Aussie star Campbell to defend Bathurst 12 Hour crown

Aussie hero Matt Campbell will return to Mount Panorama to defend his Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour crown for Porsche in 2025.

Campbell will team with fellow 2024 winner Ayhancan Güven and 2024 Pro-Am winner Alessio Picariello aboard an Absolute Racing-entered Porsche 992 GT3R, in a powerhouse combination that heads to the race as an early favourite.

It marks Absolute’s return to the Mountain for the first time in five years, the Asian-based Porsche team having last competed in 2020 where, with Campbell driving, they scored the Allan Simonsen Pole Award before going on to finish fourth outright.

Last year Campbell and Guven combined with Laurens Vanthoor to deliver Porsche their second Bathurst 12 Hour triumph, in a car fielded by Manthey EMA Racing.

It was the second Bathurst win for both Campbell and Porsche and the first for Turkish young-gun Güven, who became the first driver from his nation to win on the Mountain.

Campbell’s last six 12 Hour starts have delivered a pair of wins, two third places and a pair of fourths, plus the 2020 pole position award, making the factory Porsche ace from Warwick one of the most successful drivers in race history.

“It's great to be reuniting with Absolute Racing as we secured Porsche’s first ever Bathurst pole position when we last worked together in 2020,” Campbell said.

“After the success in 2024, when I won the race, we’ll be aiming to replicate this alongside Ayhancan and Alessio. It’s my home event at my favourite track in the world, so I can’t wait to start the year off in Australia.”

Güven said he was looking forward to the opportunity to challenge for back-to-back Bathurst wins: "I’m excited to join Absolute Racing for the Bathurst 12 Hour.

“Having won the event last year, it's the perfect opportunity to fight for victory again. I’m excited to work with the team and racing around the unique Mount Panorama circuit.”

Belgian young-gun Picariello also tasted success last year as part of the sister squad that nabbed the Pro-Am class victory: “It’s amazing to be heading back to Bathurst after my first outing last February.

“I’m excited to be in the Pro car this year with Absolute Racing, alongside two very strong teammates, who both won the overall category in 2024, while I was in the car that took Pro-Am honours. The goals are quite clear, and I’m looking forward to enjoying the whole race weekend.”

Absolute Racing’s return to the race adds more Asian flavour to the field, the team a powerhouse in GT competition throughout the region and further aboard since their foundation.

The Shanghai-based squad have links with several key brands across several key international GT categories, but said their relationship with Porsche was key.

“We’re thrilled to be returning to the Bathurst 12 Hour, and to do so in partnership with Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific makes it even more special,” Absolute Racing Team Principal Fabien Fior explained.

“There’s unfinished business at Mount Panorama for us as in 2020, we took pole with Matt, but unfortunately finished just off the podium.

"We’re also excited to welcome a second Bathurst 12 Hour winner to the squad in Ayhancan Güven, along with our long-term driver Alessio Picariello, a class winner at this iconic event. We have a strong car and line-up, so our sights are set high.”

The team will be supported by Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific and will come one week after Campbell and the iconic German marque challenge for back-to-back wins in the 24 Hours of Daytona in Florida.

Porsche have won the Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour on two occasions and scored pole position in 2020 with Absolute Racing.

The Repco Bathurst 12 Hour is proudly supported by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. Tickets, Camping and Corporate Hospitality are on sale now, with information via the Bathurst 12 Hour website; www.bathurst12hour.com.au.