A FIFTY-strong grid has been locked in for the Duggan Family Hotels Bathurst Combined Sportscars and Sedans races to be held at this year’s Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour.

The combined grid expands on the previous format by adding early generation GT machinery to the existing and already diverse grid that has made the category one of the popular additions to the 12-Hour event program.

18 Sports / GT cars have been entered with combination expected to be fierce between a range of older GT3, one-make Porsche and Sports Car entries.

Highlights include four Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 cars to be fielded by Jordan Roddy, Stephen Baker, Richard Gartner and Jim Manolios, respectively – several of the cars with Bathurst 12 Hour history.

Andy Toudor will field his generation-1 Audi R8 LMS while a pair of Chevrolet Corvette Z06 entries will be a popular addition, Iain Pretty’s well-known Roaring Forties GT40 another.

Eight Porsche GT3 Cup cars, a Mercedes C63 and a Ginetta G50 add to the variety into the new category.

Strong representation remains within the existing ‘Spaceframe’ and ‘Chassis’ classes that encompass a range of Sports Sedans, Improved Production cars and even former Supercars.

21 ‘Chassis’ cars are entered, with the field to be split in two based on qualifying times at the event, with Rob Vanderkamp’s BF Falcon the only ex-Supercar entered.

11 ‘Spaceframe’ cars represent Sports Sedan racing with several MARC and IRC entries received, which includes young-gun Mason Kelly in a generation-1 MARC Mazda and former Bathurst 12 Hour regular, Keith Kassulke.

Category sponsor Mark Duggan’s Duggan Family Hotels Aston Martin DBR9 Sports Sedan and Paul Boschert’s Corvette are also likely contenders in what is expected to be the quickest field the category has ever fronted.

As well as racing on Friday and Saturday of the event, for the first time support category vehicles will also take part in the iconic Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour Track to Town parade, which will see the entire 12-Hour grid plus selected cars from both supports drive from Mount Panorama to the centre of Bathurst on Thursday.

“This is the first time we have combined our regular cars with Sportscars, thanks to the support of Motorsport Australia and the event, and the reaction has been hugely positive,” Category Manager Bronwyn Lacey explained.

“There’s already been plenty of banter between our Sportscar and Sports Sedan entries around who will be quickest and who will get bragging rights and there’s no doubt that there will be huge competition between them.

“It’s the most competitive and high-quality field we’ve ever assembled for this event and we know we will put on a show for those at the track and watching from home.

“We are also excited to be part of Track to Town on the Thursday and take some of our exciting cars into Bathurst.”

The Duggan Family Hotels Combined Sportscars and Sedans field will hit the track on Friday at Mount Panorama and will contest three races across the weekend.

They join a strong undercard on the program for Australia’s International Enduro which will include the debut of the Ferrari Challenge Australasia one-make championship, plus demonstration sessions that will include Tony Quinn’s Aston Martin Vulcan and a pair of unique cars on show from Genesis – including motorsport legend Jacky Ickx.

ENTRY LIST: