Bathurst 12 Hour – 2 Hours: Rossi leads after perfectly timed safety car in colourful dawn

The 2026 Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour got underway at 05:45 in complete darkness, sparks flying over the top of Mount Panorama as 34 cars charged into the night. As the race began to settle, darkness slowly gave way to an early morning colourful sky above Bathurst and, gradually, to Team WRT taking control after a perfectly timed safety car.

Götz takes the lead

Thomas Randle started from pole position in the #222 Scott Taylor Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3, but the run to Turn 2 immediately reshaped the order. The #77 Mercedes-AMG Team Craft-Bamboo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Maximilian Götz went three-wide on the approach and refused to yield, sweeping into the lead as they climbed the Mountain. Luca Stolz slotted the #75 75 Express Mercedes-AMG GT3 into third as the field disappeared into the darkness.

Behind them there was pushing and shoving but no major incident. The first to lose ground was the #93 Wall Racing Lamborghini Huracán GT3 of Marco Mapelli, who was hip-checked at Turn 1 and slipped from sixth to eighth in the Bronze-class entry, though he quickly stabilised his position.

Ford Mustang eliminated after animal strike

The first major drama arrived just fifteen minutes in. On Conrod Straight, the #64 HRT Ford Racing Ford Mustang GT3 of Christopher Mies struck a kangaroo at high speed. The impact caused heavy damage and ended the Mustang’s race immediately. Mies climbed out shaken and covered in kangaroo but able to walk away.

The safety car was deployed, and with it came the first strategic decisions of the race.

The #26 Arise Racing GT Ferrari 296 GT3 of Jaxon Evans was among the first to pit under yellow. One lap later, Luca Stolz brought the #75 Mercedes in to hand over to Kenny Habul and secure driver time, although the stop cost valuable track position. The neutralisation was then extended when the #50 KTM Vantage Racing KTM X-BOW GT2 of David Crampton lost control under braking at Murray’s Corner while catching the safety car queue and became stranded in the gravel.

Mercedes control early running

When racing resumed — now under a sky turning shades of orange and pink — Maximilian Götz controlled the restart cleanly. Christopher Haase in the #55 Jamec Racing / Team MPC Audi R8 LMS GT3 immediately pressured Thomas Randle for second, but the Australian held firm as the lead group ran nose-to-tail. Augusto Farfus in the #46 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 and Marco Mapelli followed closely, keeping the front pack tightly compressed.

At this stage, Mercedes-AMG still appeared to control the tempo.

Second Safety Car reshuffles the front

However, the complexion of the race changed during the first full pit cycle.

As stops unfolded across the field, the #268 Team BRM Audi R8 LMS GT3 of Mark Rosser crashed on the mountain, triggering another safety car at a crucial moment in the strategy window.

Team WRT reacted decisively. Augusto Farfus handed the #46 BMW to Valentino Rossi, while Kelvin van der Linde transferred the sister #32 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 to Charles Weerts. By pitting at precisely the right moment under caution, both cars gained maximum advantage from the reduced speeds around the track.

When the field reordered, the BMW pair emerged at the head of the race, vaulting ahead of the early Mercedes leaders, who found themselves shuffled back into the midfield. Meanwhile, Lucas Auer in the #77 Mercedes opted for an additional fuel top-up, sacrificing further track position in exchange for potential flexibility later in the race.

Rossi leads as Safety Car returns

As the second hour approached its conclusion, the race returned briefly to green-flag conditions, now with Valentino Rossi leading in the #46 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3. Charles Weerts remained close behind in the sister #32 BMW, while the #100 Grove Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Will Davison headed the Mercedes response.

Yet even that restart proved short-lived.

Approaching The Chase, the #111 111 Racing IRC GT of Daniel Stutterd suffered a major failure when the rear wing came loose at high speed. The car snapped sideways and spun into the gravel, bringing out yet another safety car and neutralising the field once again.

After two hours, the narrative has clearly shifted. The early Mercedes advantage forged in darkness has faded, replaced by BMW control under a colourful Bathurst sky. With just under ten hours remaining, the race resets once more.

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🎙️ Interviews | Tony D’Alberto confident after top-six qualifying for Bathurst 12 Hour | Cameron Waters after Bathurst 12 Hour pole | Bas Leinders recalls McLaren’s defining 2016 Bathurst victory | Alex Fontana on the mental challenge of Bathurst | Marco Mapelli prepares for Huracán’s final farewell at Bathurst | Bathurst king Jules Gounon and the art of going fast at Mount Panorama