The triumphant Bathurst12-Hour Porsche 911 GT3-R of Dennis Olsen, Dirk Werner and Porsche Junior Driver, Matt Campbell is set to return home.
The same Porsche 911 GT3-R that made a heroic charge from fourth to the lead of the 2019 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12-Hour in the final hour, will return to Australia later this year.
Porsche Carrera Cup Asia racing driver, Paul Tresidder has purchased the winning car piloted by Dennis Olsen, Dirk Werner and Porsche Junior Driver, Matt Campbell. The historical victory marked Porsche’s first outright win in Australia’s International Enduro, adding the iconic endurance event to their trophy case.
A long-term exponent of the famous German marque, Tresidder was competing in the race with team Porsche Carrera Cup Asia – eventually finishing second in Class B and 19th outright.
As the race built towards its thrilling climax, the Sydney resident was watching from his own pit garage as Matt Campbell hauled the Earl Bamber Motorsport-prepared car through the international field. Following the Bathurst triumph, the car was flown to Germany and placed on display in the Porsche museum.
However, Tresidder’s purchase of the 911 GT3-R from Porsche Motorsport last month, means the car will ultimately return to Australia.
“I was there in our pits watching the last hour of the race unfold. Whilst all three drivers contributed to the end result, for me the stand out drive of the day was Matt Campbell with three overtaking moves in the last hour of the race, the best I have ever seen,” Tresidder explained.
“I was also competing in the same race with the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia team, so there are great memories associated with this epic win. As an Australian, I wanted to bring the car back home.”
Tresidder was presented the car last month in the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart, with Campbell on hand to ‘hand over the keys’ to the car. Despite his long relationship with the Porsche brand, Tresidder said he initially didn’t think he would be able to purchase the black GT3R, which features the iconic Silver Fern along its flanks.
“I thought I wouldn’t stand a chance of being able to secure the car, having won the 12-Hour,” he explained.
“However after the race I caught up with Alex Gibot (Head of Porsche Motorsport in the Asia-Pacific region) and told him I would like to buy it. Alex knows my history with Porsche Carrera Cup Asia and my love of Porsche, plus the car would be coming home to Australia and properly looked after.
“Alex started the process by contacting Porsche in Stuttgart and got the ball rolling, and fortunately we were successful.”
Currently still in Germany, the 911 GT3-R will begin a long journey home later this year via a stop at the Porsche Sports Cup China in October – a significant event in the region which will also feature several Porsche Museum cars on show on and off the track.
After driving the car for the first time in Shanghai, the car will return to Australia where Tresidder plans to race it as it was designed.
“I will race it lightly, probably the first event will be Bathurst at Easter 2020,” he confirmed.
“The now-famous livery will also stay, the only change will be to wipe off the sticky remains of Matt’s Champagne!”
With multiple starts to his credit in the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour, Tresidder says the 12-Hour is well established as one of the world’s great races and the victory for Porsche had great significance for the brand and for him personally.
“This was Earl Bamber Motorsport’s first attempt running two factory cars and for him and his team to get a first time victory – and a first victory for Porsche – it doesn’t get much better.”
Bamber and Campbell, along with their Porsche GT team mates, will defend their 24-point lead in the Manufacturers standings of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in Lime Rock (USA) this weekend.
The race over 2:40 hours takes off on Saturday, 20 July and can be viewed live outside the USA and Canada on www.imsa.com.