The Bathurst Twelve Hours, the opening round of the 2022 Intercontinental GT Challenge, has been moved to resolving a date clash with the WEC-IMSA Sebring double header.
The Australian classic will now take place on February 25-27, three weeks earlier than the original date announced as part of the provisional calendar.
The original mid-March date would fall on the same weekend as the Super Sebring event held by IMSA and the FIA World Endurance Championship, which had the potential to trouble teams and drivers.
The new date is still three weeks later than the traditional early February date, with the event promotor confident that Australia’s travel measures will be relaxed in time for the event to take place.
“Naturally, we are absolutely thrilled to see Bathurst returning to Intercontinental GT Challenge Powered by Pirelli’s calendar early next year,” said SRO CEO and founder Stephane Ratel.
“It is the championship’s spiritual season opener, has an atmosphere like no other, and is rightly considered one of the world’s great endurance races. IGTC’s teams, drivers and manufacturers have undoubtedly played a role in amplifying this status, and I cannot wait to see their return to the mountain in 2022.
“Maintaining the event’s traditional early February date wasn’t an option but after consulting with teams, manufacturers and Supercars it also became apparent that an alternative weekend that month would be preferable to March when the Australian, European and American seasons begin ramping up.
“I think we’ve found a good balance between the two, which also allows us to keep an important element of what makes Bathurst special.”
The series’ season finale, the Kyalami 9 Hours, has also been moved back one week as part of the updated calendar. It now takes place on December 1-3.
The two other rounds remain unchanged. The 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps takes place as the second round on July 28-31, while the Indianapolis 8 Hours is held on October 7-9.
