Jordan Pepper and Valentino Rossi at the Bathurst 12 Hour with BMW

In 2025, the Bathurst 12 Hours perfectly kicked off an excellent season. IGTC For BMW. The propeller-badged firm achieved a one-two finish in Australia, then won three of the four other rounds of the Intercontinental Championship, as well as the manufacturers' title and the drivers' title for Kelvin van der Linde. To defend its title, BMW M Motorsport will field two BMW M4 GT3 EVO cars from Team WRT in the top class and one car from Team KRC in the Bronze class at Bathurst.

Last year's winner and reigning IGTC champion, Kelvin van der Linde, will drive the #32 Team WRT car alongside fellow South African Jordan Pepper and the 2024 IGTC champion, Belgian Charles Weerts. This will be Pepper's first official race for the German manufacturer.

« I am truly delighted and proud to be participating in the Bathurst race with BMW M Motorsport and Team WRT, "That's great," says newcomer Jordan Pepper. What a circuit for my first official race with the team! I have some very special memories there. I won there in 2020 and I love the track, the place, and the atmosphere. Of course, the pressure is on, as we are the reigning champions, but I have two excellent teammates: Kelvin and Charles. We get along very well, both professionally and personally. Driving with Kelvin is a unique experience. We've known each other for a long time and we complement each other very well. »

Absent from the next campaign of WEC, Valentino Rossi will make his return to Bathurst driving the No. 46. He will be joined by last year's winner, Augusto Farfus, and Raffaele Marciello. In the Bronze category, the Chinese KRC team will field BMW M factory driver Max Hesse, as well as Dutchman Maxime Oosten and Chinese driver Ruan Cunfan.

« I'm looking forward to returning to Bathurst. expresses the legend MotoGP. It's one of the most prestigious races of the season. The circuit is fantastic. When I started racing, Bathurst was my dream. I've been there three times now and I still enjoy it just as much. Last year, the race went very well and we finished second. The podium is our goal again this year. With Raffaele and Augusto, I have two exceptional teammates from whom I can learn a lot and with whom I'm sure I'll have a lot of fun. »

The Bathurst 12 Hours will be held from February 13th to 12th.

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