The 2015 edition of the Bathurst 12 Hour was nothing short of stunning, with a grid of 53 cars, a variety of chassis and an incredible set of drivers. Sure there were more safety car periods than most would have liked, but the majority of the racing was thrilling, and the final dash to the finish line which saw Nissan take the win will be etched into many motorsport fans’ minds for years to come.

This year, the numbers are down slightly, (37) but the sheer quality hasn’t suffered as a result. Last year a clash with the V8 Supercar pre-season test left many people wondering what could have been in terms of driver lineups, but this time round that’s not the case.

Craig Lowndes’ unfortunate absence due to injury aside, this year’s 12-hour duel on Mount Panorama features a dense selection of Aussie V8 stars; as among the list of household names confirmed, Shane van Gisbergen, Rick Kelly and Will Davidson are spread across the entry. It’s going to be fascinating to see what they bring to the party – especially after last year’s unpopular clash – when coming up against some of Europe’s finest GT talent.

The interest of Class A alone is enough to sell most on the the idea of watching through the night and into Sunday morning (UK time), but that coupled with a healthy number of entries in the B and I classes, once again make it a must-watch as the 2016 season really begins to hit its stride.

The full race is again live on a free worldwide video strram on the race website and features unrivalled national TV coverage too on Channel 7 in Australia, John Hindhaugh, Richard Craill and DSC Ed Graham Goodwin reprising their roles in the booth with RLM’s Shea Adam in pit-lane.

Class A – 22 entries

1 Nissan Motorsport Rick Kelly Katsumasa Chiyo Florian Strauss Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3

2 Phoenix Racing Laurens Vanthoor Markus Winkelhock Alex Davidson Audi R8 LMS

5 Melbourne Performance Centre Greg Taylor Barton Mawer Nathan Antunes Audi R8 LMS

9 Melbourne Performance Centre Marc Cini Mark Eddy Christer Joens Audi R8-LMS Ultra

10 Bentley Team M-Sport Steven Kane Guy Smith Matt Bell Bentley Continental GT3

11 McElrea Racing Tony Walls Warren Luff Matt Campbell McLaren 650S GT3

31 Bentley Team M-Sport Andy Soucek Maxime Soulet David Russell Bentley Continental GT3

32 Lago Racing Roger Lago Luke Youlden Steve Owen Lamborghini Gallardo R-EX

33 Mishumotors Mirco Schultis Renger Van der Zande Patrick Simon Alex Kapadia Mercedes Benz SLS AMG GT3

36 Erebus Motorsport David Reynolds Thomas Jaeger Nico Bastian Mercedes Benz SLS AMG GT3

37 Keltic Racing Tony Quinn Klark Quinn Craig Baird McLaren 650S GT3

40 Melbourne Performance Centre Dimitri Koundouris Theo Koundouris Marcus Marshall Shae DaviesAudi R8 LMS Ultra

48 M Motorsport Justin McMillan John Mclntyre Dale Wood Glen Wood Lamborghini Gallardo R-EX

Vicious Rumour Racing Tony Defelice Andrea Montermini Benny Simonsen Renato Loberto Ferrari 458 Italia GT3

59 Tekno Autosports Shane van Gisbergen Alvaro Parente Jonathan Webb McLaren 650S GT3

60 Tekno Autosports Rob Bell Andrew Watson Will Davidson McLaren 650S GT3

62 Performance West Motorsport Peter Rullo Nick Percat Scott Andrews Lamborghini Gallardo

63 Erebus Motorsport Bernd Schneider Maro Engel Austin Cindric Mercedes Benz SLS AMG GT3

74 Melbourne Performance Centre Christopher Mies Christopher Hasse Marco Mapelli Audi R8 LMS

75 Melbourne Performance Centre Steve McLaughlin Rene Rast Garth Tander Audi R8 LMS

82 International Motorsport Andrew Bagnall Rick Armstrong Matt Halliday Audi R8 LMS Ultra

88 Maranello Motorsport Mika Salo Toni Vilander Tony D’Alberto Grant Denyer Ferrari 458 Italia GT3

Class A is once again the largest category in terms of numbers, with 22 GT3 entries all gunning for the overall victory. Seven manufacturers are present this year, but in the interest of safety and lack of BoP regulations, no new 2016 cars are permitted. The Bathurst 12 Hour is run to full SRO/ FIA GT3 regs and the very newest machines have not yet received their Balance of Performance assessments.

