Porsche customer strength frames the 2026 Bathurst 12 Hour grid
Porsche customer teams set early markers for the 2026 Bathurst 12 Hour as Absolute Racing and Earl Bamber Motorsport confirm experienced, high-calibre Porsche 911 GT3 R line-ups.
Two early line-up announcements for the 2026 Bathurst 12 Hour underline how Porsche’s customer racing ecosystem continues to shape the race long before February arrives. Absolute Racing and Earl Bamber Motorsport have confirmed their crews for Mount Panorama, and while neither announcement is a surprise in isolation, together they point to a familiar truth about Bathurst. Depth matters as much as outright speed.
Absolute Racing returns with a measured, proven approach
Absolute Racing will contest the 23rd running of the Bathurst 12 Hour with a Porsche 911 GT3 R, placing Matt Campbell, Loek Hartog Buus, and Alessio Picariello in the same car.
This is a line-up that leans towards reliability and circuit knowledge rather than headline-grabbing novelty. Matt Campbell needs little introduction at Mount Panorama. Few drivers understand the rhythm of Bathurst better, and his presence alone changes the expectations around the car. Alessio Picariello brings the kind of GT experience that tends to show late in endurance races, particularly when conditions turn awkward or traffic management becomes decisive. Loek Hartog Buus completes the trio with consistency rather than flash, which is often the missing ingredient in a 12-hour race that punishes impatience.
Absolute’s selection suggests a clear aim. Finish cleanly, stay on the lead lap, and allow the race to come to them. Bathurst rarely rewards teams that chase early dominance.
Earl Bamber Motorsport doubles down on elite GT talent
If Absolute’s line-up speaks to control and experience, Earl Bamber Motorsport has gone in a more overtly aggressive direction. The New Zealand-based team will field Klaus Bachler, Thomas Preining Heinrich, and Ricardo Feller in its Porsche 911 GT3 R entry.
On paper, this is one of the sharper driver combinations announced so far. Klaus Bachler arrives with recent endurance success and a reputation for extracting performance over long stints. Ricardo Feller brings qualifying pace and race craft in equal measure, while Thomas Preining Heinrich adds a level of composure that suits Bathurst’s narrow margins.
This trio suggests EBM is not simply aiming to contend. It is positioning itself as a team that expects to be involved at the front if the race stays clean. The balance between outright speed and restraint will decide whether that ambition pays off.
Porsche’s broader Bathurst picture
Taken together, these two announcements reinforce Porsche’s ongoing strength at Bathurst. The 911 GT3 R remains one of the most predictable platforms over long distances, and the manufacturer’s ability to supply competitive customer teams continues to pay dividends in global endurance racing.
Bathurst is rarely won in the first half of the race, but it is often lost there. Both Absolute Racing and Earl Bamber Motorsport appear to understand this, even if their approaches differ. One prioritises accumulated experience and calm execution. The other leans into elite driver quality and pace.
Neither approach guarantees success on the Mountain. Both are credible.
As further entries take shape, these early confirmations set a useful reference point. Porsche will once again arrive at Mount Panorama with multiple routes to victory, and the 2026 Bathurst 12 Hour already feels like a race where execution will outweigh ambition.
