Laura Kraihamer to tackle Bathurst 12H

KTM factory driver Laura Kraihamer returns behind the wheel of the KTM X-BOW GT2 and will tackle for the first time the 12 Hours of Bathurst with KTM Vantage Racing.

Photo credits: Gruppe C Photography

Laura Kraihamer will be returning behind the wheel of the KTM X-BOW GT2 machine for the upcoming Bathurst 12 Hours, one of the most spectacular endurance races in sports cars.

The KTM factory driver will in fact be joining the ranks of KTM Vantage Racing alongside Australian drivers Trent Harrison and David Crampton, who will share the wheel at the popular race for the fifth time. It will be Kraihamer's first experience at the legendary Mount Panorama Circuit, an unforgiving 6.213 km track that is often regarded as one of the most challenging circuits in the world.

"Can’t wait to enter one of the most spectacular races of the year with KTM Vantage Racing", Kraihamer said. "Sharing the car with David & Trent is a privilege, both contributing with their profound Bathurst experience."

"We are looking forward to this challenge, knowing well that this is one of the toughest races in the world, which will certainly challenge us in every respect."

Kraihamer most recently competed in the Fanatec GT2 European Series and her experience in the sport includes prestigious class victories at the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring as well as a race win in the ADAC GT4 Germany. She started karting at the age of 12 and then moved up to sports cars in the KTM X-BOW Battle. Kraihamer joined the Reiter Young Stars program and graduated to GT4: in 2017 and 2018 she scored her first podium finishes, which followed the announcement as factory driver for KTM.

Having teamed up with Reinhard Kofler in the 2019 ADAC GT4 Championship, she would claim victory at Oschersleben. The Austrian driver, though, also had significant success in the Creventic 24H Series, where she collected a class victory at the 24 Hours of Barcelona among the others. After a one-off round in 2020, Kraihamer joined the DTM Trophy field in 2021 with the True Racing by Reiter Engineering KTM X-BOW GT4 - scoring points in the DTM's main feeder series on four occasions.

While it will be her first appearance at Bathurst, Laura is no newbie of challenging race tracks, having raced around the Nordschleife-based NLS with several class podiums to her name.

“I am so excited to be back in Bathurst with my great friend David and our new teammate Laura,” Harrison commented. "Our team is better positioned than ever, with fantastic support from KTM in Austria. I think this year’s entry is the highest-quality team we have ever put together for this race" - Crampton added.

The 23 Hours of Bathurst is scheduled for Sunday 18 February and the green flag will wave as per tradition at 5:45 local time, before sunrise. 

Photo courtesy: KTM