INSIDE: 2020 BATHURST & CHAMPION POSTERS
ISSUE 119
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2020 SUPERCARS SEASON IN REVIEW: TEAM–BY–TEAM REPORT; SCOTT MCLAUGHLIN & TEAM PENSKE’S WINNING DEPARTURE HOLDEN’S FINAL BATHURST 1000 WIN THE VICTORIANS’ NOMADIC JOURNEY RICK KELLY’S FULL-TIME FAREWELL
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ISSUE 119 SUPERCARXTRA.COM.AU 6 ANALYSIS: GEN3 LOCKED IN How the Gen3 rules pave the way for the Camaro to replace the Commodore, setting up a muscle-car battle in 2022. 8 ANALYSIS: BEYOND PENSKE & MCLAUGHLIN What the departure of Team Penske and Scott McLaughlin means to Dick Johnson Racing. 10 ANALYSIS: BACK ON TRACK IN 2021 How the 2021 Repco Supercars Championship calendar shapes up and the demise of the Adelaide 500. 12 ANALYSIS: WIDE OPEN Why the race for the 2021 championship is too close to call without Scott McLaughlin on the grid.
14 ANALYSIS: GENERATIONAL CHANGE Why Rick Kelly’s full-time retirement marks another significant step in the generation change in Supercars. 16 WINTERBOTTOM COLUMN Mark Winterbottom on re-signing with Team 18 and the team’s prospects in 2021. 18 LOWNDES COLUMN Craig Lowndes on what the Camaro’s arrival means for Holden/General Motors fans moving forward. 22 FEATURE: BEHIND GEN3 Our look into the Gen3 rules, the arrival of the Camaro and what it means for 2022 and beyond. 30 FEATURE: A SEASON LIKE NO OTHER The review of the 2020 season with a team-by-team report, results and standings.
38 FEATURE: THE ULTIMATE ROAD TRIP How the Victorian teams hit the road for 100-plus days to keep the 2020 season going. 44 FEATURE: THE BATHURST FINALE The review of the 2020 Bathurst 1000, the Great Race season finale. 52 FEATURE: BOWING OUT A look back at Rick Kelly’s full-time driving career, from a young lion to team co-owner. 58 FEATURE: THE GLORY YEARS Mark Skaife on his championship and Bathurst-winning run with the Holden Racing Team from 2000 to 2002. 66 FROM THE ARCHIVES The last time a Ford driver won three championships in a row: Ian Geoghegan in 1968.
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RESETTING FOR 2021
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fter a season held under such extraordinary circumstances, it’s no surprise that the silly season and plans around Supercars in 2021 have been so unpredictable. The key points are: reigning champion Scott McLaughlin is gone; DJR Team Penske rebrands to Dick Johnson Racing following the departure of Team Penske; Holden branding disappears in the wake of General Motors retiring the brand; Gen3 is confirmed with the Camaro replacing the Commodore from 2022; and street circuits will be reduced in numbers, with the demise of the Adelaide 500. We take stock of the state of play post-2020 and leading into 2021 in this issue of SupercarXtra Magazine. The ‘Analysis’ section looks at what’s ahead, from how
the grid and calendar will look in 2021 to the arrival of the Camaro under the Gen3 rules in 2022. We then look back at the 2020 season, from a teamby-team review and results/ standings round up to the remarkable story of how the Victorian-based teams were forced out their home state and hit the road in order to complete the season. There’s also a look back at the 2020 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000, the first season finale at the Mount Panorama Circuit since 2000. The print edition of this issue also includes a pullout poster celebrating the 2020 Virgin Australia Supercars Championship and Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 winners; one each for Ford and Holden fans! Rick Kelly stepped down from full-time driving in Supercars at the end of 2020.
We celebrate the career of the 2006 Supercars champion and two-time Bathurst 1000 winner, including the highs and lows of his journey as a driver and team co-owner. Craig Lowndes and Mark Winterbottom share their thoughts in their columns, giving their insider perspectives on Gen3, the calendar and more. We also remember the last time a Ford driver won three consecutive championships (Ian Geoghegan at Warwick Farm Raceway in 1968) in our ‘From the Archives’ section. Visit us at SupercarXtra. com.au for the latest news and to shop at our online store, or keep in touch with us on our social media channels on Twitter and Instagram (both @SupercarXtra) and on Facebook (Facebook. com/ SupercarXtra). Enjoy! – Adrian
INCORPORATING V8X MAGAZINE PUBLISHER Allan Edwards Raamen Pty Ltd trading as V8X PO Box 225, Keilor, VIC 3036 publisher@supercarxtra.com.au EDITOR Adrian Musolino editor@supercarxtra.com.au SUB EDITORS Krystal Boots, Amanda Salmon ART DIRECTOR Thao Trinh CONTRIBUTING JOURNALISTS John Bannon, Andrew Clarke, James Crocker, Craig Lowndes, Mark Winterbottom PHOTOGRAPHERS Peter Norton, Autopics.com.au, Glenis Lindley, James Baker, Ben Auld, Justin Deeley, Mark Horsburgh, P1 Images, Paul Nathan, Scott Wensley, Danny Bourke, Matthew Norton ADVERTISING Fran Mitchell Phone: 0427 664 888 advertising@supercarxtra.com.au EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES Phone: (03) 9372 9125 Fax: (03) 8080 6473 office@supercarxtra.com.au ACCOUNTS Bookkeeper: Mark Frauenfelder accounts@supercarxtra.com.au MERCHANDISE & SUBSCRIPTIONS Phone: (03) 9372 9125 office@supercarxtra.com.au Published by Raamen Pty Ltd trading as V8X. Material in Supercar Xtra is protected by copyright laws and may not be reproduced in full or in part in any format. Supercar Xtra will consider unsolicited articles and pictures; however, no responsibility will be taken for their return. While all efforts are taken to verify information in Supercar Xtra is factual, no responsibility will be taken for any material which is later found to be false or misleading. The opinions of the contributors are not always those of the publishers.
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GEN3 LOCKED IN
Supercars will introduce its new Gen3 rules in 2022, paving the way for the Camaro to replace the Commodore, with the new car design more closely reflecting the road-going version with the promise of future-proofing the category.
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he Gen3 rules, the third evolution of the Car of the Future platform, will be introduced in 2022 with General Motors’ Camaro ZL1 replacing the current Holden ZB Commodore. The Ford Mustang will also have an updated look with the new technical design allowing for a shape more closely aligned with the road-going versions of the cars. Crucially, in the wake of General Motors’ decision to retire the Holden brand in Australia, permission has been granted to build a Gen3-spec Camaro for Supercars, retaining the General Motors versus Ford rivalry that’s at the heart of Australian touring cars.
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“It is fantastic GM is able to continue its long and proud involvement in Australasia’s premier motorsport category,” says interim chairman and managing director of General Motors Australia and New Zealand, Kristian Aquilina. “The Camaro ZL1 Supercar will undoubtedly attract passion and excitement, as well as showcase the Chevy bowtie that is integral to our new GM Specialty Vehicles business in Australia and New Zealand. “We loved every minute of our 51-year involvement through Holden. There will never be another Holden, but we now welcome Camaro to the stage and hopefully a whole new generation of fans with it.” The Gen3 car design will
include a lower, safer and hybrid-ready chassis, with the lower profile not only allowing for a bit fit for two-door coupe bases such as the Camaro and Mustang but also to help entice other manufacturers. Therefore, the Gen3 Supercars will have the same key dimensions for the doors, roof, bonnet and windows as the road cars they are based on. Supercars has targeted an overall cost of $350,000 per car, with more control components helping to achieve 30 to 40 per cent cost reduction for teams, in addition to changes to the engine rules to increase their longevity and reduce the cost to build. Meanwhile, a targeted reduction in downforce of
over 50 per cent is also the aim to improve racing quality. A Supercars-branded engine option is also in the works to help entice new manufacturers who may not have a suitable engine to go racing with or are unwilling to spend on engine development. “In terms of the money side of things, we’re targeting a 30 to 40 per cent reduction in both acquisition costs of the car – sub $350,000 number for the car including an engine – and a 30 to 40 per cent reduction in operating costs,” says Supercars’ chief of sales and marketing and leader of the Gen3 project, John Casey. “One of the foundation principles and objectives of the car is to make the sport sustainable.
