![\"Why](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Bathurst12Hour-Saturday-200-copy.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJohor Motorsports Racing driver Earl Bamber. Image: InSyde Media<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJohor Motorsports Racing driver Earl Bamber. Image: InSyde Media<\/p>\n
Bamber is driving in Australia\u2019s international endurance race with Corvette Z06 team Johor Motorsports Racing.<\/p>\n
His eponymous team, Earl Bamber Motorsport, is also competing with a single Porsche 911.<\/p>\n
Bamber\u2019s focus is strictly on the Corvette, however. The Porsche team, which runs independently of Bamber for the most part of the year, has effectively shunned him for the weekend.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously with the different stakeholders, we said that I\u2019m sort of banned from the garage because there\u2019s not much to really see or do or interfere in,\u201d Bamber told Speedcafe.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey run races all around the world without me, and this is no different. I\u2019m sure they\u2019re able and capable.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were quick in Suzuka, and they were quick in Indy, so they should be pretty quick here.<\/p>\n
Limited edition Full Credit Papaya Rules & Race Day Sunday merch drops now live! Click here to shop.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m here as a driver, so I\u2019m just going to race it,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n \u201cTo be honest, I\u2019ve been out of all the planning and stuff like that for quite some time, so I wouldn\u2019t even have a clue what they\u2019re doing down there.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t even know. Just for myself, just getting ready to go race.<\/p>\n Earl Bamber Motorsport drives the #2 Johor Motorsports Racing Corvette Z06 GT3.R at the 2026 Bathurst 12 Hour. Image: Gruppe C Photography<\/p>\n It\u2019s the first time Bamber has competed as an owner-driver at the Bathurst 12 Hour since 2020 \u2013 though, this year he is racing in different camps.<\/p>\n \u201cI haven\u2019t been here for a while. The last time I drove as well was in 2020, so it\u2019s been quite a while,\u201d Bamber said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m looking forward to it. Obviously it\u2019s a special place and one of those places that all drivers want to come.\u201d<\/p>\n Returning to the Bathurst 12 Hour as a driver has been on Bamber\u2019s radar, but there hasn\u2019t been the car to compete in until now.<\/p>\n As a factory General Motors driver, the Kiwi is limited to what he can drive.<\/p>\n Lately, that has been Cadillac equipment in the IMSA SportsCar Championship and FIA World Endurance Championship.<\/p>\n \u201cGenerally, I can only drive GM products with Cadillac and Corvette, so this is the first opportunity to come back down,\u201d Bamber explained.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m really excited to debut the C8 around here because I think it\u2019s a fantastic car.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had a pretty good campaign in 2024 when I drove in IMSA as an endurance driver, so now to come down here for the first race is pretty exciting actually.\u201d<\/p>\n The Earl Bamber Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 R at the 2026 Bathurst 12 Hour. Image: Gruppe C Photography<\/p>\n To coincide with Earl Bamber Motorsport\u2019s return to the Bathurst 12 Hour, the team has dressed its Porsche 911 in a livery harking back to its 2019 triumph.<\/p>\n It\u2019s something of an homage to the late Colin Giltrap, who was an early supporter of Bamber\u2019s career through the Giltrap Group.<\/p>\n That support has continued, with Giltrap\u2019s sons Richard and Michael backing Bamber\u2019s Porsche Carrera Cup Australia team.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s really important,\u201d said Bamber of the livery.<\/p>\n \u201cI had a long affiliation with the Giltrap Group for many, many years.<\/p>\n \u201cWe run Team Porsche New Zealand in Australia for many years too, supporting young Kiwis \u2013 Matt Payne, Ryan Wood, and at the moment we\u2019ve got Tom Bewley.<\/p>\n \u201cHaving that whole connection and running the big car this weekend is something really important.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s important to Richard. I think it\u2019s also important to Collin\u2019s legacy as well.\u201d<\/p>\n Bathurst 12 Hour \u2013 Schedule, how to watch, entry lists & more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n![\"Earl](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IGTC126_021308452205028SVS_SVS.jpg\")
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