Encouraged by the fans and by his thirst for victory, Campbell climbed all the way from the fifth position in the final twenty minutes, performing some extremely daring manoeuvres on the way. Pure thrill and competition at the Australian race; a test only suitable for drivers with quick hands and nerves of steel looking for the checkered flag.

The action begins

As it is the case every year at this challenging event, soon there were incidents that triggered one safety car after another, affecting the strategies of some of the favourites. The second safety car came after the Ferrari #27 of HubAuto Corsa made ‘contact’ with another contender.

Somewhat later, the Aston Martin #760 ended up against the walls triggering the third one of the day. The Nissan #35 of KCMG with Tsugio Matsuda at the wheel, was able to take advantage of these incidents and together with a lucky and somehow ‘heterodox’ fuel strategy, climbed to the first place at the the Bathurst 12 Hour 2019.

Positions change

Matsuda was followed by the Mercedes# 888 and Martin Tomczyk’s BMW #42 of Team Schiffer. By half-race the BMW#42 fresh relay had inherited the lead. Behind him, a battlefield of numerous position changes was taking place.

The Bentley #108 of Maxime Soulet came into the second position, ahead of the penalised Aston Martin #62, which was already third after climbing form number twelve.

The British rocket had benefited from a ‘drive through‘ that was imposed on the Mercedes #999 for breaking safety car regulations as well as by the electrical problems suffered by the Nissan #35, but his performance was nonetheless epic.

The decisive ending

With just three hours to the end of the race, everything was still in the air with seven cars running on the same lap as the leader. Just as predators sharpening their teeth in the hunt for their victims, drivers knew the moment of truth had arrived. One of the Porsches, the #912 of Dennis Olsen climbed over the Aston Martin #62 and the Bentley #108, although later it would fall to the fifth place.

At that point when the Porsche #912 was having trouble holding on to his position, local hero Matt Campbell appeared, determined to give his audience what they wanted. He began his frantic and daring ascent of Mount Panorama. On the way to the top he came face to face with the BMW #42 but by that point, no one could stop him. The glory was his and the trophy was headed to the Porsche headquarters for the first time.

The second position was for the Aston Martin #62 of Jake Dennis who sealed a monumental race for the British maker. Rafaelle Marciello and his Mercedes #999 had to sweat for third against Shane Van Gisberger who came in fourth.

In fifth position came the BMW #42 and the Spaniard Andy Soucek finished sixth onboard his Bentley #108. The Ferrari #51 of Pedro Lamy, Mathias Lauda and Paul Dalla Lana won the Pro-Am category of 12 Hours Bathurst 2019. 

12 Hours Bathurst 2019: Porsche Motorsport, Ferrari Races, Aston Martin Racing & Mercedes-AMG.