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“A big part of sustainability is taking cost out of the equation. “That gives the double benefit of making both existing teams more sustainable but also making the category more accessible to other teams who are operating at a high level of motorsport but don’t have access to the resources to participate in Supercars at the current cost level.
“We’re looking at sustainability from both of those perspectives.” Supercars CEO Sean Seamer says the Gen3 rules retain the spirit of the V8 era with an eye on future-proofing the category. “The cars will retain their signature V8 engine to ensure they’re fast and loud, but will be ‘hybrid ready’ and more closely resemble the road cars
they are based on,” he says. “These are incredible looking race cars that give a nod to the Supercar of the past, with as much attention given to the design and appearance of the cars as the new technologies. “The Gen3 project will support the longevity of Supercars by increasing relevance to our fans and partners, reducing operating
costs, and making the racing even fiercer. “The cars will have a lot less downforce than the current car, making the racing more spectacular and putting more reliance on driver skill.” Triple Eight Race Engineering will develop the Camaro, while Dick Johnson Racing will design the Mustang. See page 22 for more on Gen3.
The Camaro will replace the Commodore under the Gen3 rules in 2022.
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BEYOND PENSKE & MCLAUGHLIN The double blow of losing Team Penske’s ownership and championship-winning driver Scott McLaughlin leaves the rebranded Dick Johnson Racing facing the pressure of maintaining its winning form without those two key assets.
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JR Team Penske reverts back to Dick Johnson Racing in 2021, with Team Penske withdrawing its ownership stake in the Queensland-based team. With Scott McLaughlin moving with Team Penske to IndyCars and
Fabian Coulthard also departing, Dick Johnson Racing will feature an all-new line-up of Anton De Pasquale and Will Davison next season. Speculation over McLaughlin and Penske’s future in Supercars increased over 2020, with Penske unhappy over the controversies
surrounding the team’s win at Bathurst in 2019. And, following the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and Penske taking over the ownership of the IndyCar Series and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the decision was made to pull out of Supercars. Dick Johnson and Ryan
Story assume majority ownership of the team, which changes back to the Dick Johnson Racing name that was last used in 2014. DJR Team Penske claimed 56 wins, including the 2019 Bathurst 1000, 62 pole positions, three teams’ championships and three drivers’ Team Penske and Scott McLaughlin left Supercars following a third consecutive Supercars drivers’ title.
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titles with Scott McLaughlin between 2015 and 2020. Penske’s ownership lifted the team into a powerhouse in Supercars, after financial hardships that followed championship success in 2010. Story’s involvement helped the team avoid collapse, paving the way for the arrival of Penske. The challenge now is to maintain its recent level of success without the Penske presence. McLaughlin heads to IndyCars to join Team Penske’s multiple championship and Indy 500-winning team, following three consecutive Supercars championship wins and a Bathurst 1000 victory. “As we enter the next chapter at DJR, we look forward to what lies ahead for our team,” says Johnson. “It has been an honour to partner with Roger Penske and everyone from Team Penske over these last six seasons, but we understand the
challenges that everyone has faced worldwide in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “We’re thankful that we were able to conclude our partnership with our third driver and team championships together. We want to thank Scott for his professionalism on and off the track. “We know Scott is in a great position with Team Penske for the future, and we wish him all the luck in the world as he begins his IndyCar career. “The future is also very bright at DJR. We have truly amazing people in our team – the same people that have been the driving force behind the race wins and championships we have won over the past six years. “We also have a fantastic and committed group of partners, who remain in lockstep with us for 2021 and beyond, and some of the most passionate and loyal fans in
motorsport. With that kind of support and experience, we are ready to build on our success with the Shell V-Power Racing Team.” Dick Johnson Racing, founded in 1980 and celebrating its 40th Australian Touring Car Championship/ Supercars season in 2021, will continue as Ford’s homologation team with the Gen3 version of the Mustang being introduced in 2022. “We have been proud to work with Team Penske and represent the professionalism, ethics, effort and success of the Penske brand since 2015,” says Story. “We thank Roger Penske, Tim Cindric and everyone at Team Penske for their partnership, their friendship and their guidance. Together, we have built a championship team and cultivated an exceptional group of partners that engage on a
business-to-business level that represents the very best of any sporting organisation in Australia and New Zealand. “DJR is in a great position to move forward, and we are more energised than ever about the future of our team.” De Pasquale moves to the team after an impressive three-year stint with Erebus Motorsport, which netted a maiden win in 2020. Davison lost his full-time drive with the departure of 23 Red Racing in 2020, returning to a Dick Johnson Racing team that he raced with from 2005 to 2008, scoring his first win in the latter. McLaughlin will return to Australia to race in the Bathurst 1000 with Dick Johnson Racing in October, with the IndyCar season finishing in September. Keep up to date with the latest Supercars news at SupercarXtra.com.au.
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BACK ON TRACK IN 2021
After the truncated 2020 season, Supercars is set to return to more circuits in 2021 with the Adelaide 500 the big absentee from the upcoming schedule of events.
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upercars returns to a more “normal” calendar of events in 2021, following the disruption caused by the COVID19 pandemic in 2020. The series will be known as the Repco Supercars Championship from 2021, with Repco taking over from Virgin Australia as naming-right sponsor, while Channel Seven replaces Network Ten as the free-to-air television partner alongside main broadcaster Fox Sports Australia. At the time of printing the calendar remained a work in progress, though it’s expected the season will begin at the Mount Panorama Circuit in February for what will be the
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first championship sprint round at Bathurst since 1996. Bathurst was earmarked to host a season-ending sprint round in the delayed 2020/2021 season, though the reworked calendar ended with the Bathurst 1000 within 2020. The Bathurst sprint round fills the void left by the Bathurst 12 Hour sportscar race, which is cancelled for 2021 given the travel restrictions for international entries. The Australian Grand Prix returns in March after its cancellation during the event in 2020. Rounds in New Zealand, The Bend Motorsport Park, Winton Motor Raceway, Hidden Valley Raceway, the
Townsville Street Circuit, Sandown Motor Raceway, Symmons Plains Raceway are likely to feature, in addition to twilight/night events at Sydney Motorsport Park and Barbagallo Raceway. A second trip to the Mount Panorama Circuit for the Repco Bathurst 1000 will take place in the traditional October slot, with the season tipped to end on the Surfers Paradise Street Circuit. There will likely be a midseason gap in July and August for the rescheduled Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, also broadcast by Channel Seven.
The biggest absences are the street circuit events in Adelaide and Newcastle. While Newcastle is expected
to return as the season-opening round in 2022, it will do so in place of the Adelaide 500. The South Australian government announced in October that it would not seek a new contract with Supercars, bringing to an end an event that started in 1999 and set the standard for city-based street-circuit races. While the Adelaide 500 went ahead in 2020, a decline in crowds in recent years and a change in organisers from a dedicated motorsport board to the government-run tourism commission prompted questions over the event’s future. The Adelaide 500 was rumoured to be switching
The 2021 season is set to get underway at Bathurst.
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from the start to the end of the season in 2021, moving away from conflicting arts festivals in February/March, though its demise paves the way for the Gold Coast to host the season finale. “Due to the high level of uncertainty around the ability of the event to proceed in 2021, the likely impact on the event for both the consumer and commercial market, and the long-term decline in the core motorsport fan, a decision has been made that it will not be possible to hold the race next year, and to not seek a contract for future years,” said South Australian Tourism Commission chief executive Rodney Harrex. “We have been in discussions with Supercars for the majority of this year, working through possible scenarios. At the end of the day, with the current set of circumstances we are not in a position to
deliver a sustainable, successful future for the event for next year and beyond. “This was not an easy decision to make. The Superloop Adelaide 500 has been part of our event landscape since 1999.
