Kiwi Team Ready to Fire In Bathurst 12 Hour
Media Release 17/1/2014
Kiwi Team Ready to
Fire In Bathurst 12 Hour
Mortimer Motorsport
prepares to leave the country this week ready for the
team’s debut assault on the Bathurst 12 hour Endurance
race on the ninth of February.
Flanked by supporters
Gull New Zealand, Te Manava Resort Rarotonga Cook Islands
and DSV Air and Sea New Zealand, the team are headed for
Australian shores with their GT4 M3 BMW in tow -returning
off the back of a third place podium finish in the 2013
South Island Endurance Series.
The magnificent BMW has been re-worked ahead of Bathurst, with aims in place for the team to finish within the fields top 15 and on podium in the Group D Super Production Class.
Heading into what is
known as the Southern Hemisphere’s most gruelling test of
Motorsport, the driving team will consist of Warwick
Mortimer and son Andre as well as British imports Michael
Lyons and Father Frank Lyons.
Although Lyons is no
stranger to Australian soil (the young Englishman made his
racing and podium debut at Philip Island at the tender age
of 16) it will be the first time Michael takes to the wheel
at Mt Panorama.
Both Warwick Mortimer and Michael
Lyons hold impressive race histories – in the 2011 season
Lyons and Mortimer collectively topped drivers around the
world by holding the most number of podium finishes than any
other pair globally.
Warwick has held multiple
national titles in various classes; the most recent of
championship accolades being winner of the NZ BMW Driver
Series Open Class in the teams BMW GTR as well as becoming
the NZ and UK Formula 5000 Class A winner in
2011.
Over 50 teams will set out for the non-stop, 12
hour race which exposes drivers and teams and to extreme
pressures both mechanically and mentally.
“It will
be a huge test for the team as well as the car” says
Warwick, “although this is what we have been equipping
ourselves for over the last 12 months.”
“The
Bathurst 12 hour has been a long term dream for us, so there
has been no stone left unturned in getting the M3 prepared
to hold a competitive place throughout the
race.”
“We are ready for everything the mountain
can throw at us, and we’re proud to have our British
counterparts Michael and Frank on board flying the Kiwi flag
in Australia.”
Following the assault on Bathurst,
Mortimer Motorsport will return to New Zealand to campaign
the GT4 M3 in the recently announced North Island Endurance
Championship commencing on June 7 at Pukekohe Park
Raceway.
Before leaving NZ, the team will shake off
any last minute nerves at this month’s prestigious Ferrari
Festival, where Warwick will tackle Hampton Downs in the
Mortimer Motorsport Surtees Formula 5000 as well as his
McLaren Can Am M8 E/F 850 HP monster. Son Andre will drive
the teams Historic Toyota Celica GT, and Michael will steer
the visiting teams Lola T400 Formula 5000 – a record
holder at Hampton Downs. Father Frank joins the team in
his Eagle FA 74 as well as Judy Lyons (Michaels Mother) who
will drive a Lola T332.
The Liqui Molly Bathurst 12
Hour endurance race commences at6.15am Australian time, and
can be viewed via live stream at
www.bathurst12hour.com.
ENDS