LIQUI MOLY will return to the Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour in 2027, with the German automotive lubricant manufacturer confirming a renewed partnership as the event’s Official Oil and Lubricant Partner.
The agreement brings the brand back to one of Australia’s leading international endurance races, strengthening its longstanding relationship with the event at Mount Panorama. As part of the exclusive category partnership, LIQUI MOLY will receive prominent trackside branding, a dedicated broadcast feature and opportunities to engage with fans throughout the four-day programme.
The announcement comes as organisers prepare for another expanded edition of the Bathurst 12 Hour, which will take place from 11–14 February 2027. Following record attendance in 2026, the event continues attracting interest from international manufacturers, customer racing teams and commercial partners.
LIQUI MOLY renews longstanding Bathurst partnership
LIQUI MOLY’s return marks another chapter in its relationship with the Bathurst 12 Hour, having previously served as the event’s naming-rights sponsor for more than a decade.
The German manufacturer first partnered with the endurance race in 2013 and maintained its title sponsorship through 2023, supporting the event during a period of significant international growth. Throughout that partnership, the Bathurst 12 Hour strengthened its reputation as a major GT3 endurance contest, attracting leading manufacturers and professional drivers from around the world.
Although LIQUI MOLY stepped away from its naming-rights role following the 2023 edition, it maintained a presence in Australian motorsport through other partnerships. Its return for 2027 reunites the brand with an event that played an important role in its previous Australian motorsport activities.
The new agreement differs from its earlier involvement, with LIQUI MOLY securing category exclusivity as the Official Oil and Lubricant Partner rather than returning as title sponsor. Meguiar’s will retain the naming rights after extending its partnership through 2027.
Trackside branding and Slick Pass feature headline agreement
The renewed partnership will give LIQUI MOLY a prominent presence around Mount Panorama, particularly through branding at the pit entry near the bottom of Conrod Straight.
The location represents one of the most recognisable sections of the circuit, where competitors approach the final complex of corners after descending from the mountain. Its position provides considerable visibility throughout the race, particularly during the frequent pit-stop sequences that help determine the outcome of the 12-hour contest.
In addition to the trackside branding, the partnership will introduce the broadcast-supported ‘LIQUI MOLY Slick Pass’ segment. The feature will highlight notable overtaking manoeuvres throughout the event, giving the manufacturer an additional presence within the race’s international television and streaming coverage.
LIQUI MOLY will also operate a fan activation site within the event precinct, providing opportunities for spectators to engage with the brand throughout the weekend. Meanwhile, premium hospitality experiences and promotional activities across the event’s digital platforms will extend its involvement beyond the circuit.
Together, the initiatives form a partnership that combines trackside exposure with opportunities to reach motorsport enthusiasts attending the event and following the race remotely.
Prinzing highlights performance and engineering connection
LIQUI MOLY Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Vincent Prinzing welcomed the agreement, emphasising the connection between the demands of endurance racing and the company’s focus on automotive performance.
Mount Panorama presents a considerable challenge for GT3 machinery, combining steep elevation changes, high-speed sections and narrow corners across its 6.213-kilometre layout. The circuit’s characteristics place significant demands on reliability, making the event particularly relevant to a company specialising in automotive lubricants.
Prinzing believes the partnership also offers an opportunity to engage with Australia’s wider automotive community.
“Bathurst is one of those special places where passion, engineering and performance come together. It’s a demanding circuit, and that’s exactly the environment where quality and reliability matter most.
“At LIQUI MOLY, we believe every engine deserves the same attention to quality, whether it’s competing at Mount Panorama, being serviced in a local workshop or taking Australians on their next road trip. That’s what our German engineering and commitment to quality are all about.
“We’re proud to be back at the Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour and to celebrate the passion that brings Australia’s automotive community together. For us, motorsport is about much more than brand visibility. It’s about building confidence in our products, supporting the workshops that trust us and inspiring more Australian drivers to experience LIQUI MOLY for themselves.”