“We have a terrific worldclass motor racing facility at The Bend. We are very fortunate to have had significant private investment in that circuit, and we already know the motoring faithful are keen to support ongoing races there.”
Supercars has left the door open to revive the Adelaide 500, with support from the South Australian opposition party. Visit SupercarXtra.com. au for the latest on the 2021 calendar.
The Adelaide 500 is no longer, after 22 Supercars events.
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Tickford Racing’s Cameron Waters shapes as one of the favourites for 2021, following the departure of reigning champion Scott McLaughlin.
WIDE OPEN
With Scott McLaughlin gone and Dick Johnson Racing adjusting without Team Penske, who will step up as championship favourites in 2021?
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f you take Scott McLaughlin out of the equation, the battle for Supercars supremacy went down to the wire at Bathurst in 2020, giving us a taste of what to expect in 2021. Tickford Racing’s Cameron Waters secured second place in the 2020 championship behind McLaughlin and ahead of Triple Eight Race Engineering duo Shane van Gisbergen and Jamie Whincup. Waters is the form driver entering 2021, ending 2020 with his first solo Supercars win at The Bend Motorsport Park followed by a strong showing at Bathurst that included a sensational pole position and podium. Tickford Racing will carry continuity into next season, with a return to its Victorian 12
base and ability to reset key in the final year running the current Gen2 Ford Mustang. Triple Eight Race Engineering represents a formidable opponent, though, with van Gisbergen and Whincup remaining with the team for their sixth season as teammates. While they both had their ups and downs in 2020, they appear to be the frontrunners in the wake of the changes at the reigning champions. It will be a busy year for Triple Eight Race Engineering as they develop the Gen3 Camaro for 2022 while running the ZB Commodore without Holden branding in 2021. All eyes will be on Dick Johnson Racing and how the team copes without McLaughlin and Team Penske.
The combination of Anton De Pasquale and Will Davison is a strong mix of youth and experience, while the continued presence of Ludo Lacroix will stabilise the team off the track. Not only will the team have to adjust without the Team Penske influence, it will also be charged with developing the new-look Gen3 Mustang for 2022. Elsewhere, Walkinshaw Andretti United will look to continue its upward trajectory with Chaz Mostert and Bryce Fullwood returning for their second seasons with the team. Mostert was a regular on the podium and fifth in the championship, with the goal of race wins in 2021. Another potential contender is Brad Jones Racing’s Nick Percat, who scored two wins for seventh in the
championship in 2020. Percat has solidified his place as team leader at Brad Jones Racing, buoyed by the race-winning pace and with Todd Hazelwood back as his teammate. Team 18 will also benefit from continuity with Scott Pye and Mark Winterbottom, who both finished inside the top 10 in the championship in 2020, returning in 2021. After a handful of podiums for Pye, the aim for the team is a breakthrough win. While teams will be returning to a more normal schedule and routine in 2021, there will still be the off-track distraction of preparing for the new cars in 2022 to complicate what shapes as a wide-open season. Visit SupercarXtra.com. au for the latest on the 2021 season.
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SUPECARS 2019: THE STORIES OF THE YEAR
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GENERATIONAL CHANGE
Rick Kelly’s full-time retirement from Supercars is the latest from the group of drivers who debuted in the late 1990s/early 2000s and sit at the top of the list of most round starts in the championship.
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ithin the space of three years, the four most experienced drivers in the history of the Australian Touring Car Championship/Supercars have retired from full-time driving in the category. Rick Kelly has followed in the footsteps of Jason Bright, Craig Lowndes and Garth Tander in stepping down from full-time driving, accelerating the changing of the guard in Supercars. Kelly vacates the #15 Kelly Racing entry, bringing to an end a full-time career that started in 2002 and notched up 583 race starts, 265 rounds, 39 podiums, 13 race wins, 10 pole positions, two Bathurst wins (2003 and 2004) and
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one championship title (2006) across three manufacturers, Holden, Nissan and Ford. Kelly sits third in the all-time round starts behind Lowndes and Tander, who retired from full-time driving in 2018, and ahead of Jason Bright, who retired in 2017. “Whilst as a driver you always want to win, and externally your on-track results hold the biggest influence on your report card, and as you’d expect from any athlete, I’ll leave wanting more,” says Kelly. “One thing’s for sure, I will step away satisfied with always having given my best and never giving in, no matter how far back we were.” After working his way through the factory-backed Holden fold, initially in the
Holden Young Lions entry followed by the Kmart Racing Team/HSV Dealer Team outfit where he took his Bathurst and championship wins, Kelly along with brother Todd moved to the family-run Kelly Racing from 2009. The challenge of being a driver and coowner was only compounded with the switch to Nissan Altimas in 2013. “As a whole I’m proud of what we have achieved as a team over the last decade,” reflects Kelly. “We have relentlessly pushed hard, worked directly with three different manufacturers and represented some of the most recognised brands in the world… I have had a solid hustle over the past 20 years in motorsport, never really sitting still.”
Todd Kelly, who retired at the end of 2017, paid tribute to his brother and team coowner: “Well done to Rick on an outstanding career. He has had a big impact on the sport during his time as a driver and has not only had success on the track but been a leader in both fan and sponsor engagement. It’s going to be quite different not having Rick driving full-time; however everyone at Kelly Racing wishes Rick all the best with his future and congratulates him on a successful career in Supercars.” Kelly’s retirement intensified an already volatile silly season, following soon after Scott McLaughlin’s departure. Stay tuned to SupercarXtra. com.au for all the latest moves over the off-season and see page 52 for more on Kelly.
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$279 + P&H
3 SIZES SCALE 1:18 $179 +p&h SCALE 1:43 $39.99 +p&h SCALE 1:64 $19.95 +p&h Item No.
Customer___Pole Position P/L
Debtor ID___________________________
Order No.__________________________
Rep Name__________________________
Order Date___December 02, 2017
Delivery Date________________________
Classic Carlectables Description
18644
1/18 1966 Pony Mustang – Wimbledon White with Red Interior
18654
1/18 Holden VK Commodore – 1986 Wellington 500 Winner Brock / Moffat
Orders can be made by: Mail: Southern Model Supplies PO Box 405 Melrose Park SA 5039
Mail: Southern Model Supplies PO Box 405 Melrose Park SA 5039
∗∗∗ IMPORTANT NOTE ∗∗∗ Please place your orders by return email, fax or post only. Phone orders will no longer be accepted.
November DELIVERIES
2 Qtr 2018
nd
nd
W/S $
RRP $
149.00
259.00
149.00
259.00
Order Qty
2
Fax: 08 8277 6252 E-mail: sales@southernmodels.com.au
03 9370 6755 Orders Must Be Received By 30th November 2017
VISIT STORE: Shop 2 / 30 Holmes Road, Moonee Ponds, VIC 3039 BY APPOINTMENT ONLY November DELIVERIES
www.podium-gear.myshopify.com 1985 Bathurst Mustang.indd 15
2 Qtr 2018
∗∗∗ IMPORTANT NOTE ∗∗∗ Please place your orders by return email, fax or post only. Phone orders will no longer be accepted.
The following will commence being dispatched on approximately 23rd November 2017 CLASSIC CARLECTABLES
Due
750
1,000
Orders can be made by:
Fax: 08 8277 6252 E-mail: sales@southernmodels.com.au
Orders Must Be Received By 30th November 2017
ITEM NO.
Scheduled Production
LE
AVAILABILITY
18612
1/18 Holden VS Commodore – 1997 Bathurst 1000 - Lowndes / Murphy
750
Sold Out
18636
1/18 Retro Ford XY Falcon GT-HO Phase III
1000
Sold Out
The following will commence being dispatched on approximately 23rd November 2017
ITEM NO.
CLASSIC CARLECTABLES
LE
AVAILABILITY
18612
1/18 Holden VS Commodore – 1997 Bathurst 1000 - Lowndes / Murphy
750
Sold Out
18636
1/18 Retro Ford XY Falcon GT-HO Phase III
1000
Sold Out
AUSTRALIA-WIDE DELIVERY 16/11/2020 10:37:02 AM
EXPERT INSIGHT
BEYOND THE WHEEL Column by Mark Winterbottom
SIGNING ON AGAIN
T
his off-season feels unique given the time the Victorian-based drivers and teams spent on the road to complete the 2020 season. But while it’s nice to be back home, we also look ahead and are eager to get going again in 2021. There’s still a lot of unknowns around next season, not just because of the impact of COVID-19 but also the significant movements of drivers and changes to teams in 2021. Thankfully, though, we at Team 18 head into next season with a stable line-up and the momentum from a strong 2020 campaign. We signed a new two-year deal in October, which gives us one more season with the current cars before the arrival of Gen3 in 2022. It’s exciting to be part of that journey with a growing team; with the new cars
16
representing a clean slate and an opportunity to be part of something from the very beginning. We’re definitely one of the teams that are moving forward. There were only two other teams that finished the season with two drivers in the top 10 in the championship standings, DJR Team Penske and Triple Eight Race Engineering, so that’s a massive achievement for Team 18. Clearly, then, we’re going in the right direction, and it’s exciting to be part of that and see what’s coming. We made some steps in the right direction in 2019 and were all set to really capitalise and grow with the expansion to two cars in 2020 before COVID-19 hit. But, given we were forced away from our workshop and with no testing, having two cars was more important than ever. For Scott Pye and me to
both finish in the top 10 in the championship shows we have the foundations of a solid package. And, over the course of the season, though we had our ups and downs, we complemented each other with different strengths and weaknesses. Now that we are back home and able to reset at the workshop we can dissect the season, work on the cars and have all the crew settled back into a normal routine. Considering the team only just expanded to two cars and recruited new people at the start of the year, there’s still work to be done and progress to be made.
Now that we know we have top-10 pace, the plan is for more regular podiums and race wins in 2021. Crucially, while we go into the season with the same two drivers, cars and crew, there’s been a lot of action up and down pitlane, including the departure of the reigning champion. Triple Eight Race Engineering is probably the favourite for next season, which means as a customer team of theirs we are also in a good position. We know we can compete with them on our day, so we just have to be more consistent to make sure that’s happening on a regular basis. – Frosty
“WE’RE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND IT’S EXCITING TO BE PART OF THAT AND SEE WHAT’S COMING.”
SUPERCAR XTRA
SX119 p16 Frostys column.indd 16
16/11/2020 10:02:07 AM
NEW 2019 SUPERCAR MODEL
ORDER YOUR MODEL TODAY
RED BULL HOLDEN RACING TEAM 2019 NOW
November 2017 - Order Form No
Customer___Pole Position P/L
Debtor ID_______________________
Order No.__________________________
Rep Name______________________
Order Date___December 02, 2017
Delivery Date____________________
Item No.
Classic Carlectables Description
18644
1/18 1966 Pony Mustang – Wimbledon White with Red Interior
18654
1/18 Holden VK Commodore – 1986 Wellington 500 Winner Brock / Moffat
Scheduled Production
Due
750
2 Qtr 2018
1,000
2 Qtr 2018
nd
DON’T MISS O U by: Orders can be madeT
IN STOCK!
nd
W/S $
R
149.00
25
149.00
25
ORDER
Mail: Southern Model Supplies PO Box 405 Melrose Park SA 5039
Fax: 08 8277 6252 E-mail: sales@southernmodels.com.au
These special livery model cars have just been announced andBeare available Orders Must Received By 30th November 2 now to pre-order. It’s a great model to add to your collection! ∗∗∗ IMPORTANT NOTE ∗∗∗ Please place your orders by return email, fax or post only. Phone orders will no longer be accepted.
November DELIVERIES
The following will commence being dispatched on approximately 23rd November 2 ITEM NO.
CLASSIC CARLECTABLES
LE
DON T MISS O’U T PRE-O RDER
18612
1/18 Holden VS Commodore – 1997 Bathurst 1000 - Lowndes / Murphy
750
18636
1/18 Retro Ford XY Falcon GT-HO Phase III
1000
NOW
CRAIG LOWNDES’S
NEW WINNER HOLDEN VS COMMODORE 1998
WHINCUP
VAN GISBERGEN
This special livery model has just been announced and is available to order. Perfect to add to your collection! November 2017 - Order Form No.1
JAMIE WHINCUP’S 2019 RED BULL HOLDEN RACING TEAM #88 HOLDEN ZB COMMODORE RESIN
SCALE 1:18
3 SIZES SCALE 1:18 $179 +p&h SCALE 1:43 $39.99 +p&h SCALE 1:64 $19.95 +p&h Item No.
Customer___Pole Position P/L
Debtor ID___________________________
Order No.__________________________
Rep Name__________________________
Order Date___December 02, 2017
Delivery Date________________________
Classic Carlectables Description
18644
1/18 1966 Pony Mustang – Wimbledon White with Red Interior
18654
1/18 Holden VK Commodore – 1986 Wellington 500 Winner Brock / Moffat
Scheduled Production
Due
750
2 Qtr 2018
1,000
2 Qtr 2018
nd
nd
W/S $
RRP $
149.00
259.00
149.00
259.00
Order Qty
2
$279 + P&H
November 2017 - Order Form No.1
SHANE VAN GISBERGEN’S 2019 RED BULL HOLDEN RACING TEAM #97 HOLDEN ZB COMMODORE RESIN
3 SIZES SCALE 1:18 $179 +p&h SCALE 1:43 $39.99 +p&h SCALE 1:64 $19.95 +p&h Item No.
Customer___Pole Position P/L
Debtor ID___________________________
Order No.__________________________
Rep Name__________________________
Order Date___December 02, 2017
Delivery Date________________________
Classic Carlectables Description
18644
1/18 1966 Pony Mustang – Wimbledon White with Red Interior
18654
1/18 Holden VK Commodore – 1986 Wellington 500 Winner Brock / Moffat
Orders can be made by: Mail: Southern Model Supplies PO Box 405 Melrose Park SA 5039
Mail: Southern Model Supplies PO Box 405 Melrose Park SA 5039
∗∗∗ IMPORTANT NOTE ∗∗∗ Please place your orders by return email, fax or post only. Phone orders will no longer be accepted.
November DELIVERIES
2 Qtr 2018
nd
nd
W/S $
RRP $
149.00
259.00
149.00
259.00
Order Qty
2
Fax: 08 8277 6252 E-mail: sales@southernmodels.com.au
03 9370 6755 Orders Must Be Received By 30th November 2017
VISIT STORE: Shop 2 / 30 Holmes Road, Moonee Ponds, VIC 3039 BY APPOINTMENT ONLY November DELIVERIES
www.podium-gear.myshopify.com Holden VS Commodore fpa.indd 17
2 Qtr 2018
∗∗∗ IMPORTANT NOTE ∗∗∗ Please place your orders by return email, fax or post only. Phone orders will no longer be accepted.
The following will commence being dispatched on approximately 23rd November 2017 CLASSIC CARLECTABLES
Due
750
1,000
Orders can be made by:
Fax: 08 8277 6252 E-mail: sales@southernmodels.com.au
Orders Must Be Received By 30th November 2017
ITEM NO.
Scheduled Production
LE
AVAILABILITY
18612
1/18 Holden VS Commodore – 1997 Bathurst 1000 - Lowndes / Murphy
750
Sold Out
18636
1/18 Retro Ford XY Falcon GT-HO Phase III
1000
Sold Out
The following will commence being dispatched on approximately 23rd November 2017
ITEM NO.
