Holden reveals its last homegrown Supercar

Holden’s new-look assault on the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship has been revealed, with the livery of the Red Bull Holden Racing Team unveiled at its Fishermens Bend headquarters this morning.

The sole factory Holden team left in the championship amalgamates the dominant Red Bull team with the HRT brand, previously campaigned by Walkinshaw Racing.

Reigning Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen and his teammate and title runner-up and six-times champ Jamie Whincup will continue as the team’s drivers.

The launch also marks the final season Holden will back a racer based on a locally-built car, as it ceases production of the VFII Commodore in October and replaces it with an imported model based on the new Opel Insignia in 2018.

A twin-turbo V6 facsimile of that car will debut in the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship next year. It is currently under development at the Brisbane workshop of Triple Eight Race Engineering, the parent of Red Bull HRT.

“It’s a big change for the team this year, but a very exciting one,” said van Gisbergen.

“The history of the Holden brand in Australian touring cars is pretty awesome, so to be a Holden manufacturer driver is pretty special, for it to tie in with Red Bull and Triple Eight is even better."

“This year’s livery is great, and I think it’s a fresh feel for the team, I can’t wait to see how it looks on track.”

Jamie Whincup, who won four of his six championships as a Holden driver, echoed his teammate’s thoughts on the launch.

“I’m pumped, it’s a great atmosphere here today,” said Whincup

“It’s a good feeling to know we have the support of Holden and Red Bull as we come into a new era of the sport next year. It’s an exciting time to be a part of the Supercars category, there is plenty of development on the horizon."

“To know that we have the strength of these two brands behind us, as well as our other team partners, gives us a lot of confidence.”

Triple Eight Race Engineering managing director Roland Dane was equaled excited to whip the covers of his factory racer in Melbourne today.

“It is great to finally have the cover off the car and be able to show off what is, in my honest opinion, a superb livery,” said Dane.

“A lot of work has gone into this, not only with the Red Bull guys and girls in Australia and in Austria but also with Peter Hughes in the GM Holden design team and Simon McNamara. It's been a real collaboration, and I'd personally like to thank everyone involved across Holden, Red Bull and Triple Eight in creating this livery.”

GM Holden general manager of marketing, brand and media strategy, Emma Pinwill said the partnership in Holden’s new official factory racing team was an important step in the company's transition to a full-line importer.

“Holden is delighted to be part of the new Red Bull Holden Racing Team; the formation of a factory racing team for Holden continues a near 50-year tradition of involvement in motorsport and comes at the same time we are transforming our business and brand,” said Pinwill.

“Triple Eight are the most successful team of the modern era, and the opportunity to partner with them and an iconic brand in Red Bull is fantastic and was too good to pass up."

“Holden has made a long-term commitment to Supercars and we are not only excited about the season ahead, but also working with Triple Eight on the development of the racing version of the next-generation Commodore, which will hit the track in 2018.”

Alongside Holden and Red Bull, new sponsors include X-Force and TW Steel, while Iveco and Octane Events have increased their involvement and Triple Eight continues its relationships with Caltex, GearWrench and O’Brien AutoGlass for the 2017 season and beyond.

The Red Bull Holden Racing Team will make its track debut at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide over March 2-5.