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The Maranello Ferrari races through Reid Park in 2012
THE FASTEST man in Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour history will be remembered on qualifying day at the 2014 Event, next February.
The Allan Simonsen Pole Position Trophy will be inaugurated next year to be awarded to the fastest qualifier for the race – an ongoing tribute to one of the most spectacular drivers ever to compete in the Bathurst 12 Hour.
The new pole award announcement comes with confirmation of a new qualifying format for the Event that could potentially see incredible times posted on Saturday afternoon – the ultimate ‘tip of the hat’ to the always speedy Dane.
Though Simonsen never actually scored pole position for the race, he set both the 12 Hour race lap record and the fastest official lap by a closed-wheel car at the famous 6.213km circuit prior to his tragic passing in an accident at LeMans in June.
He still holds both benchmarks, the fastest laps to be set on the ‘old’ surface prior to the current resurfacing presently underway.
Driving a Maranello Motorsport Ferrari 458 GT3, Simonsen actually set the fastest time in qualifying for the 2013 Event however his lap – a stunning 2m05.49s effort – was beneath the 2m06-second ‘benchmark’ time allowed in qualifying, however that rule has been removed for 2014 allowing drivers to lap as quickly as possible.
A new trophy is currently being created to aptly reward the pole sitting combination, to be unveiled at the Event prior to qualifying on Saturday February 8, 2014.
The Allan Simonsen Pole Trophy comes with the blessing of the Simonsen Family and with the support of Allan’s Australian team, Maranello Motorsport.
This is the lap Allan did in a track day, no holds barred – record breaking. Legendary.
httpvh://youtu.be/XM4QpKaTNtc
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