Will Brown Ignites Bathurst 12 Hour Practice with Dominant Display
The iconic Mount Panorama circuit is once again buzzing with the roar of engines as the 2026 Meguiar's Bathurst 12 Hour gets underway, and it's Supercars champion Will Brown who has set the early benchmark. Piloting the #55 Jamec Racing/Team MPC Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II, Brown has showcased formidable pace, topping multiple practice sessions and signalling his intent for outright victory in Australia's premier endurance GT race.
Brown's Audi on Rails in Practice 5
Saturday morning's critical Practice 5 session saw Will Brown firmly in control, laying down a blistering 2:04.0404s to lead the field. This performance not only solidified his position at the top of the timesheets but also improved upon the already impressive laps set by his teammates Christopher Haase and Brad Schumacher. The Jamec Racing/Team MPC Audi proved a class act, comfortably ahead of strong contenders like the #222 and #75 Mercedes-AMGs.
The session, which ran predominantly under green flag conditions, wasn't without its moments of drama. Several drivers encountered minor scares, including gentle contact at Murray's Corner between the #86 High Class Racing Porsche and the #47 Supabarn/Tigani Mercedes-AMG. Haase himself had to take evasive action at the same corner to avoid the #93 Wall Racing Lamborghini, while Maxime Martin sent the #888 Mercedes-AMG down the Hell Corner escape road. These incidents, however, did little to detract from the overall flow of the session.
Challenging Conditions and Strong Competition
Despite the occasional on-track incident, the Bathurst 12 Hour is shaping up to be a fiercely contested event. The field is packed with international talent and seasoned Australian drivers, all vying for supremacy. Early laps from Cam Waters in the #222 STM Mercedes-AMG and Bryce Fullwood in the Volante Rosso Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 set a competitive tone, with times tumbling as the sun broke through the clouds.
Augusto Farfus in the #46 WRT BMW M4 GT3 also put in a strong showing, clocking a 2:05.1866s. The Audi contingent continued to impress, with James Golding in the #268 Team BRM Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II posting a 2:04.0867s. Thomas Randle then lowered the bar further with a 2:03.6309s. Brown himself demonstrated his championship pedigree, moving to second with a 2:03.8208s before snatching the lead with a 2:03.4561s.
The battle for ultimate pace was intense. Alex Peroni, taking over the #268 Audi from Golding, delivered an outstanding lap of 2:03.3553s. Christopher Haase, after navigating the earlier scare, then piloted the #55 Audi to a remarkable 2:03.0404s. Even strong performances from Jules Gounon and Cam Waters couldn't unseat the leading Audi, further cementing its status as an underdog contender for Sunday's race.
Technical Glitches and Team Efforts
Not all competitors enjoyed a smooth practice session. The #26 Arise Racing Ferrari 296 GT3, driven by Jaxon Evans, Davide Rigon, and Daniel Serra, encountered significant technical issues. Stranded in the garage for most of the session with a suspected sensor failure and a rapid coolant leak, the Ferrari managed only five laps, highlighting the challenges of endurance racing where reliability is paramount.
Looking Ahead: Qualifying and Pole Position
With practice sessions now concluded, attention shifts to the crucial qualifying stages. Drivers will be fighting for the prestigious Allan Simonsen Pole Trophy, with the Pirelli Pole Battle determining the front row starters for the main event. The momentum built by Will Brown and the Jamec Racing/Team MPC outfit suggests they will be a formidable force when the pressure is truly on.
The Bathurst 12 Hour continues to deliver thrilling motorsport action, showcasing a potent mix of international stars and local heroes battling it out on one of the world's most demanding circuits. As the weekend progresses, all eyes will be on whether Will Brown can translate his practice dominance into a maiden Bathurst 12 Hour victory.
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