Jake Parsons joins Aylezo Competizione for Bathurst 12 hr

Jake Parsons - set for a return to Bathurst and his maiden Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hou

22-year-old Australian, Jake Parsons has joined the Aylezo Competizione team for the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour over the weekend of February 3-5, where he will race in a Ginetta GT4 Supercup.

The team - based out of Malaysia - will bring the successful GT4 car to Australia for Parsons - which he will share with team CEO Zen Lowe, WA-based Brit - Darren Burke and Japanese, Shino.

Sydney-sider Parsons has recently returned from Indianapolis, where he was domiciled last year racing in the Pro Mazda Championship in the US, finishing with two podium positions.

Parsons has history at the Mountain, establishing the lap record for Formula Ford there in 2015, which still stands to this day. He won the Asia Cup Series (formerly Formula BMW) in 2014 and finished runner up in the Formula Masters China Series.

His grounding ahead of the Bathurst 12 Hour was aided at the end of last year when he took part in a Lamborghini Supertrofeo race in Asia.

Jake will be in the GT4 category Class C, with the overall event amassing arguably the strongest GT field ever seen throughout the world among the 56 entries in this year’s event.

The drive with the Sepang 12 Hour-winning Aylezo Competitizione team provides the youngster with the best possible platform for a class win before embarking on his 2017 season, his full season plans to be announced shortly.

The 355 horsepower, 3.7L V6 Ginetta enters class C for GT4 machinery in with a great chance up against entries from Porsche, Aston Martin and the intriguing KTM X-BOW.

Ginetta - an historic British brand - has tasted class victory before at the Sepang 12 Hour and 24 Hour races at the Nurburgring and Dubai, along with the Gulf 12 Hour and European GT4 Championship.

The Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour this year has drawn manufacturer support from across the globe among the 56 entries.

It will be shown live throughout its entirety in Australia on 7mate on Sunday February 5 from 5:45am Australian Eastern Daylight Savings time (Sydney/Melbourne) or internationally streamed on www.bathurst12hour.com.au.

A one hour program from 3:30pm AEDST Saturday February 4 will show the Pirelli Top 10 Shootout and will re-cap the one hour qualifying session.

WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY:

Jake Parsons:

“It is a wonderful opportunity being provided by Zen and the Aylezo Competizione team,” said Parsons. “The Ginetta GT4 has proved itself in these longer endurance races, but going to Bathurst is a new challenge for everyone.

“It is going to be busy on track with the different classes delivering challenges right throughout the day. For us, keeping everything clean and remaining at the front of our class will be the aim - if we can walk away with the class win, that would be a phenomenal effort as well as elevating ourselves up the overall tree.

“The team is so enthusiastic about coming to Bathurst, it is unbelievable. It has proven it can win with its recent class win at the Sepang 12 Hours and we know we have the car to compete all day, it is now a matter of the drivers being able to do the job and I think we have the right combination to do that.”

ZEN LOWE - CEO Aylezo Competizione:

"I can't describe my excitement to finally be able to compete in the prestigious Bathurst 12 Hours this year, and it makes it even better that my maiden appearance will be with one of the most renowned British heritage brands, Ginetta.

“Having grabbed my Sepang 12 Hours win just last month in their G55 GT4 racecar, Ginetta is a brand that's synonymous with reliability and will keep on running when the going gets tough, making the G55 GT4 the perfect machine for this challenging endurance race.

“Joining me in this quest as a teammate will be the young and talented Jake Parsons and I'm looking forward in sharing the race seat with him to challenge the legendary Mount Panorama."

SCHEDULE:Friday, February 38:15am-08:45am - Practice 1 - 30 mins (Amateurs Only)8:50am-9:50am - Practice 2 - 60 mins (All competitors unless specified)12:35pm-1:35pm - Practice 3 - 60 mins4:05pm-4:55pm - Practice 4 - 50 mins

Saturday, February 48:00am-9:00am - Practice 5 - 60 mins10:40am-11:40am - Qualifying - 60 mins11:50am-12:10am - Qualifying - 30 mins (Class A only)3:40pm- 4:25pm - Top 10 Shootout (Top 10 Cars only from 10th to 1st - individually on track)

Sunday, February 55:45am-5:45pm - Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour (12 Hours)

TV SCHEDULE (ALL times Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time - adjust for your timezone):Saturday, February 43:30pm AEDST Live - 7mate (Australia Only)

Sunday, February 55:30am AEDST Live - 7mate (Australia Only)

Internationally, livestream will be carried on www.bathurst12hour.com.au. Please check local timezones for times against Sydney.


Related Motorsport Articles

84,520 articles