MOTORSPORT: V8 Supercars, Bathurst 12-Hour deal?

V8 Supercars and Bathurst 12-Hour organisers are talking, at least, about avoiding a repeat of this year's clash – and perhaps much more.

A report this week – by Speedcafe.com – suggested V8 Supercars was set to take over promotion of next February's 12-Hour GT race in a deal that could be worth as much as $4 million.

V8 Supercar chief executive James Warburton (pictured) has said he will comment only when there is something to say.

But the 12-Hour organisers tweeted last night: "With regards to recent reports, we are having ongoing discussions with V8 Supercars regarding avoiding the date clash that occurred this year and, as such, allowing their drivers to compete in 2016. At this point there is nothing further to add."

Last February's 12-Hour clashed with the V8 Supercar pre-season test, which was brought forward a week earlier than usual and expanded to two days.

While that clash precluded V8 Supercar drivers participating at Bathurst's Mt Panorama that weekend, the 12-Hour was seen as the big winner – with a terrific race, won by a Nissan GT-R with three international drivers (two of them graduates of computer gaming) and respectable TV ratings for its telecast on the Seven Network.

The Sydney Motorsport Park test weekend marked the start of the new pay-TV deal for V8 Supercars.

The 12-Hour has been promoted for a decade by James O'Brien's Yeehah Events and the Bathurst Regional Council.

Next year's 12-Hour, with the likelihood of an increase in the already strong international participation, is scheduled for February 7.

A key player in any arrangement between the 12-Hour and V8 Supercars inevitably will be business tycoon and GT racer Tony Quinn, owner of the Australian GT Championship and backer of gun New Zealand driver Shane Van Gisbergen.

Craig Lowndes, winner of the 2014 Bathurst 12-Hour, and Van Gisbergen are among V8 Supercar stars keen to return to Mt Panorama each February as well as compete in October's longer-established Bathurst 1000 'Great Race'.