Rahel Frey in the Audi pits in 2014
Despite its relatively short history, the Bathurst 12 Hours is one of Australia’s biggest motorsport events. It began in 1991 as an endurance race for touring cars, in the spirit of the original Bathurst 1000 races, which had, by then, become far more specialised. The race has had several incarnations, with different rules and classes. One year, 1995, it moved to Eastern Creek Raceway. In 2002, it was relaunched, after a hiatus, as a 24-hour race, but this proved unpopular, and it returned in its original format in 2007. Since then, it has incorporated classes for production saloons, touring cars and GT and sportscars.
Female drivers have been involved in the race almost from the start, and have scored several top-ten finishes. Some of Australia’s most accomplished women drivers have done well. In recent years, female participation has declined, but this may reverse in due course.
Here are the results of all female drivers in the Bathurst 12 Hours. As ever, in the case of a mixed team, the woman’s name comes first, for clarity. For profiles of some of the drivers involved, please click here.
1992
Melinda Price/Tracey Taylor/Michelle Callaghan (Nissan Pulsar SSS) – 17th
Jane Taylor/Alf Grant/Peter Brierley (Holden VN Commodore S) – DNF
1993
Jane Taylor/Chris Wiles/Chris Clearihan (Citroen BX16) – DNF
1994
Michelle Callaghan/Brian Callaghan/Chris Symmonds (Toyota Corolla GTi) – 23rd
Heather Baillie/Gwenda Searle (Toyota Celica ZR) – DNF
1995 (Eastern Creek 12 Hour)
Liz Hurst/Greg Hurst/Andrew Leithead (Subaru Impreza WRX) – 6th
2002 (Bathurst 24 Hours)
Melinda Price/Herman Tilke/Peter Hansen (Honda S2000) – 14th
Debbie Chapman/Dennis Chapman/Scott O’Donnell/Lindsay O’Donnell (BMW 318i) – DNF
2003 (Bathurst 24 Hours)
Heather Spurle/Martin Short/Patrick Pearce/Charles Lamb (Mosler MT900R) – 5th
Liz Halliday/Andrew Donaldson/Ian Donaldson/Peter Floyd (Porsche 996 GT3-RS) – 7th
Melinda Price/Herman Tilke/Tim Harvey/Jonathon Rowland (Porsche 996 GT3-RS) – DNF
2007
Amber Anderson/Danielle Argiro/Helen Stig (Toyota Celica SX) – 21st
2009
Leanne Tander/Lee Burges/Terry Conroy (Honda Integra Type S) – 13th
Lauren Gray/Rob Thomson/John de Veth (BMW 130i) – 26th
Christina Orr/Heather Spurle/Molly Taylor (Subaru Impreza) – 27th
2010
Leanne Tander/Terry Conroy/Gerry Burgess (Honda Integra Type S) – 13th
Lauren Gray/Michael Gray/Tony Head (Toyota Corolla Sportivo) – 19th
2012
Sarah Harley/Robert Thomson/Christian Klien (Lotus Exige) – 9th
2014
Rahel Frey/René Rast/Laurens Vanthoor (Audi R8 LMS Ultra) – 5th
(Image from http://www.iolandeskinner.com/at-work/)