F1 test driver Brendon Hartley to race in Bathurst 12 Hours

Brandon Hartley

Mercedes Formula One test driver Brendon Hartley will make his Bathurst debut next weekend (February 8-10 2013) in the annual 12-hour race at the legendary Mount Panorama circuit.

Fresh from driving duties in last weekends Rolex 24 at Daytona in America the 23-year old New Zealander will share the cockpit with US-based South African Mark Patterson and Hong Kong-based Alain Li for an all-out challenge in the classic GT endurance event.

Having gained valuable experience from the race last year the team has invested in the new Audi R8 LMS ultra and expect to be able to challenge for the win.

Both Mark and Alain are no strangers behind the wheel of the Audi, having raced with great success on several occasions and taken many podiums between them. Brendon has a wealth of experience in single-seaters clinching the 2007 World Series by Renault – Eurocup 2.0 title before contesting the British Formula 3 Championship, the GP2 Series, and then a move into the Formula One arena. This will be his first time behind the wheel of a GT car having successfully campaigned an LMP2 Oreca Nissan in both the WEC, Le Mans and the ELMS.

The Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour is quickly becoming recognized as one of the premier endurance races around the world with many of the leading marques in international sportscar racing increasing their involvement.

The event will test both men and machine to the limit around the awesome 6.213 km-long roller-coaster Mount Panorama circuit.