CLASSIC CARLECTABLES
LE
AVAILABILITY
18612
1/18 Holden VS Commodore – 1997 Bathurst 1000 - Lowndes / Murphy
750
Sold Out
18636
1/18 Retro Ford XY Falcon GT-HO Phase III
1000
Sold Out
AUSTRALIA-WIDE DELIVERY 16/11/2020 10:38:07 AM
EXPERT INSIGHT
RIGHT ON TRACK
Column by Craig Lowndes
GEARING UP FOR THE CAMARO
A
fter the news that Holden will be no more at the start of the season, it came as a relief to end it with confirmation that the Camaro will replace the Commodore under the Gen3 rules from 2022. While we still mourn the loss of Holden, the arrival of the Camaro will keep a General Motors connection in Supercars. It was the natural next step and keeps the Ford versus General Motors rivalry alive into the next era of the sport. It was particularly noticeable at Bathurst in 2020, without the crowds, flags, banners and posters for the manufacturers at the top of Mount Panorama, how important that rivalry is to Supercars. Once we get the crowds back, the passion for Ford or General Motors will return as the Mustang and Camaro battle it out on track. It also equalises the battle even more with two-door coupe-based Supercars on the grid. There was a lot of debate around how equal the hatch-style ZB Commodore was with the coupe-style Mustang, which won’t be a concern with the Camaro. With the American-based coupes now representing the two key manufacturers in Supercars, it signifies the next evolution of the rules. To go from rear-wheel drive four-door saloon cars to twodoor-based coupes, it shows Supercars is evolving with the 18
“WHILE WE STILL MOURN THE LOSS OF HOLDEN, THE ARRIVAL OF THE CAMARO WILL KEEP A GENERAL MOTORS CONNECTION IN SUPERCARS. IT WAS THE NATURAL NEXT STEP AND KEEPS THE FORD VERSUS GENERAL MOTORS RIVALRY ALIVE INTO THE NEXT ERA OF THE SPORT.” changing automotive market. The Mustang represented a real game-changer when it arrived onto the grid in 2019, and this will be another step forward. And with the aim of reducing costs and simplifying the overall package, it will hopefully attract other manufacturers to join the grid. The Gen3 designs for the Camaro and Mustang look fantastic; importantly more in keeping with the shape
of the road cars. The lower profiles suit the coupe-style cars, with the reduction in downforce and parity measures ensuring one car doesn’t have a significant advantage over the other. It means we have one more season with the Commodore in 2021. It’s another opportunity to celebrate the history and legacy of the brand in Australia and 40-plus years of the Commodore.
It will be another conservative calendar next season as street-circuit events await the return of big crowds. And it’s devastating to lose the Adelaide 500, such an iconic event on one of the toughest street circuits. But, hopefully, as events get back up and going, we will see a return to a schedule like we once knew in 2022, just in time for the Camaro’s arrival. – Craig
SUPERCAR XTRA
SX119 p18 Lowndes column.indd 18
16/11/2020 10:02:36 AM
NEW 2019 SUPERCAR MODEL
ORDER YOUR MODEL TODAY
RED BULL HOLDEN RACING TEAM 2019
November 2017 - Order Form No
Customer___Pole Position P/L
Debtor ID_______________________
Order No.__________________________
Rep Name______________________
Order Date___December 02, 2017
Delivery Date____________________
Item No.
Classic Carlectables Description
18644
1/18 1966 Pony Mustang – Wimbledon White with Red Interior
18654
1/18 Holden VK Commodore – 1986 Wellington 500 Winner Brock / Moffat
Scheduled Production
Due
750
2 Qtr 2018
1,000
2 Qtr 2018
nd
nd
W/S $
R
149.00
25
149.00
25
Orders can be made by:
Mail: Southern Model Supplies PO Box 405 Melrose Park SA 5039
Fax: 08 8277 6252 E-mail: sales@southernmodels.com.au
IN These special livery model cars have just been announced andBeare available Orders Must Received By 30th November 2 STOCK!
now to pre-order. It’s a great model to add to your collection!
∗∗∗ IMPORTANT NOTE ∗∗∗ Please place your orders by return email, fax or post only. Phone orders will no longer be accepted.
DON’T MISS O UT November DELIVERIES
ORDER
The following will commence being dispatched on approximately 23rd November 2 ITEM NO.
NOW
CLASSIC CARLECTABLES
LE
DON T MISS O’U T PRE-O RDER
18612
1/18 Holden VS Commodore – 1997 Bathurst 1000 - Lowndes / Murphy
750
18636
1/18 Retro Ford XY Falcon GT-HO Phase III
1000
NOW
NEW
CRAIG LOWNDES’
CAREER SUPERCARS WIN SET This Special Commerative Gold Packaging set includes the Ford FG Falcon WHINCUP model, Ford BA Falcon model and VAN Holden VEGISBERGEN Commodore model. Perfect to add to your collection! November 2017 - Order Form No.1
JAMIE WHINCUP’S 2019 RED BULL HOLDEN RACING TEAM #88 HOLDEN ZB COMMODORE RESIN
3 SIZES SCALE 1:18 $179 +p&h SCALE 1:43 $39.99 +p&h SCALE 1:64 $19.95 +p&h Customer___Pole Position P/L
Debtor ID___________________________
Order No.__________________________
Rep Name__________________________
Order Date___December 02, 2017
Delivery Date________________________
SCALE 1:43 Item No.
Classic Carlectables Description
18644
1/18 1966 Pony Mustang – Wimbledon White with Red Interior
18654
1/18 Holden VK Commodore – 1986 Wellington 500 Winner Brock / Moffat
Scheduled Production
Due
750
2 Qtr 2018
1,000
2 Qtr 2018
nd
nd
W/S $
RRP $
149.00
259.00
149.00
259.00
Order Qty
2
November 2017 - Order Form No.1
SHANE VAN GISBERGEN’S 2019 RED BULL HOLDEN RACING TEAM #97 HOLDEN ZB COMMODORE RESIN
$219 + P&H
3 SIZES SCALE 1:18 $179 +p&h SCALE 1:43 $39.99 +p&h SCALE 1:64 $19.95 +p&h Item No.
Customer___Pole Position P/L
Debtor ID___________________________
Order No.__________________________
Rep Name__________________________
Order Date___December 02, 2017
Delivery Date________________________
Classic Carlectables Description
18644
1/18 1966 Pony Mustang – Wimbledon White with Red Interior
18654
1/18 Holden VK Commodore – 1986 Wellington 500 Winner Brock / Moffat
Orders can be made by: Mail: Southern Model Supplies PO Box 405 Melrose Park SA 5039
Mail: Southern Model Supplies PO Box 405 Melrose Park SA 5039
∗∗∗ IMPORTANT NOTE ∗∗∗ Please place your orders by return email, fax or post only. Phone orders will no longer be accepted.
November DELIVERIES
2 Qtr 2018
nd
nd
W/S $
RRP $
149.00
259.00
149.00
259.00
Order Qty
2
Fax: 08 8277 6252 E-mail: sales@southernmodels.com.au
03 9370 6755 Orders Must Be Received By 30th November 2017
VISIT STORE: Shop 2 / 30 Holmes Road, Moonee Ponds, VIC 3039 BY APPOINTMENT ONLY November DELIVERIES
www.podium-gear.myshopify.com Craig Lowndes Retirement Collection.indd 19
2 Qtr 2018
∗∗∗ IMPORTANT NOTE ∗∗∗ Please place your orders by return email, fax or post only. Phone orders will no longer be accepted.
The following will commence being dispatched on approximately 23rd November 2017 CLASSIC CARLECTABLES
Due
750
1,000
Orders can be made by:
Fax: 08 8277 6252 E-mail: sales@southernmodels.com.au
Orders Must Be Received By 30th November 2017
ITEM NO.
