The 2019 Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour has confirmed a massive support race program to occur with more than 240 cars registered across the five categories.
Making up the list of categories sharing the famous Mount Panorama track with the popular endurance race are Hyundai Excels, Production Sports Cars, Improved Production Cars, Porsche Club NSW Regularity and Heritage Touring Cars.
Remarkably four of the five categories each have over 50 drivers with the Excels, Improved Productions and Regularities having an incredible 55 drivers competing, while Production Sports Cars has 50 drivers.
For the classic car fans, the Heritage Touring Cars will be bringing out 25 iconic cars from a variety of Group C and Group A Touring Car races from the 1970s and 1980s .
Ranging from the ex-Colin Bond Ford Sierra RS500 to a V12 Jaguar XJS to the formidable AE82 Corolla driven by returning Bathurst legend Bob Holden, the impressive list of classic cars is sure to get the motor sport fan excited.
While it might not be classic racing, the Hyundai Excel’s rise to one of the biggest categories around Australia is highlighted by its healthy attendance at Bathurst with drivers making their way from around the country.
A host of previous champions will be part of the category with 2018 South Australian champion Michael Clemente, 2017 Queensland champion Brock Giblin and last year’s inaugural race winner Cameron Wilson headlining the field.
Just as popular as the Excels is the Improved Production Cars with Tasmanian Ray Hislop the pick of the 55 drivers competing over the weekend.
However the Ford Falcon pilot will have his work cut out for him in this year’s race, with Western Australian fan favourite Matt Cherry constantly at the front end of the category. Another one to look out for is internet sensation Jordan Cox in the Suzuki Swift who fans will be keen to see after a host of stunning moves last year made him a contender.
Shannons Nationals and Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix 2019 commentator Cameron van den Dungen will lead the Victorian charge with Luke Grech Cumbo and Stephen O’Neal other drivers to potentially have impact.
The event’s staple support category, the Porsche Club of New South Wales will once again run its four 20-minute regularity trials, which has since become fan favourite at the Easter event.
For Porsche fans, the regularity is heaven as the field of cars includes a variety of Porsche 944, Cayman and Boxter models, as well as four generations of 911 models such as the latest GT3 and GT2 entries.
Rounding out the five categories is the Production Sports Cars, which is headlined by two-time Bathurst 12 Hour winner Rod Salmon.
Behind the wheel of the Audi R8, Salmon won’t be the only big name in Australia competing in the support category with GT regulars Dean Grant, Mark Griffith, Andrew Macpherson and Rio Nugara all confirming their place in the round.
Other names to keep an eye out for during the Production Sports Cars races are John Morriss, Jamie Augustine, Matt Stoupas and Jake Camilleri.
The 2019 Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour event takes place at Mount Panorama in Bathurst on 19 – 21 April, with the big endurance race to start at 11.30am on Sunday morning.