GT Racing - GT1, GT3, Blancpain Endurance Series & National GT SeriesSports Cars 

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The escape of Craft Bamboo's car driver was way more dangerous than I initially thought.
I am beginning to have serious doubts about the overall safety around this track. Not on the track itself, but on the facilities and the race direction.

The video of Tom Pritchard on YT scared me.
 
Race control being asleep at wheel is sadly nothing new at Bathurst. Chris Pither whacking Paul Weel after he stopped on track, a Mercedes collecting a stricken Audi in the exact same location and now a Mercedes whacking a Porsche entering Forrest's Elbow. What the hell. Haven't race control learned anything at all? I feel terrible for all the guys and girls working on car 77. Their race didn't have to end like that. Here are the two crashes in question:

 
I just watched the last 1.5hrs of the race on YT, and also caught the 77 crash which just happened to be at the very start of the video. I hope both drivers are alright, but it could so easily have been worse - at least there were double yellows, but clearly Aron didn't see them until he was right on top of the stricken Porsche.

Amazing win for the #888 - I wanted either #77 or #888 to win, so I'm happy with that. :cheers: And a very impressive P2 for the HCR Porsche too, and a good podium for WRT too.

I can't help but think that the incidents between the two Mercs was quite unnecessary, and might have been wiser if the slower Merc (which then tagged the wall) had just let the 222 pass for the benefit of both, but clearly that isn't a racer's instinct. Almost ditto for the KvDL/Gounon incident at Turn 1, but given that was for the race lead with no stops left, that was more understandable - but it did end up wrecking the chances of both cars.

Great race, albeit with some potentially nasty incidents - but glad that no-one was seriously hurt.
 
No serious injuries after some major shunts is a big relief.

I was absolutely gutted when Bamber lost the Corvette to mechanical issues but I thought the race was amazing. Great competition.
 
The lack of any warning is staggering incompetence, verging on negligence, and absolutely its own issue.

Secondarily (not a but, rather an also), this further demonstrates why I'm getting bored of GT3 racing - more so when it's the top category in multiclass racing.

The drivers are getting just like certain sim-racers now: all that matters is the laptime. Doesn't matter what or who else is on the track, or where, or what flags are doing what.

What caused the initial incident? By the reports, a (pro) driver tagging the slow-moving (damaged) Porsche into a spin. Said he couldn't avoid him, while trying to go past him for a couple of corners at the top of the mountain. Hey, why not... not go past him right there and, like, wait?

Then, after the marshalfail (or race controlfail), what happened following the big crash? The field ploughing through debris, alongside the double waved yellows ("reduce your speed significantly, do not overtake, and be prepared to change direction or stop. There is a hazard wholly or partly blocking the track and/or marshals working on or beside the track.") at that post at full speed - that McLaren went through so fast I don't think he even saw the two cars and carbon fibre minefield. Zero thought to slowing, never mind actually stopping, until the red flag.

Something needs to change, and soon.
 
This picture... :crazy: :scared:

IMG_6474.webp


A couple of screenies from YT - the AMG on track as Aron crawls out of his car had already come to a halt, but still... 😳

IMG_6477.webp
IMG_6478.webp


This frame is pretty much the first sight Aron had of anything amiss - double waved yellows, but only a few car lengths away from the stopped and hidden Porsche, so he virtually had no warning at all, other than what he might have heard over the radio - but that can't have been much...

-

I saw Jules Gounon's post on FB this evening - he said 'Perhaps I should have waited?' but then says that it was a split second decision and that was his chance to take the lead; but it was never going to be a good idea to go up the inside of Turn 1, and I think the only answer to his question is... yes.
 
ScottPuss20
Race control being asleep at wheel is sadly nothing new at Bathurst. Chris Pither whacking Paul Weel after he stopped on track, a Mercedes collecting a stricken Audi in the exact same location and now a Mercedes whacking a Porsche entering Forrest's Elbow. What the hell. Haven't race control learned anything at all? I feel terrible for all the guys and girls working on car 77. Their race didn't have to end like that. Here are the two crashes in question:

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What happened to the electronic yellows that were implemented to aid race control drivers and Marshalls? Should not be either Safety or virtual yellow. Use both the safety car and the system to cut down on instances like yesterday. The very reason they were to be used in 2024. So weird.
 
Rolf Aron has two fractures in his back but has said:

Considering the circumstances, I am doing fine and my condition is stable. I suffered two fractures in my back, but I have full movement and sensation throughout my body, which I am very grateful for. Also very happy to see that Johannes Zelger was able to walk away from the crash
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Apparently there was no radio in his car to warn him - hard to fathom how that is still possible in this day and age. Even spectators on YouTube could see the accident coming for a good 10-15 seconds before it happened, so how the driver couldn't have been warned is beyond me, and could so easily have ended in disaster for either driver involved.
 
Touring Mars
Rolf Aron has two fractures in his back but has said:



Apparently there was no radio in his car to warn him - hard to fathom how that is still possible in this day and age. Even spectators on YouTube could see the accident coming for a good 10-15 seconds before it happened, so how the driver couldn't have been warned is beyond me, and could so easily have ended in disaster for either driver involved.
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Damn. Its terrible that he was injured but he seems to still be in good spirits so that's a relief.
 
Fezzik
sportscar365.com

Bathurst 12H Could Become GT3-Only Race By Next Year – Sportscar365

Event director Shane Rudzis on
sportscar365.com sportscar365.com

It virtually was all GT3s this year, so pretty inevitable.
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Yes, I think the race could live without both the GT4 and kangaroo entries next time.

