From February 13th to 15th , eve of the Lunar New Year, Team KRC traveled to Australia to compete in the legendary Mount Panorama Circuit at the 2026 Bathurst 12 Hour. Drivers Cunfan Ruan, Maxime Oosten, and BMW M factory driver Max Hesse joined forces in the No. 89 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, battling through 12 intense hours of racing. Overcoming numerous setbacks, they ultimately claimed an impressive 5th overall and 2nd place in the Bronze Cup class, marking a strong start to the new season with determination and resilience.
As the season opener of the Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC), this year’s Bathurst 12 Hour attracted 35 cars around the world. The GT3 category alone featured 31 entries representing 10 automotive brands, highlighting the depth and intensity of the competition.
The race takes place at the iconic Mount Panorama Circuit, a 6.213-kilometer track built along the contours of the mountain, featuring 23 turns that rise and fall dramatically with the terrain. Renowned for its significant elevation changes, narrow layout, and technically demanding corners, the circuit is considered a true test of both car performance and driver skill. At Mount Panorama, high speed runs hand in hand with ever-present danger, putting both endurance and mental fortitude to the ultimate test.
For this event, Team KRC assembled a formidable lineup: reigning GT World Challenge Asia Silver-Am champions Cunfan Ruan and Maxime Oosten, alongside BMW M factory driver Max Hesse. Although it was the trio’s first visit to Mount Panorama, they maximized practice sessions to build valuable mileage. Encouraging signs emerged early in the weekend, as the No. 89 car broke into the overall top three during practice and secured a top-50% result in the final practice session, earning direct entry into the second qualifying session.
During Saturday’s qualifying, Max Hesse took on driving duties and delivered a strong performance, securing 11th overall and 2nd in the Bronze Cup class. Though narrowly missing out on the Top 10 Shootout by just one position, the No. 89 crew demonstrated excellent pace, laying a solid foundation for the race.
At dawn on Sunday, the 2026 Bathurst 12 Hour officially got underway. Cunfan Ruan started the race from 11th on the grid, holding position amid the intense opening battles and actively pushing forward. The race began in darkness, with limited visibility and more than 30 cars fighting through the winding mountain roads, creating unpredictable conditions. Just 20 minutes into the race, an incident triggered the first safety car, which lasted until after sunrise.
Cunfan maintained a steady rhythm and climbed to ninth overall, engaging in close battles with competitors. Despite a minor wall contact that temporarily dropped the car out of the top ten, the No. 89 remained consistently within the top three of its class. After completing the first stint, Maxime Oosten took over. Multiple safety car periods followed, but Oosten rose to the challenge, bringing the car back into the overall top ten and up to 2nd in class.
Entering the third hour, Cunfan returned to the cockpit. During his stint, the No. 89 car was involved in an incident at The Chase downhill section, forcing a return to the pits for repairs. Nevertheless, the team remained determined. In the fourth hour, Max Hesse began a double stint. As the race approached its halfway point, another accident brought out the safety car, and the team seized the opportunity to carry out more comprehensive front-end repairs. The 4.5-minute stop resulted in the No. 89 falling four laps behind.
After the restart, the race had passed the halfway mark. MAXIME, Cunfan, and Max each completed further stints, pushing hard while strategically taking advantage of additional safety car periods to regain lost laps. With 3 hours and 40 minutes remaining, a serious accident triggered a red flag. The No. 89 crew stayed composed, adjusted their strategy, and successfully fought back onto the lead lap.
Following the restart, Maxime continued his charge and set the team’s fastest race lap at 2:02.8651. After completing his stint, Max took over for the final push. With just over one hour remaining, the No. 89 car had climbed back into the overall top ten and secured 2nd place in the Bronze Cup class.
The final phase of the 12-hour battle delivered more drama. A late safety car set up a decisive 40-minute sprint to the finish. In the intense restart battles, Max executed a series of overtakes, passing several Pro-class cars to climb to 5th overall. After completing 262 laps, the No. 89 BMW M4 GT3 EVO crossed the finish line to take the checkered flag.
In the end, through the relentless efforts of Cunfan Ruan, Maxime Oosten, and Max Hesse, Team KRC’s No. 89 entry finished 5th overall in its debut at the Bathurst 12 Hour and secured an outstanding 2nd place in the Bronze Cup class, earning a podium finish.
With the dust of Bathurst barely settled, Team KRC returned home in time to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Looking ahead to the 2026 season, the team remains committed to its challenging spirit and aims to continue making waves on the international stage, striving for even greater honors and achievements.
