SPORTSCAR

In Friday’s press conference at the Porsche Experience Centre in Shanghai, Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific was delighted to announce that it will support Earl Bamber Motorsport and Team Carrera Cup Asia in the 2019 Bathurst 12 Hour (31 January – 3 February).

The 12-hour race on the legendary Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst kicks off the 2019 season of the Intercontinental GT Challenge. Four Porsche 911 GT3 R will contest the spectacular event in Australia on the first weekend in February. Three customer teams field the successful GT3 vehicle, which will give its final farewell performance Down Under. As stipulated by the regulations, the GT3 cars must be last year’s spec. Facing stiff competition from vehicles from nine other manufacturers in the top category, the Porsche teams have good chances of success. Different this year: Instead of taking his place in the cockpit, Porsche works driver Earl Bamber (New Zealand) assumes the role of team boss at the pit wall.

Mercedes-AMG has become the fifth manufacturer to confirm a full-season Intercontinental GT Challenge Powered by Pirelli programme in 2019.