Porsche took its second victory in the Repco Bathurst 12 Hour after Matt Campbell guided the famous ‘Grello’ Manthey EMA Porsche Type-992 GT3R to a dramatic triumph.

Penalties, rain and traffic ensured one of the most difficult 12 Hours on record, but the Porsche crew also including the experienced Laurens Vanthoor in addition to Turkish rising star Ayhanchan Guven greeted the chequered flag by 2.633s denying the SunEnergy1 team a three-peat.

A visibly disappointed Jules Gounon was unable to overhaul Campbell in the closing stages as traffic played its part leaving the dual reigning winners as runner up after stirring drives from Luca Stolz and Kenny Habul.

It was three different manufacturers making up the podium as reigning Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia Powered by AWS series winner Liam Talbot scored his maiden Bathurst podium alongside Christopher Haase and Kelvin van der Linde in the Wash It/Jamec Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo 2.

The inclement weather made for plenty of challenges as the race began its eighth hour and SunEnergy1 took full advantage to take the lead as it opened up strategy. Manthey EMA elected to switch its strategy compared to the other frontrunners, but a mistake during a stop led to a penalty for not completing the pit minimum.

After Campbell served the penalty twice, the first time not counting as it was under safety car and this dropped him to 15th. The Phantom Group Racing Porsche spearheaded by Campbell’s former housemate in Europe, Jaxon Evans was in prime position as the conditions continued to change from wet to dry and back again.

It wasn’t long before a safety car was required following an incident for an Invitational Class entry, which proved perfect for the Pro-Am Manthey EMA Porsche driven by Alessio Picariello as pitting right before enabled Yasser Shahin to become the leader.

Once the safety car period ended, Shahin slid down the order as it was Campbell making the moves and taking the lead amid increased rainfall around the circuit.

Only needing to negotiate the last safety car period within 45 minutes of the conclusion, Campbell’s restart proved unstoppable as Gounon had no answer and his attention was on retaining second as Haase, Evans and the sole remaining Team WRT BMW of Maxime Martin. A move at The Chase by Evans briefly led to the Phantom Group Racing Porsche taking second, but Gounon recovered and Haase was the biggest beneficiary to lead the pack.

Evans was unlucky to finish off the podium in fourth as Martin was fifth, but it was Haase taking the final step on the rostrum behind Gounon and Campbell.

Pro-Am Class victory went to Shahin, Picariello and Harry King, while Adrian Deitz gave his new Lamborghini its maiden victory in Silver alongside Tony D’Alberto, David Wall and Grant Denyer.

The next round of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia Powered by AWS is at Phillip Island for the opening sprint round of the season on April 12-14, which will be live on 7 and 7+ as part of the Shannons SpeedSeries.

Matt Campbell, #912 Manthey EMA: “Super excited after that one! Obviously, it is a great start to the year. Another Bathurst 12 Hour victory now, what a race. We had fantastic speed all day and in every condition, and the team did a fantastic job. We made a little bit of a mistake in the middle of the race, but we came back very quickly and the whole crew did phenomenal after that, especially in the pit stops. Laurens did incredible during his stints and Ayhancan showed great speed, making no mistakes on his first race here, so I am really happy for him as well.”

Laurens Vanthoor, #912 Manthey EMA: “It was a great race. I really wanted to come back to Bathurst, preferably with Manthey EMA and Porsche, of course, to have the best chance of winning. And that's how it turned out in the end. We were very strong right from the start and dominated the majority of the race. Apart from the penalty, we drove faultlessly and were able to take the victory. Personally, I've been trying to win here for a long time, but I've always just missed out. This was one of the big races that was missing from my bucket list, so I'm very happy!”

Ayhancan Güven, #912 Manthey EMA: “It was my first time with Manthey Racing and in Bathurst. We had a plan for the weekend and it all came together in the race. Laurens did a very strong first stint, and when I jumped in the car I found myself in first. I kept the position and we were going strong in the opening six hours, but the penalty unfortunately dropped us down the order. From that moment we were on the back foot, but the key point for me was the pit stop when we changed from slick to wet tyres, the team did the fastest pit stop and we could eventually retake the lead. We started to control the race but the rain made it difficult because it was the first time in the wet here for me. After 10 laps I found my pace and then it was good. The easiest part of the weekend was watching Matt from the outside in that final stint to be honest! I am super proud and thankful to work with two great drivers and the whole Manthey EMA team. I will never forget this race!”

Bastian Buus, #13 Phantom Global Racing: “Really cool weekend, I enjoyed my debut in Bathurst a lot. To be leading a race on your first ever race here was a dream. It was unfortunate that we lost out on the podium in the end, but fourth is still a mega result for the team and something that we should be proud of.”

Jaxon Evans, #13 Phantom Global Racing: “A really good weekend. We were so close to the podium and there was some very hard racing out there in the final laps. Starting from 18th this morning and finishing fourth is still a great result. I’ve been so impressed with the way that the team handled their first weekend. It’s nice to see everyone work really hard together to achieve the maximum. I think they have a really bright future ahead and I feel privileged to have been a part of it.”

Joel Eriksson, #13 Phantom Global Racing: “Fourth in the end and really close to the podium, we should be proud as a team. The mechanics worked flatout ahead of the event, so thanks a lot to the whole crew. It was a long race but we managed to get the fastest lap during my first stint. It was great to finally be able to come and race here. I’m looking forward to what the future holds now.”

Yasser Shahin, #911 Manthey EMA: “The highs and lows of motorsport is what today was about. I do not think anyone has been completely beached in the gravel and come back to win here before. We fought so hard throughout the race, all the drivers did an outstanding job given the conditions were very tricky. We kept it together, stayed positive and the engineers made the right calls all day. It was great to be part of this team.”

Alessio Picariello, #911 Manthey EMA: “It was a dramatic race. From leading the Pro-Am class to being stuck in the gravel, we then managed to get back out front, before dropping to the back again. There were a lot of emotions during the race, but the team always made the right calls and we never gave up and managed to take the victory in the end. I am so happy to have been a part of it. I really enjoyed the weekend here, it was my debut in Bathurst and my first time with Manthey EMA. Overall, I had a lot of fun.”

Harry King, #911 Manthey EMA: “It was a roller coaster 12 hours. We went from a high to a low and then it ended on such a high. My first stint in the dark was quite an experience, I really enjoyed it. I’m pleased with my performance overall but it was a shame about the contact from another car, which put us into the gravel. I think the comeback made it even sweeter in the end, so I am very pleased.”

Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President Porsche Motorsport: “A fantastic event I have to say, the track is a roller coaster. It couldn’t have gone better, with Manthey EMA Racing we got the victory in the Pro and Pro-Am class, while Phantom Global Racing were fighting for third in their first outing. We can be really happy with the weekend, great job by everybody involved.”

Alexandre Gibot, Managing Director Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific Ltd.: “It was a great event. Congratulations to Manthey EMA Racing for both the overall and Pro-Am victories. Everybody did a great job, and we’re also delighted to see the former Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific Selected Driver, Alessio, part of that winning Pro-Am line-up. A very special mention goes to Phantom Global Racing. The Bathurst 12 Hour is one of the most challenging races but they did an incredible job and showed great potential for such a young team, so hats off to all of them. To nearly achieve a podium finish in your first race, as well as securing the fastest lap, is credit to their great preparation and the partnership with Timo Bernhard’s Team 75 Motorsport outfit. All-in-all an excellent weekend for the three Porsche cars. Lastly, I’d like to thank everyone in Weissach for the support in securing the drivers for each of the teams and helping us to achieve these great results.”