Bathurst 12 Hour Eyes Four-Day Expansion, Includes GT4 Sprint Round
Interest in Australia’s marquee endurance race has surged this year, with entry numbers climbing from 22 to 35 cars. The growth comes entirely from GT3 entries, while GT4 remains sparsely represented—only two cars in the field despite GT4’s own sprint series locally drawing well over 30 entries per round.
GT4 car owners have been reluctant to join the 12 Hour, largely due to the wide speed gaps created by GT3 cars and the substantial costs associated with competing in an endurance event. Bathurst 12 Hour director Shane Rudzis told Speedcafe that talks are underway with SRO Australia, the promoter of GT4 Australia, about delivering a sprint round of the GT4 series as part of the event’s program.
A key element of that plan involves introducing a Thursday track session dedicated to GT3 testing, designed to help amateur drivers gain confidence and pace before the main race.
“Bronze drivers in GT3 currently need more practice on this circuit,” Rudzis explained to Speedcafe.
The concept would see Thursday become a paid testing day, with GT3 teams and Bronze drivers getting behind the wheel, ensuring Friday practice runs smoothly. This would free up additional track time to accommodate a GT4 sprint round, which would be ideal for the event.
Previous talks about separating GT4 from the 12 Hour have contemplated a standalone endurance race of around three hours, but that remains costly due to refueling requirements.
SRO Australia is also pushing to seize the fifth event date Bathurst lost when the Bathurst International was removed from the calendar. The local council appears hesitant to fill that slot at the moment.
Most GT3 manufacturers also hold GT4 homologations, making a GT4 sprint at Bathurst a strong fit from both marketing and driver-development perspectives.
“There’s substantial OEM investment in the event; track signage is everywhere, and brands see value in programs for corporate customers and branding,” Rudzis noted. “Having GT3 and GT4 teams racing together would be positive for the event.
There may come a time when the Bathurst 12 Hour becomes GT3-only. I’m not saying we want GT4 or Invitational classes gone tomorrow, because they’re part of the event’s fabric. But with a field swelling to many GT3 cars, the event could tilt toward GT3 from both a fan and safety standpoint.
Envisioning a future where younger drivers can experience the track in GT4 cars—without racing in the main event—and still participate in the overall festival would be fantastic.
Today’s Bathurst 12 Hour schedule already features the Ferrari Challenge and Combined Sedans support categories, along with Gen3 Supercars test sessions.
Rudzis has pressed ahead with the Thursday expansion idea in recent months, with further discussions planned this weekend.
“One of the strengths of this event is that we’re active on track from Friday through the following Thursday, including private track days sold to manufacturers and other clients,” he said. “We’d be prepared to sacrifice one post-event track day to start earlier, opening a doorway to a Thursday program. The current schedule is extremely tight, making it hard to fit everything in. A Thursday introduction could be the breakthrough we need for the future.”
Would you welcome a four-day Bathurst 12 Hour that includes a GT4 sprint round and Thursday testing, or do you think the event should stay GT3-focused to preserve excitement and safety? Share your thoughts in the comments.
