Circuit masterminds to compete in Bathurst 24hr

Formula One Circuit Masterminds to Compete in Bathurst 24 Hour on November 16 and 17.

Peter Hansen, Acting Chief Executive and Executive Consultant to the new Grand Prix Circuit to be built in Bahrain, together with the circuit's German designer Hermann Tilke, have confirmed their entries in the 2002 Bathurst 24 Hour classic in Australia. They will share a production Honda S2000 with a well-known and highly competitive Australian girl, Melinda Price. Hansen is a former CEO of the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS).

Australia's leading international 24-hour race, Bathurst is so renowned that it is simply referred to as 'The Race'. Together with the Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne, it is the showcase event in Australian motorsport. One of great race tracks in Australia will play host to some of the world's finest and most exotic sports, touring and production cars on November 16 and 17. This event will join the very short list of international 24-hour events that take place around the world each year.

Hansen and Tilke said: "We are extremely excited to be able to race together. It was something we talked about when we met for the first time at the Malaysian Grand Prix in March 2002. We are now working closely together on circuit design and circuit management of the Bahrain facility, which is believed to be the largest motorsports project in the world. So it is a perfect fit that we can also race together."

"Both of us have raced on most of the famous European circuits but never at Bathurst, so we are really looking forward to it. Our all-time favourite circuits are Nürburgring and Spa. But Bathurst is also extremely exciting and in many ways similar, especially its Mountain section. We hope to add it to our all-time favourites to make it three."

Melinda Price, the team's third driver, is the only one with previous Bathurst experience. She has competed there in V8 Supercars.

Hansen left Australia early in 2002 to form International Motorsports Management. The company provides management services and consultancy to large motorsports projects in countries around the world, including Australia. The latest and largest is the new Formula One circuit in Bahrain, which will host the first F1 race in the Middle East in 2004.

German-born Tilke designed the latest Formula One circuits in Austria and Malaysia, as well as the re-worked Hockenheim Ring in Germany. He is involved in the design of the new tracks in Bahrain and China and is keeping a watching brief on the progress in Moscow.

The two of them are no novices to motorsport. Both have extensive experience as competitors. Hansen (52) was Danish Touring Car Champion in 1980, raced in the World Sportscar Championship in 1982 and has competed in several other international races since.

Tilke (47) started racing in Germany in the early 1980s. He was second in the European Touring Car Championship in 1984. Since then he has competed in the Spa 24 Hours, the Nürburgring 24 Hours, and, several times, in the Daytona 24 Hours.

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