A class for SUVs including Porsche Cayenne, Ford Territory and even Hummers is the surprise as the class structure and vehicle eligibility list is released by organisers of the Bathurst 12 hour Showroom Enduro. The final list has, according to organisers been prepared following extensive consultation with manufacturers, entrants and the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) (just what they were drinking at the time is anybody’s guess.)

To be run at the Mount Panorama, Bathurst on February 20-22, 2009 ,  the Bathurst 12 Hour Showroom Enduro will feature a similar structure of classes to what was seen in this year’s Event with some minor changes following feedback from the motoring industry and competitors in the 2008 Event.

Craig Denyer of the Bathurst 12 Hour Showroom Enduro Category Manager SPHERIX said the class structure represents an equal level of vehicle capacity and price while ensuring that cars of similar performance and specification were grouped together.

Following the introduction of a class for the V8 Utes at the 2008 Event, the eligibility list for the 2009 Event incorporates a class specifically for the vehicles currently competing in the Mini Challenge Series and an SUV class for sports utility vehicles with an interesting mix of vehicles including the new Toyota TRD Supercharged Hi-Lux.“

In total there are 11 different classes on the Vehicle Eligibility List with a total of 35 eligible brands for the WPS 12 Hour Showroom Enduro.

The race for outright victory will see a repeat of the classic showdown between rear wheel drive performance cars such as the BMW 335i, Holden GTS Coupe, HSV, FPV Typhoon and the 4-cylinder turbo-charged all wheel drive Subaru WRX Sti and Mitsubishi EVOs.

The all new WRX Sti and EVO X were released earlier this year and the 12 Hour Bathurst Showroom Enduro will provide the perfect platform for manufacturers to show off their latest models.

Event Director James O’Brien believes the finalisation of this Eligibility List signals the start of an exciting few months for the revived endurance Event as it heads towards the third running since it returned to Mount Panorama in 2007.

“Since the first running of the reborn Bathurst 12 Hour Showroom Enduro last year, stakeholders including CAMS, the Bathurst Regional Council, Manufacturers, Category Managers and individual competitors have provided enthusiastic support to assist the Event’s continual growth,“ said O’Brien.

“I am confident the Event Regulations, Class Structure and Vehicle Eligibility List will once again provide the vast majority of manufacturers
with both a cost effective opportunity to compete and confidence in a level playing field for all.“

“Additionally, the Event provides a great opportunity for privateers to compete against the factory-backed teams.“

The 2008 12 Hour Showroom Enduro attracted in excess of 100 drivers across 35 entries from various parts of Australia and New Zealand with the Mitsubishi Evo 9 of Damien White, Graham Alexander and Rod Salmon taking the victory.

A total of 22 different models of cars competed in the 2008 Event ranging from the Subaru WRX Sti’s and Mitsubishi Evo’s in the High Performance All Wheel Drive category through to a Proton Satria GTI in the under 2.5 litre production class. 

With Bathurst 12 Hour Media Release