2026 Bathurst 12 Hour

[skaifeman]

The weekend has begun. 35 strong field, with GT3 cars making 31 of them.
Chev and Ford make an appearance, however I think one of the Porsche's or Merc's will be favourites.

Anyone making the trip? Sonic maybe? I'll be planted in the living room.

[stevo qld]

If it is so boring that TV aren't interested, then it may be mythical.

But just in case it isn't a figment of the imagination, GO AUSSIES!

[Sonic]

would disagree that tv isn't interested... but paytv outbid AND made it exclusive so tv option was taken off the table.

I think that's a bad call but if they are paying money that makes the event stay alive I guess we just have to go without if we can't get there (unless you are someone who can afford paytv)

[Sonic]

Would have liked to be there Sman but unfortunately they somehow made a clash between VicState round 1 and this event.

So I will be at Sandown this weekend. I am working for a bunch of the categories and no way I could afford to pay someone else to do the amount of work I have to do.

[mikeamerica84]

Spotter's Guide:

https://spotters.guide/resources/2026_Bathurst_12h_SG_V1.1.pdf

[mikeamerica84]

Will this help?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTAtEAgbf04

[skaifeman]

Never have I yelled at the TV like I just have. You could see that the 77 was driving straight into the accident.

Looking at the replay, it was only a single yellow shown at the time.

[mikeamerica84]

Off topic here with respect to GT World Challenge Australia, but they had another "grande crumblage" at Griffin's in the 6 Hour.  Denyer claimed he never saw the waving caution flags as he was passing a car in the double waved caution zone, subsequently causing an absolutely horrible four car wreck.

Most youtube titles show Denyer having to be hospitalized, but Richard Barram, driving a VW Scirocco wound up with a broken back.

Either blame it on Denyer or blame it on the lack of proper flagging even after the 12 Hour debacle.  I'll go about 75/25 and pin it mostly on Denyer.

[Sonic]

That was a very nasty crash. And fortunate to not have had the contact 2 metres earlier or that impact would have been into the driver's door of the stopped Mazda and we could well have had a fatality.

GD's claim of not having seen the yellow I am struggling with. Especially for someone of his experience at the Mount.

It is visible from over the hump where he would have been higher than the cars he was approaching toward T2. He was behind the VW at T2 entry so the flag point was to his left and not obscured by anything. Which leaves me with the only thing left, he was focused on the car he wanted to pass and did not check the flag point.

He also stated himself in one of his interviews/statements that as he came around the turn he saw the stationary car and the green flag after it. Yet he still chose to stay on the gas, knowing it was at minimum a yellow zone, where he made contact with the VW causing the bigger secondary incident (can't call it an accident as, for me, it was driver negligence in this instance).

I am glad that he is ok but he has handled everything post-crash very poorly and I have yet to see/hear him own his mistake, blaming the driver of the VW for the contact.

Barram is going to be in for a long road of recovery

[skaifeman]

The VW was basically a front on hit (and a clip with the Mazda). Massive.
Definitely sits with GD. He should've fronted up and called it what is was rather than jump on socials smiling.

Did you enjoy the long weekend up on the mount, Sonic?

[Sonic]

I did. It was.. eventful.

Caught up with a ton of folk which is always a good thing. Our car didn't crash, also a good thing.

The hard part, of course, is when you are working the days become massive. I was up around 6am each day and working til 7-8pm. Wasted by the time I got back to Melb and ended up taking an extra day off for recovery.

[skaifeman]

Did anyone get wrapped up in the N24 this year? Part of the same Championship that Bathurst holds a place in.
Surprise, surprise the B12 winner was also the N24 winner! Engel and Martin take the double.

Verstappen-mania took over. We all know he's good, but honestly, he is him. Immediately proved to be in the lead group, and faster, than GT3 regular front runners. BoP I know, but he had no issue passing and pulling away from Engel in the sister Merc.

Was enjoyable to have on in the background, and spot the occasional Darcia !

[Sonic]

I watched some of it... interesting to hear from the commentary that Ver was pretty much on par with the other front runners for the majority of the track... BUT when they were on the GP section he gapped them and made time seemingly every lap...

[skaifeman]

I genuinely think Verstappen could steer a Supercar competitively.

Continuing with GT3's, day done at T1 of a 3HR race.
https://au.motorsport.com/gtwce-endurance/news/mass-pileup-at-the-gtwc-europe-in-monza-millions-in-damage-at-turn-1/10825827/


I reckon there will be more than 1 Mustang on the B12HR grid next year.
https://speedcafe.com/wec-news-2026-matt-campbell-leaves-porsche-joins-ford-announcement-new-hypercar-details-comments-teammates/