Bathurst 12 Hour continues international growth
LIQUI MOLY’s return follows another successful Bathurst 12 Hour in 2026, when the event attracted a record 55,231 spectators across three days.
The race featured 35 cars and 115 drivers representing 22 nationalities, highlighting the event’s continued international appeal. The competitive field brought together established GT3 manufacturers, leading factory-supported drivers and customer racing teams from several continents.
The 2026 Bathurst 12 Hour delivered a dramatic conclusion, with Mercedes-AMG Team GMR securing victory through Maxime Martin, Mikaël Grenier and Maro Engel after starting 29th. The trio defeated High Class Racing’s Porsche by approximately one second, completing a memorable opening round of the Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC) season.
The event’s combination of international competition and Australian motorsport heritage has helped establish its position on the global endurance racing calendar. Moreover, the growing attendance and commercial interest have encouraged organisers to expand the programme for 2027.
LIQUI MOLY’s renewed involvement adds another established automotive brand to the event’s commercial partnerships as preparations continue for the next edition.
Rudzis welcomes return of established international partner
Bathurst 12 Hour Event Director Shane Rudzis also welcomed LIQUI MOLY’s return, recognising the manufacturer’s previous relationship with the event and its contribution to Australian motorsport.
The agreement forms part of the organisers’ wider efforts to strengthen the Bathurst 12 Hour’s commercial position while improving the experience for competitors and spectators. With the event attracting increasing international interest, partnerships with automotive brands remain an important part of its continued development.
Rudzis believes the renewed relationship will benefit both organisations while supporting the event’s ambitions.
“LIQUI MOLY is a globally respected performance brand and a natural fit for an event that showcases excellence, endurance and engineering innovation on one of the world’s great race circuits.
“We are thrilled to welcome LIQUI MOLY back to the Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour for 2027 and to continue building a partnership that delivers value for both organisations while enhancing the experience for competitors and fans alike.
“The Bathurst 12 Hour continues to grow its international profile, and partnerships with leading global brands such as LIQUI MOLY are instrumental in helping us deliver a world-class event both on and off the track.”
Expanded 2027 programme offers more opportunities
The 2027 Bathurst 12 Hour will introduce an expanded four-day schedule, beginning on Thursday, 11 February and concluding with the 12-hour race on Sunday, 14 February.
Organisers confirmed the additional day following positive feedback surrounding the event’s move to a mid-February date in 2026. The revised programme will create opportunities for additional track activity, including paid testing sessions for participating teams, while providing spectators with more opportunities to experience the event.
Furthermore, organisers intend to expand the popular Track to Town celebration, which brings drivers and cars into Bathurst and strengthens the connection between the race and the surrounding community.
The expanded schedule should also provide additional opportunities for LIQUI MOLY’s fan engagement initiatives, giving the brand a presence throughout the event rather than exclusively during Sunday’s race.
Meanwhile, the Bathurst 12 Hour will continue serving as the opening round of the IGTC, bringing another field of international GT3 competitors to Mount Panorama. The NSW Government will also maintain its support through Destination NSW, its tourism and major events agency.
LIQUI MOLY partnership strengthens preparations for 2027
LIQUI MOLY’s return represents another commercial development for the 2027 Bathurst 12 Hour, as organisers build on the event’s record attendance and expanding international profile.
The agreement reunites the race with a former naming-rights partner while introducing a revised arrangement centred on automotive lubricants, trackside exposure and spectator engagement. Its prominent pit-entry branding and dedicated broadcast feature will provide visibility during the event, while additional activities will create opportunities to connect with fans.
For LIQUI MOLY, the partnership marks a return to an endurance race that it supported for more than a decade. For the Bathurst 12 Hour, it adds another globally recognised automotive brand as the event prepares for its expanded four-day format.
With the 2027 programme now taking shape, organisers will continue announcing further entries and partnerships ahead of the February event. The renewed LIQUI MOLY agreement provides another indication of the commercial interest surrounding Australia’s leading international GT endurance race.
