three entries among the 36 cars entered for the 2026 race, which is the largest entry since 2020 with 12 brands represented.
Team WRT are defending race winners and defending IGTC champs and will have two M4 GT3 EVO entries at Bathurst with six works drivers. Lining up in the #32 car are Kelvin van der Linde, Charles Weerts and Jordan Pepper. Pepper is new to BMW but is not new to Bathurst—he won the race in 2020 in a Bentley Continental GT3. “What a place for my first works race!,” said Pepper. “My memories of the race are very special. I won there in 2020 and I really enjoy the track, the place and the atmosphere. Of course, we also have pressure, because we are coming there as defending champions, but I have two great teammates, Kelvin and Charles. We get on very well on a professional and personal level. Driving with Kelvin is something very special for me. We’ve known each other for so long and complement each other very well.”
Valentino Rossi, Augusto Farfus and Raffaele Marciello are driving the #46 Team WRT entry. “I’m really looking forward to returning to Bathurst,” said Rossi. “It’s one of the best races of the season. The track is fantastic. When I started racing, Bathurst was at the top of my wish list. Now I’ve been here three times and enjoy it every time. Last year the race went great and we finished second. The podium is the goal again this time. With Raffaele and Augusto, I have two stellar teammates from whom I can learn a lot and with whom I will certainly have a lot of fun.”
BMW will also be represented by Team KRC with the #89 M4 GT3 EVO in the Bronze class. The team from China will have works driver Max Hesse on board with Maxime Oosten and Ruan Cunfan. Oosten and Cunfan drove together for Team KRC in an M4 GT3 EVO in last year’s GT World Challenge Asia championship and were very successful, but it will be the first time at Bathurst for the team. “I’m really looking forward to my debut at Bathurst,” said Hesse. “I’ve only heard good things about the track and the event so far and can hardly wait to do my first laps there.”
The Bathurst 12 Hour takes place on the weekend of February 13th-15th and you can find out more information at www.intercontinentalgtchallenge.com.
[Photos courtesy SRO, Team KRC]
