BMW, Mark Skaife to compete in Bathurst 12 Hour

BMW is headed back to Mount Panorama in 2017, fielding an M6 GT3 in the Bathurst 12 Hour endurance race, with three Australian motorsport legends teaming up behind the wheel.

Team manager Steve Richards announced on Thursday that the new M6 GT3 would be part of a two-car Team SRM and BMW effort, announcing Mark Skaife, Russell Ingall, and Tony Longhurst as drivers for next year's race.

The three drivers hold a combined total of ten Bathurst 1000 wins, and are looking forward to putting aside any previous rivalries for the 12 hour endurance event next February.

BMW Australia's general manager of marketing, Stuart Jaffray, reiterated the brand's commitment to production-based motor racing, including DTM, IMSA, the FIA world endurance championships as well as Formula E, Dakar and customer racing in both GT4 and GT3 classes.

This latest M6 GT3 is the third BMW to enter the Australian GT championship.

Team boss Steve Richards revealed that his team had begun discussions with BMW for the last year.

"I'm pretty excited by what this program has rolled out inside the last 12 months, and we go to Bathurst obviously looking to get on the podium, so it's going to be a great effort," Richards says.

Tony Longhurst holds three Bathurst wins, two at the Bathurst 1000 and one at the 2009 Bathurst 12 Hour. The 2017 race is slated to be his last Bathurst tilt: "I started my career back in 1984 with Jim Richards, and this will be my last time at The Mountain with Steve Richards. That's pretty neat. And to do it with BMW, that's very special for me."

"The best moments of my career have been in BMWs, but what a difference between the M6 GT3 and the 635 that I drove in 1984. It's an amazing journey." Longhurst says.

Two time Bathurst 1000 winner, and 2005 V8 Supercar champion Russell Ingall described the GT3 involvement as an opportunity he has been looking forward to: "It's something that's been on my bucket list, and I was disappointed not to drive the previous year, but all the stars aligned."

Mark Skaife has won six Bathurst 1000 battles, and holds five V8 supercar championships, but when asked about this latest project he seemed no less enthusiastic to take part.

"It's a very exciting project. It's one of those things that came out of nowhere, really. Who would have thought I'd have a teammate like Russell Ingall at some stage, and to be re- joining Tony Longhurst after winning in 2001 is fantastic." Skaife says.

Unveiled in Melbourne, the new 'Bathurst Legends' M6 GT3 has already begun testing, with preparations set to continue between now and the 2017 Bathurst 12 Hour, which will be held from the 3rd to the 5th of February.