Photo credit: www.autosport.com

BMW Triumphs at the 2025 Bathurst 12 Hour

In a remarkable display of skill and strategy, BMW celebrated its first victory in the GT3 era of the Bathurst 12 Hour, as the WRT BMW M4 GT3, driven by Kelvin van der Linde, Sheldon van der Linde, and Augusto Farfus, secured the top spot in a fiercely competitive race, finishing in a 1-2 formation.

This year’s race, held at the iconic Mount Panorama circuit under hot and dry conditions, showcased significant regulatory changes that influenced the race dynamics. Notably, the previous stints limit for drivers, set at 32 laps, was lifted, allowing teams greater flexibility in their pit strategies — a factor that proved pivotal for BMW’s success.

With just over an hour left in the race, Sheldon van der Linde handed the car over to his brother Kelvin, while a determined Chaz Mostert in a Ferrari pursued closely behind. Despite the pressure from Mostert, his team was aware that they would require several Safety Car laps to strategize effectively for a finish without additional pit stops. As the clock ticked down and the anticipated Safety Cars did not appear, WRT’s lead solidified.

Mostert, who pitted from the lead just 22 minutes before the end, returned to the track in sixth position. He managed to climb the ranks again as competitors Matt Campbell and Lucas Auer faced their own pit issues, further complicating the race’s outcome.

Meanwhile, Raffaele Marciello in another BMW exhibited impressive driving by overtaking Jules Gounon’s Mercedes-AMG, working his way up to challenge for second place. However, the Mercedes encountered fuel strategy issues, prompting a last-minute pit that elevated Marciello and his teammates—Valentino Rossi and Charles Weerts—into a strong second-place finish.

Kelvin van der Linde reflected on the grueling experience, stating, “It was the hardest two hours of my life. We were fuel-saving, especially with Chaz on our tail, but we are incredibly proud of our performance.” Farfus echoed this sentiment, emphasizing their consistent performance throughout the race.

The final classification saw the BMWs take the top two spots, with the most competitive rivals trailing close behind. The six leading vehicles comprised both BMWs, along with the Express Mercedes-AMG GT3 and Ferrari 296 GT3, all battling for supremacy throughout the race.

In another notable achievement, the Heart of Racing Mercedes-AMG secured the best finishing position among non-Pro entries, clinching the Bronze class trophy. The Pro Am class saw the Arise Ferrari outperform its competitors, while the Silver class was represented by the #93 Wall Racing Lamborghini, showing the diverse talent across the entry field.

Final Standings

In the end, the 2025 Bathurst 12 Hour highlighted the evolving strategies in endurance racing, with regulatory changes directly influencing the race’s outcome. This victory marks a significant milestone for BMW as it seeks to establish its dominance in the GT3 category.

Source
www.autosport.com