Bathurst 12H: New qualifying format announced for 2011

NEW QUALIFYING FORMAT ANNOUNCED FOR ARMOR ALL BATHURST 12 HOUR

THE POLE POSITION benchmark for the 2011 Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour, 4-6 February, could be a stunning time of over six minutes.

That time may sound slow for a circuit with a lap record in the low 2m06-second range; however that's the prediction following confirmation today of an exciting new qualifying format for the 2011 Event.

The new format places the emphasis on teamwork and speed rather than just the one-lap dash for pole position.

In 2011 each driver entered in a competing vehicle will be required to set a lap time during qualifying.

These times will then be amalgamated to create the starting time for that vehicle, placing an emphasis on finding three evenly-matched drivers who can team up to create the lowest aggregate time for their car.

Therefore, if three drivers entered in a car set times of 2m15, 2m18 and 2m20, respectively, their starting position would be decided by their combined time of 6m53 seconds. Each entry must have three drivers.

The format has been successfully utilised in the Sepang 12 hour race, an event visited this year by the Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour Organsiers.

Meanwhile, Event Organisers will announce the first entrants for the 2011 race next week.

Entries opened on September 1st with teams and drivers in the final stages of completing paperwork and finalising driver pairings for the February race.

"September is a busy month for motor sport in Australia and around the world, so people are flat out racing as well as finalising plans to enter the race next year," Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour Administrator Jodi Zylstra said.

"We have been in constant communication with several teams who are close to 'putting pen to paper.'

"The first team will be entered next week and we look forward to our fax machine working overtime receiving entry forms over the next few months."

The 2011 Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour is set to be the best yet following a broader vehicle eligibility list.

Vehicles from the Australian GT Championship will join with vehicles from the Australian Production Car Championship totalling 31 manufacturers eligible to compete in the around-the-clock Enduro at Mount Panorama on 4 to 6 February 2011.

-source: bathurst12hour.com.au