Team WRT BMWs in Control Halfway at Bathurst

Photo: Gruppe C Photography/SRO

BMW Team WRT holds control of the Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour at the halfway mark, with SunEnergy1 Racing coming back into contention.

The No. 32 BMW M4 GT3 of Augusto Farfus was out front ahead of teammate Valentino Rossi in the sister No. 46 entry following a round of yellow-flag pit stops due to the No. 47 Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo ending up in the gravel.

Both BMWs were on fuel save modes through the race’s longest green flag stretch, which played into the Belgian squad’s hands.

Luca Stolz charged through the field to put the 75 Express-run Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo in third with 20 minutes before halfway, demoting pole-sitter Lucas Auer to fourth in the No. 77 Craft-Bamboo Racing Mercedes-AMG prior to the yellow.

Jayden Ojeda, who climbed behind the wheel of the No. 77 Mercedes-AMG, underwent a brake change while under the yellow.

Maro Engel completed the top-five in the No. 888 GruppeM Racing Mercedes-AMG.

Sixth at the race’s midpoint went to the No. 26 Arise Racing GT Ferrari 296 GT3 of Daniel Serra, ahead of Matt Campbell’s No. 911 Absolute Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R.

The No. 14 Volante Rosso Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage GT3 led the Silver class, while the No. 27 Heart of Racing by SPS Mercedes-AMG was out front in Bronze and the No. 91 Manthey EMA Porsche led Pro-Am.

Two drivers were taken to area hospitals for further evaluation from previous accidents.

Stephen Grove, who had a massive accident at Skyline in the third hour in his Mercedes-AMG, was transported to Orange Hospital, while Ryan Sorensen, driver of the No. 25 Method Motorsport McLaren Artura GT4, was admitted to Bathurst Hospital.