Fujitsu V8 Supercar and former V8 Ute racer James Brock has announced his plans to race a second Mercedes Benz SLS AMG for Erebus Racing in the 2012 Australian GT Championship with backing from current partner DrillPro at today's launch of the Clipsal 500.

After competing in selected rounds of the Development Series this year, Brock said it wetted his appetite to get back on the circuit for a full season of racing.

"Truth be known, a couple of years ago I was pretty burnt out and just needed a break from racing, but after DrillPro approached me about doing some V8 Supercar stuff this year, and then seeing where the GT Championship is headed, frankly it was an opportunity I simply couldn't pass up," he said.

"Peter Hackett and Erebus Racing are the best in the business, and would have to be one of the most professional teams in any form of the sport here in Australia, so DrillPro and I can't wait to get started on the program."

"At this stage I haven't even driven the car, but if it goes anywhere near as good as it looks, 2012 is going to an awesome year."

Lead Erebus DrillPro driver Peter Hackett said he couldn't be happier to have Brock and DrillPro on board next year and is looking forward having the second car in the country.

"The second Erebus Racing SLS AMG GT3 has been ordered and paid for and is now in the build stage over in Germany, so we are a long way down the track of our 2012 plans and James was the final piece in the puzzle and we couldn't be happier," he said.

"James is no stranger to me or Mercedes having worked together for many years doing driver training, and also some special engineering projects for AMG, so in many ways he is a known quantity out of and inside the car, and that's what we were looking for in our second driver."

"James is a fast, with plenty of experience, so for me as a team mate it's exciting to have him on board for data comparison, feedback and also to share some of the PR load."

The announcement was made today in conjunction with the launch of the 2012 Clipsal 500 which will once again feature a one hour twilight GT race on Saturday evening,  then a half hour race on the Sunday.

Category Administrator Craig Nayda was at today's launch and said the Brock news great for the category and just added another positive element to next year's Championship.

"To have the Brock name back in motorsport full time is a great thing, but to have it in the GT Championship is very exciting, and I'm sure all the competitors that are lining up to take part next will enjoy the challenge of taking James on," he said.

Also revealed to the public at today's launch was the new Ford GT of Supaloc Racing and its driver Kevin Weeks.

"What a perfect time and place to launch our new weapon," said Weeks.

"Supaloc is a proudly South Australian company, so when we were asked if we could present the car at the Clipsal 500 launch, of course we said yes."

"I think the car looks absolutely stunning, and we can't wait to get the testing process underway to see what its capable of."

"The 2012 Clipsal 500 will be the first time this car will be raced in anger, so I urge all South Aussies to come down, watch the action, and of course swing by the GT pits to see the Supaloc GT up close and personal."

The 2012 Clipsal 500 will take place on March 1-3 with bumper crowds expected across all three days.

As well as the V8 Supercars, the weekends racing will also feature a massive support category line up including the wildly popular V8 Utes as well as Carrera Cup, Aussie Racing Cars, Formula Three, Fujitsu Development Series and of course Australia's most exotic racing cars ... The Australian GT Championship.

The Vodka O Australian GT Championship is a National motor racing series pitting some of the world's most exotic and exciting race cars against each other in a mix of sprint and endurance race formats on some of Australia's most challenging circuits including Mt Panorama Bathurst, the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit and the Adelaide Parklands street circuit for the Clipsal 500

Vodka O Australian GT Championship Points Top 5 after round 6

1.     Mark Eddy 8.Penfold Audi Sport Audi R8 LMS 6712.     Klark Quinn 12.V.I.P. Petfoods  Mosler MT900 6253.     Greg Crick 55. JEEP Dodge Viper GT3 5484.     Ash Samadi 22. Rocking Angel/Procon Mosler MT900 6455.      Peter Hackett 63. Team Erebus Racing Mercedes Benz SLS AMG 464

Vodka O Australian GT Challenge Class Championship Leader

1. Peter Boylan  21. Boylan Group  Porsche GT3 Cup Car  470