The Bathurst 12 Hour endurance race this weekend at the iconic Mount Panorama circuit has attracted a bumper crop of international and domestic drivers, including New Zealander and two-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner Earl Bamber.
The 35-year-old is looking to build on his two class wins at the Bathurst 12 Hour in 2014 and 2016 and reckons this could be his year, especially so in the Corvette Z06 GTR.3 he’ll be driving with Nicky Catsburg and Alexander Sims.
It’ll be the first time a Z06 GTR.3 will have raced in Australia and indeed at Mount Panorama.
“I’m really looking forward to returning to Bathurst and getting back in the Corvette with Nicky and Alex,” Bamber told the Herald.
“I had really great times with them at IMSA in 2024, and I’m excited to work with them again. I know a lot of the JMR [Johor Motorsports Racing] guys as well, and they’re putting out fast cars with the Corvettes. I can’t wait to get back to one of the greatest races in the world.
“We’ve done a lot of good simulation work with the Corvette over in America. So I think we’re well prepared.
“There are a lot of other teams looking pretty good, and there’s a lot of familiar faces from the Triple Eight and Porsche days, and I’m looking forward to getting back on the mountain and having a steer.
“I think we have a good opportunity and hopefully we’ll have a good run.”
The Bathurst 12 Hour has been on the “to do” list for a great number of drivers, and the 2026 edition of the race has an entry list any Southern Hemisphere motorsport organiser would be proud of.
International drivers include nine-time world MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi, Raffaele Marciello, Lucas Auer and Maro Engel. If that weren’t enough, some of the top Supercars pilots are taking on the mountain again, including Will Brown, Broc Feeney, current Supercars champion Chaz Mostert, and the list goes on.
“It’s a really strong field and really stacked with talent. I think it’s fantastic to see the 12 Hour absolutely thriving again. I think it’s one of the most competitive fields there’s ever been.
“There were a few lean years after Covid, so it’s great to see that the event’s come back and is now a highlight race for many drivers,” said Bamber.
The former tourist road that gently wound its way up Mount Panorama is a circuit that’s inspired many race car drivers over the years, and Bamber is no different. Right from an early age, he was smitten with the place and loves it every time he can get back and race there.
“I remember I came here as a kid with my Dad. We had come out to Australia from New Zealand to race at Dubbo. Bathurst wasn’t that far away, so Dad decided to drive there. And as the track is also a public road, we drove around it,” he said.
“We nearly crashed at about 80km/h because you didn’t know just how severe and steep and difficult it is. It’s one of those tracks that is just such a challenge, and you think ‘Holy crap’. At other tracks when you arrive there, you’re like ‘Yeah, that looks all right’, but Bathurst is so different.”
Bamber has a busy year in 2026 as he’s contesting a full IMSA series and finished second in the opening round at the Rolex 24 at Daytona at the end of January. Just to add to his workload this weekend, he’s also fielding an Earl Bamber Motorsport car in the race in the same Class A (GT3 Pro) category as he’s contesting.
EBM are racing a Porsche 911 GT3 R car piloted by Klaus Bachler, Ricardo Feller and Laurin Heinrich.
“Yeah, there’s certainly a lot on, and I’m completely flat out. I haven’t even had a chance to walk into the garage [EBM] and see how they’re getting on. I’ve been focusing on the Corvette.
“They’re in the same class as me, so it’ll be great to see how the race goes. Just at the moment, though, I’m fully focused on getting the Corvette ready and being prepared as much as we can,” he said.
The race starts on Sunday at 7.30am NZ time.