Scheduled Production
LE
AVAILABILITY
18612
1/18 Holden VS Commodore – 1997 Bathurst 1000 - Lowndes / Murphy
750
Sold Out
18636
1/18 Retro Ford XY Falcon GT-HO Phase III
1000
Sold Out
The following will commence being dispatched on approximately 23rd November 2017
ITEM NO.
CLASSIC CARLECTABLES
LE
AVAILABILITY
18612
1/18 Holden VS Commodore – 1997 Bathurst 1000 - Lowndes / Murphy
750
Sold Out
18636
1/18 Retro Ford XY Falcon GT-HO Phase III
1000
Sold Out
AUSTRALIA-WIDE DELIVERY 16/11/2020 10:39:11 AM
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GEN3 2022
WORDS Andrew Clarke IMAGES Supercars, Peter Norton, Autopics.com.au
The Gen3 rules are locked in for 2022, bringing the Camaro in as the replacement for the Commodore with less downforce, lower costs and a design more aligned with the road cars at the core of the new regulations. 22
SUPERCAR XTRA
SX119 p22-28 Gen3.indd 22
16/11/2020 12:26:37 PM
R
yan Walkinshaw prickles at the statement that General Motors had abandoned Australia with the culling of Holden and the ceasing of all right-handdrive cars globally, and that Holden fans would react in a negative way. “Actually, they haven’t abandoned Australia; they’ve set up with a new entity – GMSV [General Motors Specialty Vehicles] – and
they’re going to be bringing new cars into this market,” he says. “There’s going to be racing on the track, and I think that’s a relatively easy transition for Holden fans to migrate over. We’ve already done a lot of good work the past few years, bringing that process to the market from an automotive perspective outside of motorsport,” he adds, referring to the import and right-hand drive conversions for a limited edition run of Camaros. SUPERCAR XTRA
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16/11/2020 12:27:07 PM
“I think it’s a relatively logical transition for most fans to migrate across. I don’t see it being difficult.” That said, Walkinshaw is not yet committed to making the transition himself, which is a story for another day. On the release of the renderings showing the new Mustang and Camaro Gen3 race cars (pictured left), Supercars spoke about the importance of the FordGeneral Motors battle in Australian motorsport. In the late 1960s, it was Mustangs and Camaros doing battle with a brace of other vehicles confusing the party. The front of the grid for the 1968 Australian Touring Car Championship – the last of the single-race titles – was Ian Geoghegan on pole in a Ford Mustang and Norm Beechey in second in a Chevrolet Camaro (see page 66). No doubt the imagery of these two iconic muscle cars of the era will be rolled out extensively over the next few months and in the lead-up to 2022. You can also expect the newly formed GMSV to launch heavily off the activity as it first rolls out the Silverado – also prepared by Walkinshaw Performance – then the mouth-watering new Corvette and, eventually, maybe the Camaro again. “We are thrilled to have an ongoing presence in this iconic championship with Camaro; it will be an exciting addition to the track and we can’t wait to witness its debut in the 2022 series,” says Joanne Stogiannis, director of GMSV Australia and New Zealand. “The arrival of Camaro will mark a new era for GM in the sport, one which allows for the continuation of both a proud heritage as well as fiercely-contested rivalries on the race track. Having seen some of the Camaro Supercar renderings, I have every expectation the new Camaro will help attract a new generation of race fans to tracks around Australia and New Zealand. “The Triple Eight team has a proven pedigree, and we have every confidence they will ensure the racegoing version will be a faithful representation of the road-going Camaro ZL1’s DNA.” So the famous Chev badge will hit the streets on cars imported and sold by GM, not by people rebadging their Commodores. Once you have that picture, the arrival of the Camaro in the series starts to make a little more sense. The last official Chev sold in Australia was actually built here from a kit back in 1968, 20 years after the emergence of Holden as an Australian automotive powerhouse. Beechey echoed that trend – in 1968 it was the aforementioned Camaro and then in 1969 it was a Holden Monaro and the shift was complete. It was
then Ford versus Holden, with some interlopers. Now, though, we’ve got to re-educate race fans and re-attract some we lost in the past few years with the European-designed Commodore. Part of the task is easy; the new Gen3 cars look sensational and the cars will all be V8s, so there’ll be no more dabbling in the short-term with turbo-sixes and the like and the sport’s DNA remains strong. Roland Dane’s Triple Eight Race Engineering will be working with Supercars to homologate the new Camaro and prepare it for racing. Interestingly, he is the owner of two right-hand-drive Camaros that came off the factory floor that way, and he says there are only three globally. He raced one recently in Townsville, so his attachment is deeper than most. “The decision to allow us to develop and race the Camaro is off the back of GMSV being set up in Australia, which will be selling right-hand drive products, albeit relatively niche products, in the shape of initially the Silverado and the Corvette,” he says. “So the Chevrolet presence will be official in Australia and it actually makes sense from a brand point of view, to have a product on track.” Dane, like Walkinshaw, is convinced the transition for the fans from Holden to Chev will not be that hard. In the USA, Chev has been a car for everyone, but in Australia it has always been for the enthusiast and has often been at the sporty end of the game. Corvettes of every generation and Camaros from the 1960s have carried a premium, and the current cars with each badge are clear aspirational performance models. And to flip it on its ear, the Commodore, Monaro and Statesman models were sold in left-hand-drive form with Chevrolet and Pontiac badges. “I think because of the history it will rekindle some of the older fans of the sport, but it will also grab the younger audience too,” Dane adds. “The cars should look dramatic, should look good, and still have the characteristics of the current race cars – noise, too much power and not enough grip. “The intention is that the cars will be as per the road cars. So we won’t have anything like the current Mustang that is raced. “These vehicles set us up for the next four or five years. I think looking in a crystal ball is too hard at the moment because of the volatility of the world, but with what we can see, I think the Gen3 package represents the best route forward, and an exciting route forward for the category.”
“IT’S AN EXCITING NEW CHAPTER FOR THE SPORT TO HAVE MODERN ENGINES, MODERN CARS AND, BASICALLY, TO HAVE A NEW PLATFORM THAT’S FIT FOR PURPOSE.” – RYAN STORY SUPERCAR XTRA
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GEN3 2022
The Mustang and Camaro have history together in the Australian Touring Car Championship, doing battle under the ‘Improved Production’ rules in the 1960s and 1970s.
