World's top drivers from 17 countries descend on Mount Panorama

Bathurst view from Mount Panorama

Many of the best drivers from around the world, including five Formula One pilots, multiple World Champions and Australia’s elite Supercar steerers are headed to Bathurst this week.

The Liqui-Moly Bathurst 1000 is also acting as a warmup for the Supercars Championship with 11 drivers – including current Champion Jamie Whincup and his young rival Scott McLaughlin – heading the field.

Former Supercars Champions Shane van Gisbergen, Craig Lowndes and Garth Tander; along with Chaz Mostert and current Bathurst Champion David Reynolds are also headed to the mountain.

A cross section of champion drivers from Australia and New Zealand will be joined by World Champions, ex-Formula 1 drivers, GT world title winners and some of the best young rising stars in a fiercely competitive field.

In all 17 different nationalities are represented amongst the more than 175 drivers who are set to tackle the race.

A host of major global brands compete to win the prestigious title, taken out by Audi last year. 12 manufacturers will be represented on the grid this year.

Factory supported or assisted teams from Bentley, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-AMG, McLaren, Porsche, KTM, Ginetta and Lamborghini will compete for outright or class victory at Bathurst, as will the Aussie designed and built MARC Cars Australia entries.

International teams include current World Rally Champions M-Sport, Audi Sport team WRT and the iconic BMW Schnitzer outfit.

Drivers with a combined 220 Formula 1 Grands Prix starts are also represented. Young rising stars like international Aussie Matt Campbell, Will Brown and third-generation drivers Aaron Seton and Matt Brabham also feature.

The Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour commences at 5:45am on Sunday 4 February, with the entire race to be broadcast live on the Seven Network throughout the day.

Saturday’s Pirelli top-10 Shootout will also be shown live on 7mate.

Tickets are available at the gate and represent great value at just $46, including access to the pit / paddock area. A limited number of grandstand seats also remain on sale.

Some key stats ahead of the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour:

9 Former Bathurst 12 Hour winners, including defending winners Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup, for a total of 13 victories
4 Supercars champions, including reigning champion Jamie Whincup, for 12 championship victories
9 Bathurst 1000 winners, including defending winners David Reynolds and Luke Youlden, for a total of 24 Bathurst wins.
20 drivers to have won Australian Touring Car Championship / Supercar races for a total of 401 victories.
7 Sandown 500 winners for a total of 13 victories, including defending Champion Cameron Waters
5 former Formula 1 drivers, who have made a combined 220 Grand Prix starts
The current outright lap record holder at Mount Panorama (Shane van Gisbergen, 2m01.5670s)
The fastest ever driver officially recorded at Mount Panorama (Shane van Gisbergen 2m01.2860s)
The Supercars Mount Panorama lap record holder (David Reynolds)
The fastest ever driver officially recorded at Mount Panorama in a Supercar (Scott McLaughlin 2m03.8312)
3 FIA World Champions, including reigning World Endurance Champion Earl Bamber
4 drivers to have won the LeMans 24 Hours, for a total of 6 victories, including defending winner Earl Bamber
10 drivers to have won the Nurburgring 24 Hours, for a total of 21 victories
9 drivers to have won the Spa Francorchamps 24 Hours, for a total of 11 victories
1 Sebring 12 Hour winner
2 Intercontinental GT Challenge winners, including reigning champion Markus Winkelhock
2 Blancpain GT series champions
5 Blancpain GT Endurance Series Champions
5 Blancpain GT Sprint Series Champions