Le Mans winner signs Bathurst 12 Hour deal

Bamber, who teamed up with Nico Hulkenberg and Nick Tandy to win Le Mans this year in a factory Porsche LMP1 car, will join McLaughlin and Stephen Grove in a Carrera Cup-spec 997 GT3 car at Mount Panorama.

The trio will start as one of the favourite entries for the hotly-contested Class B, particularly given that Bamber and Grove took out the class back in 2014 along with Briton Ben Barker.

“I can’t wait to go back to the Bathurst 12 Hour,” said Bamber. “I wanted to do this race last year but unfortunately I couldn’t with my schedule.

"In 2014 with the Grove team we managed to take the class victory, so I have very fond memories of the track – it’s an amazing place and also amazing to drive a Porsche there. I’m really, really looking forward to being back.

“Some people might ask ‘why do I drive a Cup Car there instead of a full spec GT3’, and I remember back in 2013 – when I just started racing in Porsches – that Steve [Grove] was the guy who gave me a chance to come to Australia and he gave me the first chance to drive at Bathurst.

“I said, ‘When I’m available you know if you want me to come drive, you’ve got first option’, so it’s really, really nice to be back with Steve and the whole team.

“Coming from Le Mans this year and winning it helps me prepare for Bathurst, and my full-time job now is doing endurance racing.

“I’m looking forward to be teamed up with Scotty. I remember him from go-karting and I’ve been watching him in the V8 Supercars; he’s done a fantastic job.”