Baulkham Hills racing driver Lachlan Gibbons will fulfil a childhood dream when he races a Porsche at Australia’s most famous motor-racing circuit, Mount Panorama Bathurst, at the end of this month.
The 21-year-old, who won the NSW Formula Ford Championship in 2017, will drive the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup in the Production Sports Car races, supporting the Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour production car endurance race on the Easter Long Weekend.
The Porsche deal adds to a busy weekend for Gibbons, who has already been confirmed as a starter in the 6 Hour aboard a Subaru WRX STI.
Gibbons tested the Porsche at Phillip Island yesterday and could barely contain his excitement.
“Ever since I was a kid, I’ve dreamed of racing at Bathurst, and I’ve dreamed of racing an exotic sports car… and I get to tick both of those boxes,” Gibbons said.
“Driving the Porsche 911 for the first time was a hair-raising experience; it has so much more power than anything I’ve driven in the past.
“The grip levels were phenomenal – heading into corners, I was able to carry more speed than I ever thought imaginable.”
Gibbons says swapping between the Porsche and the Subaru at the 6 Hour will be an interesting challenge.
“They’re two completely different types of cars – the Porsche is obviously a lot faster in a straight line and is left-hand-drive, but the Subaru has all-wheel-drive so the handling balance is completely different as well.
“Also, the Production Sports Car and Bathurst 6 Hour sessions are right next to each other on the race program, so I’ll literally be jumping out of one car into the other.”
Gibbons will share the Porsche with its owner, Greg Woodrow, for the two one-hour Production Sports Car races.
“A big thanks to Greg and G-Force Events Management for the opportunity, I can’t wait to head to Bathurst,” Gibbons concluded.
The 2018 Bathurst 6 Hour will be held 30 March-1 April, with live streaming on the Sunday via the Bathurst 6 Hour website.