The relatively new Audi R8 LMS and McLaren 650s will be debuting, but the Ferrari 488, Mercedes AMG GT3, BMW M6 and Porsche 911 GT3R will all have to wait until next year to compete in the event. Nevertheless, the 2016 edition of the race most definitely includes the variety we come to expect from a GT3 grid these days.

Nissan is back to defend its title with a brand new GT-R, this car is the property of Nissan Australia with 2015 heroes Katsumasa Chiyo and Florian Strauss joined by Nissan V8 Supercar star Rick Kelly.

Bentley are back too with a pair of the mighty and newly-liveried Continental GT3s. Matt Bell gets another shot alongside full-season Bentley Boys Steven Kane and Guy Smith in the #10 car whilst the sister #31 car sees Andy Soucek and Maxime Soulet joined by V8 Supercar man David Russell.

Make no mistake the Bentley crew are looking to get the job done here after being bundled out of a podium position last year. And with a year of experience with the car at the circuit under its belts, nobody will be surprised to see it in the fight for the win.

No fewer than four 2016-spec Audis will be on the grid (plus a trio of older R8 LMS Ultras).

Audi-blessed Phoenix Racing provide the overseas punch with Messrs Vanthoor and Winkelhock joined by Aussie superstar Alex Davidson in the #2 Audi. The #2 is certainly a car to watch out for, Vanthoor was particularly strong during last year’s event.

Melbourne Performance Centre field the remaining three new Audis (plus two of the older ones), and has filled its cars with a lot of talented drivers.

The #5 car is an all-Aussie affair whilst the #74 and 75 Memec Pem branded cars both have eye-catching driver squads. The #74 sees the ‘Two Christophers’ Haase and Mies teams up with Marco Mapelli, while the #75 has Steve Mclaughlin joined by the all-star duo of Rene Rast – the Audi factory man fresh from a win at the Daytona 24 Hours – and Garth Tander – few know this circuit better!

There’s a quartet of McLaren 650S GT3s listed. This is the first appearance for the new McLaren at this race, but not by any means the last we’ll see of the mighty Macca down under!

All four have quality driving squads with McElrea Racing featuring Warren Luff on its roster and Keltic Racing fielding Aussie GT patriarch Tony Quinn.

The Tekno Autosports pair is a big surprise addition that will bring with it further good news (yet to come). Tekno’s McLarens have high-quality lineups too: the #59 features Shane van Gisbergen, Alvaro Parente and Jonathan Webb with #60 seeing Rob Bell and McLaren Junior Andrew Watson joined by Will Davidson. If the McLaren proves to be up to the task then expect these cars to be right up at the front.

There’s a trio of Lamborghini Gallardos also on the bill, one, the #32 Lago Racing machine to the latest Reiter R-EX ‘Extensor’-spec and featuring a duo of V8 Supercar men Luke Youlden and Steve Owen alongside car owner Tony Lago.

Nick Percat brings V8 talent to another Gallardo, this the #62 Performance West car whilst Dale Wood completes the set in the #48 M Motorsport effort.

The Ferrari 488 will make its Aussie debut in the coming weeks but there are a pair of still highly effective 458 GT3s listed, both prepped by Mark Coffey’s Maranello Motorsport outfit. The Vicious Motorsport-branded car again sees Benny Simonsen aboard as the team look to repeat their very excellent form from 2015.

The #88 has the regular star-studded driver squad though with a late change after driver rankings woes forced the team’s hand. Mika Salo and Toni Vilander though add Finnish flair with Aussie talents Tony D’Alberto and Grant Denyer completing the lineup

Last but by no means least in Class A it’s the Mercedes Benz effort, a trio of SLS AMG GT3s likely the last full strength effort by the ‘old’ Gullwing in a major GT3 race as the new AMG GT3 takes hold.

