29.01.2026With Absolute Racing in Bathurst: ck-modelcars goes down under

The Bathurst 12 Hour was once just a highlight of the Australian motorsport scene. Now, the endurance race is part of the Intercontinental GT Challenge calendar, which can be considered a kind of international championship for GT3 manufacturers. Other events on its calendar include the 24 Hours of Nürburgring and Spa-Francorchamps. The race's increased global standing has long attracted some of the best GT3 drivers and teams to the Bathurst starting grid. Many even equate the unique circuit near Sydney with the Nürburgring Nordschleife.

When this year's Meguiar's Bathurst 12 Hour takes place on February 15th, ck-modelcars will be a small part of the field for the first time. “ck-modelcars will be competing as a team partner of Absolute Racing at Bathurst, Australia, in 2026. The ck logo will be featured on their black and yellow Porsche with the number 911,” says Christoph Krombach, founder of ck-modelcars. The collaboration naturally extends beyond the logo placement on the 911. “We will, of course, be producing a matching model car in scale 1:18 in 2026 in cooperation with Ixo,” Krombach adds. “We wish the team and the three drivers every success and look forward to an exciting race in Australia.”

The team's lineup gives cause for optimism. The Shanghai-based team was successful again in the GT World Challenge Asia last season and is now returning to Bathurst for the third time. “Absolute Racing is delighted to announce its first collaboration with ck-modelcars at the Bathurst 12 Hour. This marks the beginning of an exciting partnership at one of the world’s most legendary endurance races. We are proud to have ck-modelcars by our side as we take on the challenge at Mount Panorama. We share the same passion for performance, precision, and motorsport excellence,” said Absolute Racing.

Like the team, drivers Matt Campbell and Alessio Picariello are also returning to Bathurst for the third time. Local hero Campbell secured Porsche’s first pole position in 2020. The Porsche factory driver also won the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2024 and finished second overall at Le Mans last year. Like Picariello, the team’s new third driver also holds contracted driver status with Porsche. This is Dane Bastian Buus, who won the Porsche Supercup in 2023 and immediately secured a podium finish in his Bathurst debut the following year.

With this top-class trio, Absolute Racing hopes to finally achieve the podium finish they've missed so far at the Bathurst 12 Hour. Fans can follow the action via livestream and keep an eye out for the yellow and black Porsche with the ck-modelcars logos.