Pirelli prepared for the biggest ever Bathurst 12-Hour

Trofeo's McLaren

The 2015 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12-Hour promises to be the best on record, with a full field of cars, international factory teams taking on the best from Australia, and a new tire from Pirelli that is set to smash the outright lap record.

"For the 2015 Bathurst 12-Hour, we've adopted three different compounds of tires," Trofeo Motorsport's Jim Manolios confirmed. "Recently we conducted a two-day test at Phillip Island with all three compounds and the results were extremely satisfying.

"This year we will offer teams the option of both the Pirelli DS (soft) and DM (medium) compounds, in addition to the DH which smashed the lap record last year with Shane Van Gisbergen in the Tony Quinn McLaren.

"That result also reflected what we'd seen right through the 2013 Australian GT Championship presented by Pirelli, where the DH would often reset the lap record towards the end of a one-hour stint, just as Van Gisbergen had done.

"If the unpredictable Bathurst weather stays fine, Shane's stunning 2:03.8506 will fall, no question, and if the weather is cool, then there's every chance one of the leading teams will choose a softer compound, and that will put a real twist into the equation.

"Tire strategy will be an important factor in the race, so teams will be keeping a close eye on ambient and track temperatures. We showed on many occasions last year that the DH tire is capable of triple-stinting without any problems. The DM, if it's cool could also double-stint, we proved that at Phillip Island.

"As for the DS, that might come down to a battle for position in the top ten shootout on Saturday, and at that point, we could see a whole new record established for Mount Panorama!"

As for the race result, we're looking good for victory, with a number of leading contenders campaigning Pirelli tires including reigning Australian GT Champions and 2013 Bathurst 12-Hour winners, Erebus Motorsport. The Melbourne Performance Centre Audi team will also provide plenty of interest at the front of the field with a number of former 12-Hour winners drafted into their Audi team, as will David Brabham in the Flying B Bentley Continental and the new Trass Family Motorsport Ferrari from New Zealand with Jono Lester and NZ V8 star John McIntyre at the wheel.

Pirelli will certainly be one of the big stories of the 2015 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12-Hour, with a huge presence not just in the paddock (visit Pirelli Alley behind Tower 2 in the pits), but also inside the garages.

"We will bring 3200 tires to Bathurst to support our teams across all conditions," Trofeo Motorsport's Chris Montgomery confirmed. "We also have Pirelli technicians flying in from Blancpain Series testing in Europe, and a full crew to service our customers.

"This will be our biggest undertaking yet on Australian shores, and something we're more than prepared for!"

When the flag drops at 6:00am on Sunday, February 8, one of the greatest events in Australian motorsport history will get underway, and Trofeo Motorsport will be there to bring you all the action via Twitter; www.twitter.com/TVThePits