GT privateer Mark Rosser has signed an all-star cast to support his debut in the LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour on May 13-15.
The Adelaide driver has secured former Repco Bathurst 1000 winner Nick Percat and current S5000 Australian drivers' champion Joey Mawson to partner him aboard a 2022-specification Audi R8 LMS GT3.
Just as it is in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia Powered by AWS, Rosser's car will be prepared by Adelaide squad Team BRM, who will also make their 12 Hour debut as a team.
The outfit is contesting the Pro-Am class, which for one year only becomes the top category at Intercontinental GT Challenge Powered by Pirelli's season opener.
A late convert to GT Racing, Rosser had competed in South Australian racing since the early 2000s prior to making his GTWC Australia debut last year.
He raced at Mount Panorama in the 2021 season finale, finishing fourth in the Pro-Am class in the final race of the year, having earlier finished fifth outright on debut at The Bend driving an earlier 2011-specification R8.
"I'm really excited to be partnering with two amazing drivers for such a big event - especially since being a Pro-Am event this year, realistically it's my only chance ever of winning something so prestigious," said Rosser. "It's great to keep everything within the BRM family too, and being from South Australia, I have been a fan of Nick’s successful career.
"As a Bathurst winner and experienced steerer, he is a valuable asset to have on board with the team. Joey is such an exceptional talent - and even more importantly great guy - who just needs his lucky break to make it to the big league, and I’m confident he will hold his own against the best of the pro drivers in the field.
"I'm looking forward to learning as much as possible from them both so I can continue my development as a driver, and really have a red hot go at taking out the event."
Percat, meanwhile, makes his fourth 12 Hour start this year but first in an Audi. He made his debut in 2016 aboard a Lamborghini, though the campaign only lasted one lap after his car was retired following a collision at turn two. He switched to a Ferrari 488 GT3 campaigned by HubAuto Corse in 2019 before making his most recent start in 2020 aboard a MARC Cars Australia entry: finishing 15th outright and winning the Invitational Class in the process.
The Walkinshaw Andretti United driver has three Bathurst 1000 podiums to his credit, including winning the Great Race in 2011. He also raced for BRM in the 2013 Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Championship and before that in Formula Ford and F3.
"It's exciting to be driving with Mark Rosser, but also the whole team at BRM - I've got good history with the team with Porsche Carrera Cup," he said. "When [team boss] Mark Rundle rang and asked if I would be interested, and suggested I had a chat to Mark [Rosser] about driving his car, it was a pretty easy decision to be honest.
"The MARC Car was awesome fun and I've had a bit of experience in the HubAuto Ferrari before that. The Audis have always been quite strong at Bathurst and the best thing is there will be plenty of other Audis on the grid with some handy steerers. We know we'll have the tools to do the job.
"We'll be aiming for a clean weekend. For Mark it's cool to be driving his baby around there in an iconic event. It will be good to give him some advice, get up to speed and really enjoy the weekend."
The pair are joined by 12 Hour debutant Mawson who tasted top-flight GT racing before his open wheel success.
Mawson raced in the Porsche Supercup and Porsche Carrera Cup Germany prior to returning Down Under to contest Australia's premier single-seater series, S5000, which he won last year. That achievement also earned him the prestigious Motorsport Australia Gold Star award.
The Sydneysider currently sits second in 2022's standings following the first two rounds of the season.
"It's been a dream of mine to race at the 12 Hour," Mawson said. "I've been there many times watching as a fan, so to be on the other side of the fence this time and racing at such an iconic track is something I'm very excited about.
"I'm looking forward to working with Mark and Nick to make sure we can all have a really strong weekend, the ingredients are in place for us to do just that.
"I have to say a massive thanks to Mark Rosser and the team for giving me this opportunity, I can't wait to work with them again and get stuck into the weekend."
Tickets for the 2022 LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour are now on sale, available via Ticketek.