> Thursday’s expanded parade to feature all 40 entries
The Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour’s ‘Town to Track’ will be expanded this year following the successful debut of the event’s first-ever street parade in 2019.
In what is set to be a memorable way to commence Australia’s International endurance race, this year the entire 40-car field will tour from the circuit to Russell street in Bathurst’s city centre on Thursday, January 30.
Once there, the cars and stars of the race will be on display to fans for several hours, with an autograph session and driver Q&A sessions to take place once cars are in place.
Under police escort and led by the Mercedes-AMG Safety Car, 12 Hour cars will leave pitlane at 10:45am on Thursday morning and complete a slow lap of the circuit itself prior to exiting the track onto Panorama Avenue.
The parade will turn left onto Brilliant Street and then right onto George Street heading towards the city proper.
The approximately 3.5-kilometre drive will then see the field turn right into Russell Street where all 40 cars will be parked in two rows in the middle of the street.
Drivers will be available to meet fans and sign autographs before departing Russell Street at 1.30pm and returning to the circuit, via William Street and Panorama avenue.
Fans are encouraged to line the route to see the same cars and drivers set to tackle the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour in the flesh on public roads.
The logistical effort involved to produce the Town to Track event includes the unique process of registering each of the Bathurst 12 Hour race cars to allow them to be driven on the road.
In a special service provided by New South Wales Roads and Maritime Service, each car will be temporarily registered for the day to allow them to be driven on public roads from the circuit to the city, and back.
Following the Safety Car, the field will be led by the defending 12 Hour-winning Earl Bamber Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 R and then one marque from each full-season Intercontinental GT Challenge Powered by Pirelli manufacturer. The remainder of the field will then follow in pit lane order.
“Town to Track was a hugely popular addition to the event in 2019 and saw thousands of people line the streets to see the best GT3 cars from around the world drive on the Bathurst city streets,” said event director Kurt Sakzewski. “This year we’ve gone to four-times the number of cars by including the entire field as part of the parade.
“It will be quite a show both as the cars head to, and back to the circuit from Russell Street on Thursday.
“Once parked, fans will have the opportunity to meet the star drivers, grab a poster, get some autographs and meet and greet with the people involved in the race.
“We’re very appreciative of the New South Wales government, New South Wales Police and the Bathurst Regional Council for their efforts in making this hugely exciting part of the 12 Hour weekend happen – it’s going to be quite a show.”