The Wellington based privateer race team of Capital Motorsport took on the world at the infamous Mount Panorama track at Bathurst, Australia last weekend and came out with first in class D (for 3000cc & over cars) and 16th overall.

The weekend did not start well for the GT Radial Seat Leon Supercopa team, the 2 litre turbo car, was tagged from behind during the second test session at 1.45pm on Friday at Skyline bend on top of the Mountain sending the factory built race car into the wall nose first.

Once the car was back to the pits, the 5 man pit crew jumped into action. The car was stripped and the Front Radiator Support, Intercooler, Power Steering Pump, and Hoses, Brake Ducts, Bottom Arms, Bonnet Pins, Head Lights were all replaced and the front bumper, under trays and other parts repaired. But the power steering pump pulley was bend and we did not have a spare, but local Automotive Engineering Shop, Robinson Precision Engines, came to our rescue, machining down the pulley and trueing it back up in their lathe while we waited. The pulley arrived back at the track just after 4pm and the car was reassembled and made it back onto the track for the third test session third at 4.30pm.

With the car now running a custom made thinner fan belt we had to lower the rpm limit to stop it flying off so qualifying was not as good as we had hoped for. We qualified 41st overall and last in class but we were all prepared for the race and we knew the Spanish built race car would be reliable.

The 12-hour race started just after 6am and we settled into our planned lap times. The cooler morning temperature allowed us to run full boost and by the end of the first hour we were up to 31st overall. From 10am the mercury rose over 30 degree so we kept lowing the turbo boost level during the day, as it got hotter. With fast pit stops and a great safety car strategy we jumped ahead of the few cars before two punctures caused us some small time losses. With the three drivers, Richard Billington, Lewis Scott and Stuart Owers driving a very controlled and clean race by the end of the 12 hours we were first in class D for 3000cc and over cars, and 16th overall.

As a team of friends who decided to chase the dream of racing at the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 hour this year, we dreamed of finishing the race but to win the class against cars like the 6 litre V8 Daytona Sports Car and V8 BMW’s felt impossible but by race end the drivers climbed the podium at Bathurst, to proudly stand on the top step, to receive their silverware in front of the large crowd is a moment that will never be forgotten.

One of the drivers and none of the pit crew had ever raced a 12 hour race before, never raced overseas and never raced on track with air temperature above 32 degrees but planning, preparation and attention to detail was the key to our success. There is not a qualified mechanic on the team, we are builders, electricians, stay at home dads, car salesman and printers who love motorsport, dared to dream and with the famous Kiwi Spirit climbed the highest peak in Motorsport in the Southern hemisphere reaching the podium and winning our class at the Bathurst 12 hour endurance race 2014.