The 2026 Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour at Mount Panorama delivered an unforgettable spectacle, with Mercedes-AMG Team GMR clinching a historic victory after starting from 29th on the grid a new record for the lowest starting position to win the race. Drivers Maro Engel, Mikaël Grenier, and Maxime Martin showcased resilience and skill, navigating through a field of 31 GT3 entries to secure the win.
The race was marked by dramatic incidents, including a significant crash involving race leader Ralf Aron, who collided with a stationary Porsche at Forrest’s Elbow, leading to a red flag, the first in the event since 2018. Aron sustained a broken back but is in stable condition.
Despite the chaos, the #888 Mercedes-AMG Team GMR car maintained focus, with Maxime Martin taking the lead in the final hour after a collision between competitors Jules Gounon and Kelvin van der Linde. The team completed 262 laps, finishing just over a second ahead of the High Class Racing Porsche, driven by Kerong Li, Anders Fjordbach, and Dorian Boccolacci.
Valentino Rossi, alongside Raffaele Marciello and Augusto Farfus in the #46 Team WRT BMW, secured third place, marking Rossi’s second consecutive podium at Bathurst.
The race also featured unique challenges, including a kangaroo collision that ended the race for Christopher Mies’ Ford Mustang GT3 early on.
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