Team WRT Secures Dominant 1-2 Victory at Bathurst 12 Hour with BMW M4 GT3
Team WRT delivered a stunning 1-2 finish at the Bathurst 12 Hour in Australia, heralding the start of the Intercontinental GT Challenge season. Sheldon and Kelvin van der Linde of South Africa and Brazil's Augusto Farfus in the #32 BMW M4 GT3 emerged victorious. Close behind, the trio of Valentino Rossi from Italy, Switzerland's Raffaele Marciello, and Belgium's Charles Weerts, piloting the #46 BMW M4 GT3, secured a commendable second place. This race marked BMW M Motorsport's inaugural GT3 era triumph at the iconic Mount Panorama Circuit. With previous successes at the 24h Dubai and the 6h Abu Dhabi, Team WRT maintains an unbeaten streak in the 2025 season.
At the event, Team WRT's superior race strategy was evident as their BMW M4 GT3s optimised fuel consumption throughout, a decisive factor in their victory. While competitors were forced into late pit stops, both BMW entries pressed on without interruption. Despite a setback from a drive-through penalty that relegated car #46 to eighth, they fought back to the podium, with Marciello overtaking Jules Gounon in a dramatic finish.
The Bathurst 12 Hour has seen many attempts by BMW M Motorsport to clinch a win since the introduction of GT3 cars, with their last victory at the track dating back to 2010 with a BMW 335i. For the Van der Linde brothers, this race marked their first shared victory in a BMW M Motorsport vehicle and a significant achievement for Rossi, who earned his first podium at this event.
In the lead-up to the race, the new BMW M3 CS Touring made its global debut. Unveiled in the pit lane of Mount Panorama Circuit, this model embodies BMW M’s philosophy of combining racetrack performance with street usability. Sylvia Neubauer, Vice President of Customer, Brand, and Sales at BMW M GmbH, presented the car, which features a 550-hp six-cylinder in-line engine and numerous bespoke enhancements, including a lightweight carbon fibre-reinforced plastic construction.
Andreas Roos, Head of BMW M Motorsport, praised Team WRT for its exceptional performance and strategy execution, marking a pivotal moment for the team and its drivers. Vincent Vosse, Team Principal, expressed his elation over Team WRT's third consecutive victory, highlighting the exceptional performance and strategic mastery that led to their success at Bathurst.
This victory underscores Team WRT’s prowess and sets a high standard for the remainder of the racing season, demonstrating their strategic excellence and competitive spirit on the international stage.