26
He said when the Holden badge was put to sleep, his attention immediately turned to Chevrolet and the Camaro to secure his team’s racing future. There was an immediate alignment between GM’s plans for Australia and the need to go racing. Whether or not the Camaro is ever sold by GM in this country he says doesn’t matter, since there is a long history of popular touring cars in this country that have not been sold here: Kevin Bartlett’s Camaro, which ended up on its lid at Bathurst, the original green Mustangs from Dick Johnson in the 1980s and then the Ford Sierra and Nissan GT-Rs a little later are all iconic cars for our sport, and that is just touching the surface. What matters is that the cars are firstly recognisable, and if you look at the early renders in these pages, that has been achieved; secondly, that the integral DNA of the sport is retained, and that looks the case as well from the specs; and thirdly, that the racing is close and fierce... so hopefully Supercars’ new technical team is on top of that too. For the Camaro rivals, the Ford teams, they are looking forward to the new era even though they have to develop a new car after only three seasons of use. Team owner Ryan Story says having GM on the grid was critical for the future of the category. “The DNA of the sport is red versus blue,” he says. “If you date back to the early years, 60 years ago, you saw Jaguars and other sorts of cars, but it quickly settled on the Mustang and Camaro show, before Uncle Norm managed to crack a win in a local Monaro. “I think this is a great opportunity, a great next step for the category. I’ve been part of it for a long time, the Gen3 planning and discussions, firstly through the commission, then as the Ford homologation team and the Gen3 committee as well, but
the work being undertaken I think is very, very good. “It’s high quality, and it’s going to meet the objectives that we’re looking for, which is to have really cost-effective and efficient race cars that look and better resemble their road-going counterpart but are really fat and angry race cars. “Not by any way taking away from the car that we have now, we obviously needed to make compromises based on the current chassis, which was developed and designed for a four-door saloon. “It’s a different time these days; most of the cars on the roads are SUVs, and cars like Mustang, which happens to be the number one selling sports car in Australia and the number one selling sports car worldwide, are the cars, the aspirational cars, that people look to have. “When it comes to Camaro, I know there have been people who have questioned the relevancy around it being sold here or not. But a third, I believe, of the past 60 years of the touring car championship have been won by cars not sold in this country.” Ford returned to Supercars in an official capacity with the Mustang in 2019, and will remain into Gen3. “We welcome competition in the Supercars series – our goal is to see the teams that run Mustangs win races and championships, against strong competition,” says Matt Moran, communications director for Ford Australia. Ford Australia president and CEO Andrew Birkic adds: “We look forward to continuing to work with Sean Seamer and the team at Supercars on our common goal of Ford competing in a highly competitive, entertaining and accessible series. “We’ve said before that Ford Performance exists
SUPERCAR XTRA
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to win races and series that matter. The development of the Gen3 rules is an opportunity to ensure that fans in Australia continue to enjoy a world-class Supercars series that delivers the spectacle and intense competition that has made it worth winning and, ultimately, great to watch.” DJR Team Penske was the first team to launch its Mustang Supercar in this country, and to say it looked a little weird was an understatement. It was pulled, squeezed and stretched to fit a set of dimensions that clearly it was never designed to fit. But it had to be done. When Walkinshaw first talked about homologating the Camaro, the alteration of the car’s design DNA was critical, and he started the ball rolling to get the specifications in Gen3 to work for his brand. By consequence, the Mustang would be fixed as well, in addition to maybe enticing other cars such as the Nissan GT-R, Jaguar F-Type, BMW 4-Series and just about any two-door medium to large GT car in the world. It opens the door to an exciting future, one that can grab the youth of this country and drag them into Supercar racing. “It’s an exciting new chapter for the sport to have modern engines, modern cars, and basically to have a new platform that’s fit for purpose,” Story says.
“THE CARS SHOULD LOOK DRAMATIC, SHOULD LOOK GOOD, AND STILL HAVE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CURRENT RACE CARS – NOISE, TOO MUCH POWER AND NOT ENOUGH GRIP.” – ROLAND DANE “I’m really excited about it and I think when you tie that into Repco’s commitment to the sport longterm with its partnership and the naming rights of the series, as well as the naming rights for Bathurst, a new television deal, which potentially increases our free-to-air audience by as much as 75 per cent... there’s a lot of positive stories around the category at the moment, and we’re really excited. “In the position that we’re in, we wouldn’t have continued if we didn’t have all those things to look forward to.” Having something to race against was critical, and the only brand Ford loves beating more than Ferrari is General Motors. Mustang versus Camaro is now the future of Supercars, and it not only looks good but also has a link to the past as well as the future.
The ZB Commodore will do battle with the Mustang for one final time in 2021.
SUPERCAR XTRA
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GEN3 2022
THE CAMARO IN AUSTRALIAN TOURING CARS
The Camaro follows in the footsteps of the Mustang in returning to the Australian Touring Car Championship for the third time, reigniting their rivalry from the 1960s and 1970s.
H
istory repeats in the Australian Touring Car Championship/Supercars with the Camaro arriving to take on the challenge of its championshipwinning rival in the Mustang. The Camaro first appeared in the championship in 1967, when the Mustang was in the middle of its five-year title-winning run. While the Mustang was the car to beat in the first half of the ‘Improved Production’ era, run from 1965 to 1972, General Motors products came on strong in the latter half. After a breakthrough championship win for Holden courtesy of Norm Beechey in the HT Monaro GTS350 in 1970, the ZL-1 Camaro (pictured right) came into its own in 1971 with Bob Jane winning the championship. The seven-litre V8 Camaro of Jane won three of seven championship races in 1971, claiming the title by six points from Allan Moffat and his Mustang. Despite Jane being forced to reduce the engine’s capacity of 5.7 litres in 1972, he defended the championship with four wins from eight races for an even greater points margin. The change to the Group C regulations in 1973 forced a move away from the American muscle cars to locally-made products such as the Falcon and the Torana, though Jane did race his Camaro at Calder Park that season only to be stripped of the win given the car’s ineligibility. The Camaro (Z28, pictured right) returned in Group C specification in 1979. Though championship success eluded the two-door coupe, it was one of the most iconic cars of the era with Kevin Bartlett’s Channel 9-sponsored entry a regular contender at Bathurst and in the championship. Bartlett scored two pole positions at Bathurst and three championship race wins between 1980 and 1982, finishing runner-up in the standings in 1980, though further progress was stunted by technical restrictions and problematic disc brakes. While Bartlett moved on from the Camaro in 1983, various privateers ran the Z28 until the end of the Group C era in 1984. The Camaro returns for a third time in the championship from 2022, reuniting with its American muscle-car foe in the Mustang for a revival of their rivalry.
28
SUPERCAR XTRA
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NEW 2019 SUPERCAR MODEL
ORDER YOUR MODEL TODAY
RED BULL HOLDEN RACING NOW TEAM 2019
November 2017 - Order Form No
Customer___Pole Position P/L
Debtor ID_______________________
Order No.__________________________
Rep Name______________________
Order Date___December 02, 2017
Item No.
IN STOCK!
DON’T MISS O UT
Delivery Date____________________
Classic Carlectables Description
ORDER
18644
1/18 1966 Pony Mustang – Wimbledon White with Red Interior
18654
1/18 Holden VK Commodore – 1986 Wellington 500 Winner Brock / Moffat
Scheduled Production
Due
750
2 Qtr 2018
1,000
2 Qtr 2018
nd
nd
W/S $
R
149.00
25
149.00
25
Orders can be made by:
Mail: Southern Model Supplies PO Box 405 Melrose Park SA 5039
Fax: 08 8277 6252 E-mail: sales@southernmodels.com.au
These special livery model cars have just been announced andBeare available Orders Must Received By 30th November 2 now to pre-order. It’s a great model to add to your collection! ∗∗∗ IMPORTANT NOTE ∗∗∗ Please place your orders by return email, fax or post only. Phone orders will no longer be accepted.
November DELIVERIES
The following will commence being dispatched on approximately 23rd November 2 ITEM NO.
CLASSIC CARLECTABLES
LE
DON T MISS O’U T PRE-O RDER
18612
1/18 Holden VS Commodore – 1997 Bathurst 1000 - Lowndes / Murphy
750
18636
1/18 Retro Ford XY Falcon GT-HO Phase III
1000
NOW
MORRIS AND FITZPATRICK’S
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1978 BATHURST HOLDEN A9X TORANA WHINCUP GISBERGEN This special livery model has just beenVAN announced and is available to order. Perfect to add to your collection! November 2017 - Order Form No.1
JAMIE WHINCUP’S 2019 RED BULL HOLDEN RACING TEAM #88 HOLDEN ZB COMMODORE RESIN
3 SIZES SCALE 1:18 $179 +p&h SCALE 1:43 $39.99 +p&h SCALE 1:64 $19.95 +p&h Customer___Pole Position P/L
Debtor ID___________________________
Order No.__________________________
Rep Name__________________________
Order Date___December 02, 2017
Delivery Date________________________
SCALE 1:18 Item No.
