Multiple Bathurst 1000 winner Craig Lowndes will line up with Porsche factory team-mates Earl Bamber and Laurens Vanthoor in a Meguiar’s liveried 911 GT3 R for the 2020 Bathurst 12 Hour event.
As one of the most successful drivers in history on the famed Mount Panorama circuit, Lowndes’ Bathurst resume includes seven Bathurst 1000 wins and two Bathurst 12 Hour victories. In 2019, Lowndes finished fourth after starting from 19th on the grid in an action-packed race, which saw Matt Campbell cross the line first in an outstanding debut in the Intercontinental GT Challenge for the Earl Bamber Motorsport (EBM) team.
“As a team we really very excited to go to the event,” commented Bamber. “Obviously last year was amazing to win the race so to be able to return as defending champions for Porsche will be something special. As a driver, it will be awesome to team up with Laurens as we had a lot of success in America last year and follow each other all around the world racing. We are both really excited to have a legend in Craig Lowndes join the team and drive our car. He is the most successful Bathurst driver on the grid, so hopefully he can bring us some of that Lowndesy magic during the Bathurst 12 Hour weekend.
As team principal of the winning entry on that occasion, Bamber’s EBM team handed Porsche its Bathurst 12-hour victory in one of the last race appearances for the previous generation 911 GT3 R.
The New Zealander gets back behind the wheel for the 2020 assault in the new 911 GT3 R and will again resume his successful partnership with Vanthoor. The Porsche factory duo enjoyed great success as a driver pairing in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship (IWSC) in the US last year, winning the GTLM championship sharing a factory 911 RSR.
With two of the most accomplished Porsche factory drivers teaming up with the most successful Bathurst driver on the 2020 grid in Lowndes – in the reigning Bathurst 12 Hour-winning team – the combination promises to be one of the strongest teams among this year’s 40 car grid, which features representation from 11 different GT3 manufacturers.
As a result of this dynamic union, premium car care brand Meguiar’s Australia has thrown its support behind the star-studded #1 Earl Bamber Motorsport entry, with the 911 GT3 R sporting a dynamic black and yellow livery for the Endurance race.
As part of their renewed partnership with the Porsche brand, Meguiar’s Australia will also provide a car care package to each of the Porsche 911 GT3 R teams competing in the 2020 event.
The 2020 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour event takes place from 31 January to 2 February, reverting to a three-day format this year. Practice begins on Friday followed by qualifying on Saturday. The race beginning before sunrise on Sunday at 5:45am local time.
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