Mishumotors’ #33 car sees Mirco Schultis joined by Renger Van der Zande (one of two men who is racing here after already doing likewise at the Dubai 24 Hours and Rolex 24 at Daytona) Patrick Simon races with Schultis once again and Alex Kapadia is a very welcome late addition.

Erebus Motorsports say a fond farewell to its SLS pair with two very strong squads:

The #36 car has V8 Supercar star David Reynolds joined by Euro stars Thomas Jaeger and Nico Bastian. the sister #63 has GT racing legend Bernd Schneider joined by 2015 FIA GT World Cup winner Maro Engel and young American star Austin Cindric.

Class B – seven entries

4 Grove Motorsport Stephen Grove Earl Bamber Scott McLaughlin Porsche 997 GT3 Cup

6 Safe-T-Stop Richard Gartner Aaron Zerefos Indian Padayachee Michael O’Donnell Porsche 997 GT3 Cup

12 Mobil 1 New Zealand Porsche 997 GT3 Cup Scott O’Donnell Alan Dippie Chris van der Drift

21 J.F.C Freem Sam Fillmore Daniel Stuttard James Burgmuller Porsche 997 GT3

38 Wall Racing Paul Tresidder Daniel Bilski David Wall Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S

69 APO Sport Alex Osborne James May Paul May Porsche 997 GT3 Cup

77 Team NZ Motorsport Will Bamber Graeme Dowsett John Curran Craig Smith Porsche 997 GT3 Cup

Class B for the Porsche Cup class cars has a gaggle of strong runners, seven cars are due to take the start with strong representation from the loyal Aussie Carrera Cup crowd.

The Grove Motorsport effort looks to be one of the favourites with the team owner Stephen Grove joined by Porsche factory driver and 2015 overall Le Mans 24 Hours winner Earl Bamber, as well as V8 star Scott McLaughlin.

Bamber’s younger brother William goes head to head inthe #77 Team NZ Motorsport car, an interesting aside to the excitement at the head of the field whilst David Wall’s #38 Wall Racing effort is also worth keeping an eye on.

The #69 APO Sport car was a late addition for Alex Osbourne, James May and Paul May.

Class I – eight entries

16 PROsport Performance Porsche Cayman Pro 4 Adam Christodoulou Jorg Viebahn Fabien Hamprecht Nico Verdonck

28 On Track Motorsport Jake Williams Will Cauchi David Coxs Ric Shaw BMW 325i E92

54 MARC Cars Australia Tony Alford Beric Lynton Mark Griffith MARC Focus V8

65 Daytona Sports Cars Jamie Augustine Ben Schoots Deane Lille Daytona Sportscar Coupe

91 MARC Cars Australia Rob Thompson Lindsay Kearns Jimmy Vernon MARC Focus V8

92 MARC Cars Australia Michael Benton Hardian Morall Angus Kennard MARC Focus V8

93 MARC Cars Australia Jake Camilleri Morgan Haber Aaron Seton MARC Mazda 3 V8

94 MARC Cars Australia Bryce Fullwood Gerard McLeod Nick Rowe MARC Mazda 3 V8

The previously Class C PROSport Performance Porsche Cayman effort has been reduced to one car and moved into catch-all Class I, the purposeful looking GT4 machine fielding Adam Christodoulou, Jorg Viebahn, Fabien Hamprecht and Nico Verdonck. Consistency will be the key!

The #28 BMW 3251 is a Bathurst legend. The car that has competed in every 12 hour race since the start and racked up 2492 laps and 15,483 kilometres in practice, qualifying and racing in the process. It looks a bit of an oddity nowadays but is a welcome addition to the field.

The crowd-pleasing rumbling Daytona Sportscar is back too, the Daytona Cobra replica makes up in looks what it often lacks in pace!

MARC Cars Australia fields no fewer than five of its tubeframed, V8 engined cars this year, three as Ford Focus’, and a pair as Mazda 3s.

They’re fast becoming an endurance racing staple and they start this race as class favourites.

Look out for DSC’s coverage all event long, as well as a resource page to be posted soon.

Graham Goodwin

(Stephen Kilbey contributed to this preview)