Audi sets the pace
Christopher Mies has topped the time sheets in the third practice session at Bathurst.
Audi is the car to beat at the Mountain with two-time Bathurst 12 Hour winner, Christopher Mies setting the pace in the third practice session.
Mark Horsburgh
1 February, 2019
Christopher Mies has left no one in any doubt that he’s after his third Bathurst 12 Hour crown, setting the pace in the third Friday practice session at the Mountain. Although qualifying proper will not take place until tomorrow, the German showed a clean pair of heels, leaving the closest rival, Bentley Motorsport, some 0.2 seconds behind.
The current Bathurst lap record holder, Mies (pictured below centre) has twice won at Mount Panorama, driving an Audi R8 LMS to victory in 2011 and 2012, as well as winning the Australian GT Championship.
Again sharing an Audi Sport Team Valvoline Audi R8 LMS with teammates Christopher Haase (right) and Markus Winkelhock (left), Mies’ time was more than a second slower than the pace this time last year, but times are expected to tumble as the drivers find their rhythm.
Mies has won at The Mountain twice before, in 2011 and 2012 as well as taking out the Australian GT Championship
“Another victory is our declared goal, but the competition this year is fiercer than ever before.”
Chris Reinke, Head of Audi Sport customer racing
“We can hardly imagine a more atmospheric opener of the Intercontinental GT Challenge than this race at Bathurst,” says Chris Reinke, Head of Audi Sport customer racing. “Another victory is our declared goal, but the competition this year is fiercer than ever before.”
A second Audi Sport Team Valvoline will be driven by South African Kelvin van der Linde, Belgian Frédéric Vervisch Aussie hero, Garth Tander, while Audi Sport Team MPC orinially fielded two more Audi R8 LMS cars with British trio Gordon Shedden Pete Storey and Matthew Neal partnering with Australians Marc Cini, Dean Fiore and Lee Holdsworth. Unfortunately the British contingent suffered significant chassis damage when their car was involved in a crash earlier today and are out of the race.
Matt Stone Racing completes the group of Audi customer teams with Australians Todd Hazelwood, Roger Lago and David Russell behind the wheel of the fifth Audi R8 LMS car.
Tomorrow afternoon will see the fastest teams face off in the Top 10 Shootout to determine the top grid positions, with racing underway at 5:45am, Sunday. This year’s LiquiMoly Bathurst 12 Hour will be telecast on the Seven Network.
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