Not to make light of the situation too much, but I can only assume that Chris Mies had his visor up, presumably because it was still dark and (ironically) so the danger of a 'roo collision might be lower - the only problem being, of course, that in the event of an actual 'roo collision, he ended up with a face-ful of :sick:
 
Touring Mars
Yes, I think the race could live without both the GT4 and kangaroo entries next time.

Not to make light of the situation too much, but I can only assume that Chris Mies had his visor up, presumably because it was still dark and (ironically) so the danger of a 'roo collision might be lower - the only problem being, of course, that in the event of an actual 'roo collision, he ended up with a face-ful of :sick:
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Mies did absolutely get a face full of kangaroo. It was shown on the broadcast of him spitting and presumably throwing up pieces of dead kangaroo. Craillsy mentioned during the safety car period that they do their best to sweep the surrounding areas of wildlife every morning. He also noted about how dry their summer has been, with rain only falling the week before the race.
 
Touring Mars
Apparently there was no radio in his car to warn him - hard to fathom how that is still possible in this day and age.
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They did mention on the telecast the radio issues the #77 was having. IIRC, Aron had gone thru pitlane in the safety car period before the crash (ironically this is how he ended up in 1st) but didn't pit because the team weren't expecting him. Still think it's staggering that the race control saw the Porsche blocking most of the track, and didn't call for a full course caution or a safety car despite having so much time to do so.

Touring Mars
Not to make light of the situation too much, but I can only assume that Chris Mies had his visor up, presumably because it was still dark and (ironically) so the danger of a 'roo collision might be lower - the only problem being, of course, that in the event of an actual 'roo collision, he ended up with a face-ful of :sick:
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After seeing the image of his helmet afterwards. Personally I would have been throwing up in the car. The fact that he managed to hold off till he got out is amazing. 😵

​

 
Can anyone enlighten me as to why there are wild kangaroos around the track in the first place? Is there no measure to prevent them from trespassing?
 
brksonance
Can anyone enlighten me as to why there are wild kangaroos around the track in the first place? Is there no measure to prevent them from trespassing?
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Because for most of the year it's not a racetrack. They put up temporary fencing but animals will still find a way around it.
 
brksonance
Can anyone enlighten me as to why there are wild kangaroos around the track in the first place? Is there no measure to prevent them from trespassing?
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Combination of A) Mount Panorama being technically a street circuit, and operates as a public road for most of the year when there are no races going on, and B) Kangaroos being heavily protected by local laws (IIRC). I'm sure the organizers take measures to dissuade kangaroos and other wildlife from entering the track while there's a race going on, but I don't think they're allowed to outright stop and/or interfere with them.
 
brksonance
Can anyone enlighten me as to why there are wild kangaroos around the track in the first place? Is there no measure to prevent them from trespassing?
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Kind of like how there is always groundhogs spotted near the track in Montreal during the Grand Prix. They will find a way to get close.
 
Just a random question here, since it's almost guaranteed that there's always someone who knows the most obscure things. What's the point of the coloured dots on Nürburgring 24h cars', found on at least the SP9 class and not sure about the others, windscreen banners? Some have red, some have blue with a white T in them, some have both.
 
Greycap
Just a random question here, since it's almost guaranteed that there's always someone who knows the most obscure things. What's the point of the coloured dots on Nürburgring 24h cars', found on at least the SP9 class and not sure about the others, windscreen banners? Some have red, some have blue with a white T in them, some have both.
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Do you have a pic? But quiet sure you are refering to the Media stickers, depending on the years you could book different media packages as team for the picture rights of your car after the race. So afterwards it's easy to spot in pictures on different platforms if the rights to post them there were granted with the right coloured sticker.
 
toastet
Do you have a pic? But quiet sure you are refering to the Media stickers, depending on the years you could book different media packages as team for the picture rights of your car after the race. So afterwards it's easy to spot in pictures on different platforms if the rights to post them there were granted with the right coloured sticker.
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The Hyundai has a yellow "normal" dot, many SP9 cars (including the Porsche) have red, and then there's the blue one with a white T.

FA1_3738.jpg

97-porsche-911-gt3-r-falken-front-racing.jpg
 
Team Verstappen is now a Mercedes Factory GT outfit.

racingnews365.nl

Team Verstappen krijgt officiële fabrieksstatus Mercedes

In december maakte het raceteam van Max Verstappen bekend dat ze in 2026 met Mercedes in zee gingen. Daar hangt ook een fabrieksstatus aan vast.
racingnews365.nl racingnews365.nl

Translation:
Just before Christmas, Verstappen Racing announced that they will be working with Mercedes from 2026. The team debuted in the GT World Challenge last season with an Aston Martin Vantage, but which was traded in for the Mercedes-AMG GT3, managed by 2 Seas Motorsport. Most likely, Verstappen will participate in the 24 hours of the Nürburgring with the same car.

However, the GT World Challenge Europe announced on Wednesday that Mercedes has registered with three Pro teams, actually the professional race stables with a factory status. Verstappen Racing is included and is called Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing. They are officially covered by the Performance Teams of Mercedes.

Next season, the Verstappen team will participate in different classes. In the so-called Sprint Cup, Chris Lulham and the experienced Daniel Juncadella will share the car, while Jules Gounon will also join the Endurance Cup (GT World Endurance).
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:rolleyes:
speedcafe.com

SpeedSeries swaps free-to-air for pay TV return

The broadcast deal marks a significant change for the SRO Motorsports Australia-promoted series, having called the Seven Network and its
speedcafe.com speedcafe.com
In addition to the SpeedSeries, Fox Sports and Kayo will have the exclusive rights to many of SRO Motorsports’ global categories. These include GT World Challenge Europe, Asia, and America, British GT, GT4 America, GT4 Europe, and the Suzuka 1000.
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