GRUPPE M Racing has entered the 2023 LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour, returning one of the most consistently high-performing international teams of the recent GT3 era to Mount Panorama.
The team will enter a Mercedes-AMG GT3 for their third 12-Hour campaign next February 3-5 in a bid to claim a Bathurst win.
The Hong Kong-flagged, German-based team made their 12-Hour debut in 2019, finishing third with drivers Maximilian Buhk, Maximilian Götz and Raffaele Marciello.
The team had led 34 laps throughout the day and, with Marciello behind the wheel, were in the leading group of cars fighting for the win in the dramatic closing stages.
Earlier that day GruppeM had started from pole position, claiming the Allan Simonsen pole award after Jake Dennis and his R-Motorsport Aston Martin were excluded from the Shootout results following a technical infringement.
The team returned in 2020 and qualified third, with Marciello, Buhk and Felipe Fraga again remaining in contention throughout the race on Sunday.
A late puncture forced a frantic late-race pit stop for the team’s Mercedes-AMG and though the car crossed the line in second, they were later penalised 30 seconds for failing to turn the engine off in the hasty stop – relegating them to 6th in the final classifications.
The team recently locked out the front row in the Intercontinental GT Challenge powered by Pirelli season-ender in Abu Dhabi, though issues in the race forced both cars out.
The team is yet to confirm their 12-Hour driving squad.
“GruppeM were one of the first international teams to lodge an entry this year, it’s exciting to have them back,” said Shane Rudzis, Bathurst 12 Hour Event Director.
“In 2019 and 2020 they proved that they are one of the most competitive teams to tackle the Mountain and you’re never in doubt that they will be giving everything to win.
“They’ve crossed the line inside the top three on the road on both occasions they have competed which is an incredible strike rate. Watching them aim for a Bathurst victory and taking on great teams from here and abroad will be a big story of the race this year.”
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