Class Victory and Top Ten for GWS Motorsport at Mount Panorama

Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour
Mount Panorama

GWS MOTORSPORT has scored one class win and a top-ten finish outright in a successful Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour, held last weekend at Mount Panorama.

After 12 hours of racing, the #28 GWS Personnel BMW 335i Turbo driven by Peter O’Donnell, Christian D’Agostin and Matt Hansen finished the race 10th outright and second in class D (High Performance Production Cars) after playing a game of cat-and-mouse with the leading Mitsubishi all day.

The crew completed 252 laps of Mount Panorama – an astounding 1,565 km.

In Class E (Production Performance), the #26 BMW 130 driven by Bruce Thomlinson, Geoff Fontaine and Richard Gartner finished an outstanding 11th outright and first in their class, having completed 244 laps.  

That results marks the second-most laps ever completed by the fast yet diminutive BMW in the race, showing the pace and reliability of the GWS team.

Unfortunately the third entrant – the similar BMW 130 driven by Allan Shephard, Paul Stubber and Garth Duffy – had a much shorter day at the office after early mechanical issues delayed their early progress.

Subsequent contact with a GT Ferrari at the top of the mountain then saw the car unceremoniously deposited into the McPhillamy park sand trap – a sad end for one of the quickest cars in its class all weekend.

The GWS Motorsport team embraced the Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour Event, with a highly professional pit complex coupled with a corporate area for guests and fans.

The team also hosted a charity BBQ in Bathurst prior to the race, raising money for the Cancer Council.

“Considering the few things that went against us during the race, it was a fantastic result and a great weekend for our team,” Peter O’Donnell said.

The BMW suffered two punctures during the race, plus a minor brake issue in the second half of the race that combined to delay the team in Pit Lane for several laps.

Prior to the issues, the car had taken its turn leading the class as it diced with two rapid Mitsubishi’s.

“That was the first time we had needed to change pads in the race. It was an unscheduled stop and it turned out it wasn’t straightforward. The pads had moved in the callipers and the time to get it right cost us a lap.

“To come away from the weekend with a first and a second, and a top ten outright finish, is a sensational result for the team,” he added.

“I think we looked great and were better organised than ever before. The driver line up in all three cars was fantastic. In my car Matt (Hansen) did a fantastic job despite it being his first look at the place, and Christian D’Agostin was his usual best as always.”

On hand in the post-Event media conference, #26 driver Bruce Thomlinson said that their race was straightforward.

“It was a great race and for us mostly trouble free,” he said.

“To get this result is a testament to the team and my co-drivers who all did an outstanding job. The car was reliable and quick, and we managed to bring it home.”

The #27 car proved strong in the early running of the race, lapping quickly before suffering fuel pump issues which dropped it down the order.

With other issues striking vehicles in the class, the car remained in contention for a top three result before the contact with the faster GT car at the top of the mountain ended its run on lap 105.  

A philosophical Paul Stubber – who was in the car at the time – said that the incident was unfortunate.

“It was one of those occasions where if the GT car had waited another two seconds, he could have passed me easily on the straight before the Esses,” Stubber told the on-course TV.

“Unfortunately he didn’t and it’s ended our race. It’s disappointing because despite the dramas earlier the car was running fantastically well and we were having fun. But that’s the nature of races like this, sometimes.

“Allan and Garth did fantastic jobs all weekend so a result was a real possibility.”

The well-presented GWS Motorsport team was a fan favourite all weekend with its accessibility to fans and it’s strong performance all weekend.

The team will now turn its attention to the forthcoming Australian Manufacturers Championship, where they will run a two – and possibly three – car program for the full season.

GWS Motorsport thank the ongoing support from GWS Personnel, The Shire Conveyancer, Spinifex Australia and Carwash on Blaxland.