MOTORSPORT: Big Bathurst send-off for Holden

Holden is looking to finish its stint at Mount Panorama with a bang this weekend, when the most successful manufacturer in the history of the Bathurst 1000 hopes to add to its tally of 35 successes dating back to the 500-mile race in 1968.

With the arrival next year of the Supercars Gen3-specification Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 as General Motors’ weapon of choice in Australia’s premier motorsport category, Holden heads to Bathurst this weekend as the reigning champion and hot favourite.

While Chaz Mostert returns to defend his Peter Brock Trophy, now driving alongside Fabian Coulthard, Shane Van Gisbergen enters the event on a hot streak that has featured 18 race wins to date this year.

Paired with SVG is Garth Tander, who has been victorious in the event four times previously, with his storied Supercars career spent exclusively aboard Holden Commodores.

For Holden, success on the racetrack translated to a loyal following of supporters on the showroom floor of dealerships around the nation.

“Bathurst is one of the most iconic races in the world and we want to appropriately recognise this historic end of an era for Holden in racing,” said Chevrolet Racing general manager Chris Payne.

“Sunday will be emotional for a lot of Holden fans, including ex-Holden and race team employees and ex-Dealer staff, the final time a Holden races in a Supercars event at Bathurst.”

A special focus of festivities will be a celebration of all things Peter Brock, with the event marking the 50th anniversary of his first of nine Bathurst wins.

It was achieved aboard a Holden Torana LJ XU-1 and the genuine article will be displayed at the National Motor Racing Museum within the event precinct over the event.

Additionally, a special Brock showcase will be available for viewing in the Harris Park area opposite the pit straight.

To mark the occasion, Australia Post has launched a limited-edition stamp release dubbed ‘Peter Brock – King of the Mountain’ and featuring five of Brock’s Bathurst victories, with the set now available from post offices nationwide.

Also of significance for the marque will be Craig Lowndes’ 300th Supercars Championship round start.

Lowndes will be paired with Super2 ace Declan Fraser in a Supercheap Auto-backed, Triple Eight Race Engineering-prepared Commodore. A victory this weekend would take his Bathurst 1000 win tally to eight, with five of those achieved aboard GM products.

“I’ve enjoyed an incredibly memorable career and am humbled to be here for my 300th round start,” said Lowndes.

“I have a strong affinity with the Mountain and would like nothing more than to add to the wins I have savoured here.

“It’s a long race, one in which anything can happen - and it usually does - but to be in the running come Sunday would be hugely satisfying.”

Practice for the Bathurst 1000 gets underway today, with a pair of practice sessions, prior to qualifying tomorrow afternoon, Saturday’s top 10 shootout and the 161-lap main event scheduled for 11:15am Sunday.

The main talking point in the event build-up has revolved around a significant weather system descending on the area, which is set to push Dunlop’s wet weather tyre stocks to the limits.

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