Andrew Watson is ready to return to action this weekend for his first race of 2019, where he will be lining up with Objective Racing in the McLaren 650s GT3 for the first round of the Intercontinental GT Challenge - the 2019 Liuqi-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour.
The 24-year-old from Donaghmore Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland, will make his third start at the iconic 12-hour race this week and is looking to build on his two previous visits to the race saw him finish in 9th place overall in 2016 before finishing 11th outright – 5th in the ProAm class – driving a YNA Autosport McLaren 650S GT3 with Scott McLaughlin, Fraser Ross and Alexander West in 2018.
Andrew will once again be behind the wheel of the McLaren 650s GT3, a car he knows extremely well and the car he picked up his first overall Blancpain GT podium in last season at Paul Ricard and also secured class-pole position at the 24 Hours of Spa.
Hosted on the world-renowned Mount Panorama circuit in Bathurst, New South Wales, the track is known as the spiritual home of Australian Motor Racing and is unique in its rural setting, with over 40 private residences located around the circuit.
Excited to be making his third appearance at this favourite track in the world, Andrew is keen to get involved straight away and collect a good result for the team this weekend.
"I can’t wait to get to the track and get to work with my teammates and everyone at McElrea! They’ve proved in the last few years they have the pace to challenge for wins. So I’m going in with a positive mindset. It’s my favourite track in the world so it’s a privilege to come back."
Action for Andrew will get underway this weekend with four practice sessions on Friday 1st February, with qualifying and a top-ten shootout taking place on Saturday, with the lights out on Sunday at 18:45 (GMT) for the iconic 12 hour-race.
Image courtesy of Objective Racing