One lucky Champion Post reader has the opportunity to win a hotlaps prize on Saturday, February 13, the day before the Bathurst 12 Hour.

Local racing driver Peter O’Donnell will be racing in the toughest motor race in Australia, the Bathurst 12 Hour, with

his debut race last year netting

first place in the Performance car class.

One year on, O’Donnell returns to Mount Panorama, this time leading the three-car GWS Personnel Motorsport team, which features two BMW 130is and a Toyota Celica.

Following on from his Bathurst success, Parkes based O’Donnell went on to claim second overall in the Australian championship, and is hungry for more success.

“The GWS Personnel Motorsport team have done a fantastic job developing the cars over the past 12 months, and I think come Bathurst we will once again have a fantastic chance of victory,” said O’Donnell.

“We are committed to running in the whole Australian championship this season, with the first of the six rounds being Bathurst, so it’s very important to get a good result there.”

O’Donnell will be joined in the lead BMW by Bathurst veterans Allan Shephard, Christian D’Agostin and Steve Briffa.

Shephard is O’Donnell’s regular team mate throughout the Australian championship, and has spent the past 12 months mentoring the relative newcomer.

“Peter’s driving has probably improved ten fold in the last year, so I expect him to do very well indeed at Bathurst,” said Shephard.

“Motorsport is definitely a team sport, and especially at an event like Bathurst, you need everyone to be on the pace and in tune with the car.

“Peter did an amazing job last year in the championship to finish second in his first full year, and with the GWS BMW under him, I think he can go one better this year.”

The Bathurst 12 Hour will be held on February 14, with the gruelling race preceded by two full days of practice and qualifying.

The Australian Manufacturers Championship includes rounds in Tasmania, Victoria, Queensland, and a new for 2010 event, a six-hour race at Sydney’s Eastern Creek.

More information is on the website: www.gwsmotorsport.com.

Anyone wanting to enter this great competition for a chance to win a great hotlaps prize simply has to write their name, address and business hours phone number on a piece of paper, together with an original copy of this article, and drop it into the Champion Post office at 7-9 Court Street, Parkes. Entries will be received up until 12pm on Thursday, February 11, when it will be drawn. The winner will be notified by phone.