At Bathurst’s Mount Panorama Circuit, BMW M Team WRT had a rollercoaster ride. Despite the impressive speed, mishaps and erratic weather caused setbacks. The team’s #32 BMW M4 GT3, driven by Sheldon van der Linde, Charles Weerts, and Dries Vanthoor, retired early after starting from pole position due to an accident. Their teammates in the #46 BMW M4 GT3, with Valentino Rossi, Maxime Martin, and Raffaele Marciello, were strong contenders for the podium until the last lap but settled for fifth place.
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The race saw numerous challenges, prompting appearances by the BMW XM Safety Car due to crashes. Particularly in the last 40 minutes, creating intense competition for the podium. Unfortunately, a slight braking error on the damp track hindered Maxime Martin from securing third place. This added to the drama of the day, which also featured a downpour towards the end of the race.
Van der Linde’s pole position for the #32 vehicle kicked off an exciting weekend for BMW M Team WRT. The race started early Sunday morning, with both BMW M4 GT3s quickly establishing themselves as leaders. However, their campaign was abruptly halted when the #32 car collided with a lapped car five hours into the race.
The #46 squad persevered in the face of the setback, battling for the lead despite the rain and a brief setback caused by a drive-through penalty. Team Manthey EMA with their Porsche 992 GT3R, took first place, with SunEnergy1’s Mercedes-AMG GT3 and Wash It Team MPC’s Audi R8 LMS Evo II following closely after.