Bathurst 12: Event newsletter 2009-01-20

FORMER BATHURST WINNERS SET TO LINE UP FOR WPS BATHURST 12 HOUR

Former Bathurst Winners Jason Bargwanna and Neil Crompton will join the star-studded Pro-Duct team for next month's WPS Bathurst 12 Hour Showroom Enduro at Mount Panorama.

Bargwanna, who won Australia's 'Great Race' in 2000 while driving alongside Garth Tander is genuinely excited about the prospect of contesting his first 12-Hour race since 1994 -- the race won by Crompton when paired with the late Gregg Hansford in a Mazda Rx-7.

"Events such as the 12-hour are great things to be a part of, I'm really looking forward to it," said Bargwanna.

"After spending the majority of last year on the sidelines the 12-hour race will provide me with a great opportunity to get some miles under my belt prior to making my debut for the Sprint Gas Racing team at the opening round of the 2009 V8 Championship.

"You can do all the fitness training under the sun but it is laps in a race car that really get you tuned in and what better place to do it than around Bathurst for 12 hours?

"My career at Bathurst started in these production type races, the last time I raced a 12-hour race was in 1994 aboard a Toyota MR2 with my cousin Scott and John Smith -- we finished fifth."

Such is the talent and experience included in the Bob Pearson-led Pro-duct team, which will boast a total of five entries, that between the line-up of drivers they have completed no less than 10,000 laps round the famous Mount Panorama circuit.

"With guys like Neil, Seto (Glenn Seton), Brad (Jones), Bob (Pearson) and Mark King in the squad, I don't think you could get much more experience around Bathurst in group of drivers," said Bargwanna.

"Bob has been a part of a variety of forms motorsport for many years and has always put together a professional outfit, so when he phoned to ask if I was keen to drive for him in the 12-hour I had no hesitation in saying yes.

"The Event is really starting to get some good names in it and beginning to build up into the prestigious Event that it was in the early 90s."

Like Bargwanna, Crompton, who has competed in one 24-hour and four 12-hour races at Bathurst throughout his career, is looking forward to next month's Event around Australia's most famous racing circuit.

"The 12-Hour race is always a good Event and with it being held around such a brilliant race track you never knock back an opportunity to compete," said Crompton.

"With my television commitments these days there is no possibility of me competing in the 1000km race during October, so this Event the next best thing and what better group of blokes to be doing it with.

"We've all known each other for a many, many years so to be able to enjoy such a race as the WPS 12 Hour together will be great."

A total of five cars have been entered by the Pro-Duct team with three Mitsubishi Evo X's and two Evo VIII's set to take to the circuit next month.

Currently the driver line-up for the Pro-Duct includes Bargwanna, Crompton, Seton, Jones, Pearson, Mark King, Bruce Stewart and Steve Knight with a couple more names to be finalised shortly.

The 2009 WPS Bathurst Showroom Enduro will be held at Mount Panorama on February 20-22.

The 2008 WPS 12 Hour Showroom Enduro attracted in excess of 100 drivers across 37 entries from various parts of Australia and New Zealand with the Mitsubishi Evo 9 of Damien White, Graham Alexander and Rod Salmon taking the victory.

-credit: bathurst12hour.com.au