Trass Family Motorsport (TFM), New Zealand’s Ferrari Racing Team, left a lasting impression on the 2015 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour before a mechanical failure in the seventh hour of the ‘once around the clock’ endurance race.

The world’s top GT3 teams converged on Mount Panorama with 54 cars, drivers from 19 countries, five former F1 drivers and multiple World Champions amongst the ranks, including the debutant TFM team with Jono Lester, John McIntyre and Graeme Smyth driving a Ferrari 458 Italia GT3.

The weekend was a see-saw of fortunes for TFM – the only Kiwi team competing in outright Class A – and the first challenge faced was the delayed arrival of their shipping container, which arrived at the circuit at 09:00pm on Thursday night.

With the crew working frantically through the night, TFM rolled out in time for opening practice on Friday and surprised immediately logging the 4^th fastest time, with John McIntyre at the wheel.

Bathurst rookies Lester and Smyth had their first laps of the mountain in practice two, with Lester setting the 6^th fastest time. The emergence of TFM as the unexpected Bathurst 12 Hour dark horse was confirmed with the 3^rd quickest time in practice four.

McIntyre’s experience and the quick acclimatisation of debutants Lester and Smyth gave TFM confidence heading into qualifying, in which they clocked the 9^th fastest lap time.

The final qualifying session, for Class A GT3 cars only, saw times tumble and TFM slipped to a final grid position of 16^th.

With the formalities over the twelve hours of racing began under the cover of darkness at 05:50am on Sunday morning, and McIntyre negotiated the conditions with impressive speed to elevate TFM to 8^th, handing over to Lester who continued the rise through the ranks to pit from 2^nd position at the three hour mark.

Smyth settled in next, but was one of two drivers to succumb to illness from carbon monoxide fumes during one of 19 safety car periods that riddled the race, requiring an unscheduled stop for McIntyre to resume in his place.

At hour five a puncture for the now-recovered Smyth was repaired at rapid speed, and TFM began climbing back from 12^th position and back on to the lead lap to sit in a strong 7^th place after the halfway mark.

It was here that the fortunes dipped once again, with a left front wheel breaking free from the car under braking into the final corner, leaving Smyth stranded just metres beyond pit entry.

TFM got straight to work back in the pit garage, rejoining the race with Lester 19-laps down on the leaders. The 25-year old locked onto the front running Audi, Lamborghini and Bentley entries for a thrilling two hour battle through traffic before handing to McIntyre once again, with the final quarter of the race to run.

McIntyre continued to demonstrate TFM’s genuine race pace until the car was retired with overheating issues in the closing stages, with gravel and debris from the earlier off-track excursion blocking the radiator vents.

The retirement bought to an end an incredible week of ups and downs for the Trass Family Motorsport team, who have already vowed to return bigger, better and stronger in 2016 for another crack at the Mountain.

The next event for TFM is the opening round of the Australian GT Championship on February 27-March 01, with Jono Lester joined by NZ Endurance Champion Paul Kelly in a capacity grid on the sweltering streets on Adelaide at the Clipsal 500.

JONO LESTER / Driver – TFM Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 #27

This has been the best weekend of racing I’ve ever experienced. I’m proud of our team and how they worked under pressure. We were always behind the 8-ball with the car arriving so late, but nobody panicked and I’m proud that we repaid them with the speed on the track. The retirement is of course a huge disappointment, but it’s motivation for next year as we proved we have a right to be here. This track and the fans are just the best, I can’t wait to come back.

JOHN MCINTYRE / Driver – TFM Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 #27

This was one of the most enjoyable Bathurst’s I have ever experienced. Our young drivers Jono and Graeme did a stellar job to learn the track so quickly and put in competitive times all weekend, and it was a personal highlight to dip into the ‘4’s’ [2 minute 4 second lap time] and start the race in the darkness. It’s very rare to go to an international event with a brand new team and run so competitively against some of the best GT3 teams in the world. It all bodes well for another attack on the mountain next year. 

GRAEME SMYTH / Driver – TFM Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 #27

It’s a shame we had mechanical dramas, but the car was a pleasure to drive and we were looking good for a top 10 finish overall and possible podium in class. It was an amazing experience and I definitely want to get back for another crack at the mountain.

GERALD TRASS / Team Principal – Trass Family Motorsport

Despite the late arrival of our car the TFM gave it all to conquer the mountain. Several hours of running in the top 10 gave us a good chance at a result but the misfortunes of motor racing thwarted our effort. We will build on our experience and go for second time lucky next year.

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Trass Family Motorsport is supported in 2015 by key partners including Paul Kelly Motor Company, Cumulo 9, Vortex Racewear, CRC, iSign It, Pixelsaurus, Broderick Print, Continental Cars: Official Ferrari Dealer and the Ferrari Owners Club of New Zealand.

More details about TFM can be found on the team’s Official website at www.tfmotorsport.co.nz, or by following ‘Trass Family Motorsport’ on Facebook, and @tfmotorsport on Twitter and Instagram.

TFM Ferrari in Bathurst 12 Hour contention before mechanical failure