Classic Carlectables Description
18644
1/18 1966 Pony Mustang – Wimbledon White with Red Interior
18654
1/18 Holden VK Commodore – 1986 Wellington 500 Winner Brock / Moffat
Scheduled Production
Due
750
2 Qtr 2018
1,000
2 Qtr 2018
nd
nd
W/S $
RRP $
149.00
259.00
149.00
259.00
Order Qty
2
$279 + P&H
November 2017 - Order Form No.1
SHANE VAN GISBERGEN’S 2019 RED BULL HOLDEN RACING TEAM #97 HOLDEN ZB COMMODORE RESIN
3 SIZES SCALE 1:18 $179 +p&h SCALE 1:43 $39.99 +p&h SCALE 1:64 $19.95 +p&h Item No.
Customer___Pole Position P/L
Debtor ID___________________________
Order No.__________________________
Rep Name__________________________
Order Date___December 02, 2017
Delivery Date________________________
Classic Carlectables Description
18644
1/18 1966 Pony Mustang – Wimbledon White with Red Interior
18654
1/18 Holden VK Commodore – 1986 Wellington 500 Winner Brock / Moffat
Orders can be made by: Mail: Southern Model Supplies PO Box 405 Melrose Park SA 5039
Mail: Southern Model Supplies PO Box 405 Melrose Park SA 5039
∗∗∗ IMPORTANT NOTE ∗∗∗ Please place your orders by return email, fax or post only. Phone orders will no longer be accepted.
November DELIVERIES
2 Qtr 2018
nd
nd
W/S $
RRP $
149.00
259.00
149.00
259.00
Order Qty
2
Fax: 08 8277 6252 E-mail: sales@southernmodels.com.au
03 9370 6755 Orders Must Be Received By 30th November 2017
VISIT STORE: Shop 2 / 30 Holmes Road, Moonee Ponds, VIC 3039 BY APPOINTMENT ONLY November DELIVERIES
www.podium-gear.myshopify.com Holden A9X Torana fpa.indd 29
2 Qtr 2018
∗∗∗ IMPORTANT NOTE ∗∗∗ Please place your orders by return email, fax or post only. Phone orders will no longer be accepted.
The following will commence being dispatched on approximately 23rd November 2017 CLASSIC CARLECTABLES
Due
750
1,000
Orders can be made by:
Fax: 08 8277 6252 E-mail: sales@southernmodels.com.au
Orders Must Be Received By 30th November 2017
ITEM NO.
Scheduled Production
LE
AVAILABILITY
18612
1/18 Holden VS Commodore – 1997 Bathurst 1000 - Lowndes / Murphy
750
Sold Out
18636
1/18 Retro Ford XY Falcon GT-HO Phase III
1000
Sold Out
The following will commence being dispatched on approximately 23rd November 2017
ITEM NO.
CLASSIC CARLECTABLES
LE
AVAILABILITY
18612
1/18 Holden VS Commodore – 1997 Bathurst 1000 - Lowndes / Murphy
750
Sold Out
18636
1/18 Retro Ford XY Falcon GT-HO Phase III
1000
Sold Out
AUSTRALIA-WIDE DELIVERY 16/11/2020 10:40:49 AM
The 2020 Virgin Australia Supercars Championship will be remembered for various reasons, none more so than the fact it was able to be restarted and completed in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a team-by-team look at a season of highs and lows on and off the track. SUPERCAR XTRA
31
2020 IN REVIEW
J
ust days out from the 2020 season opener in Adelaide, General Motors dropped the bombshell news that Holden will be retired in Australia. At the next round in Melbourne, the season ground to a halt as Australia went into lockdown to combat the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fast forward three months and the season restarted under new protocols, continuing in the following months thanks to the Victorian-based teams leaving home to avoid another lockdown. Two rounds each were held at Sydney Motorsport Park, Hidden Valley Raceway, Townsville and The Bend Motorsport Park,
before the season-ending Bathurst 1000. Scott McLaughlin and DJR Team Penske won the title yet again, in McLaughlin and Team Penske’s final seasons in Supercars, while Triple Eight Race Engineering gave Holden a fitting farewell with victory at Bathurst. Cameron Waters emerged as Ford’s new hero, defeating Jamie Whincup and Shane van Gisbergen in the championship standings, while Chaz Mostert, Nick Percat, Scott Pye, André Heimgartner, Anton De Pasquale, Todd Hazelwood and Bryce Fullwood continued their upward trajectories. This is how the season played out for the teams and drivers.
DJR TEAM PENSKE >
Despite the impending departure of Team Penske and Scott McLaughlin from Supercars, DJR Team Penske confirmed its place at the top of the pecking order with victory in the drivers’ and teams’ championships and a win for Ford in the manufacturers’ title race. McLaughlin continued his dominant run with 13 wins from 31 races, securing his third consecutive drivers’ title. Fabian Coulthard struggled to keep pace with his teammate for most of the season, taking one win at The Bend Motorsport Park and sixth in the championship.
TRIPLE EIGHT RACE ENGINEERING >
Triple Eight Race Engineering carried the hopes of Holden in the final season of the legendary brand’s presence in Supercars. Jamie Whincup shot out of the gates and emerged as Scott McLaughlin’s closest championship contender, though a tough run at The Bend Motorsport Park and a crash at Bathurst dropped him to fourth in the championship standings. In contrast, Shane van Gisbergen started the season slowly before bouncing back as the form driver of the last few rounds, culminating in victory for him and Garth Tander at Bathurst for third in the championship. 32
SUPERCAR XTRA
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TICKFORD RACING >
It was a rollercoaster season for Tickford Racing, entering the year following the departure of Chaz Mostert and, after just one round, the loss of its 23 Red Racing entry driven by Will Davison. Cameron Waters stepped up as team leader with his first solo Supercars win at The Bend Motorsport Park and a coming-of-age performance at Bathurst that elevated him to second place in the championship standings. James Courtney and Boost Mobile arrived to fill the void left by Davison and 23 Red Racing, settling in with a podium at Hidden Valley Raceway. Jack Le Brocq replaced Mostert and scored his first Supercars win at Sydney Motorsport Park, while Lee Holdsworth notched up two podium finishes.
TEAM SYDNEY
Tekno Autosports rebranded to Team Sydney and relocated from Queensland to New South Wales at the start of 2020. But the changes seemed insignificant when Boost Mobile and James Courtney walked away from the team after only one round. Chris Pither and Alex Davison rarely troubled the front-runners, with Pither scoring the team’s best result with a fifth at Hidden Valley Raceway.
EREBUS MOTORSPORT >
It was a season of contrasts for Erebus Motorsport with its regular contender David Reynolds failing to score a podium, while Anton De Pasquale claimed his first win in Supercars. Reynolds occasionally challenged at the front of the field, though lost ground compared to recent seasons and dropped outside the top 10 in the championship standings. De Pasquale, meanwhile, netted a career-best eighth with a first win at Hidden Valley Raceway and two other podium finishes.
MATT STONE RACING
Matt Stone Racing expanded to two cars with rookies Jake Kostecki and Zane Goddard sharing the driving duties in the second entry. Goddard finished ahead of Kostecki in the championship standings with three more race starts, while also scoring the higher race finish with a 10th place. Garry Jacobson moved into the other entry and recorded a best of seventh place at Sydney Motorsport Park.
TEAM 18 >
Team 18 enjoyed its best season yet in Supercars following the expansion from one to two entries. New recruit Scott Pye fit right in with the team and scored three podium finishes across the two rounds at Hidden Valley Raceway for ninth place in the championship standings. Mark Winterbottom finished one place behind in the standings, narrowly missing out on the podium on a number of occasions, with their consistency elevating the team further up the grid. SUPERCAR XTRA
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16/11/2020 10:09:06 AM
2020 IN REVIEW
^ WALKINSHAW ANDRETTI UNITED
^ BRAD JONES RACING
^ KELLY RACING
^ GARRY ROGERS MOTORSPORT
Chaz Mostert delivered in his move to Walkinshaw Andretti United, finishing fifth in the championship standings with five podiums, including at Bathurst. While he didn’t claim a win, Mostert was a regular at the front of the field with a pole position and six fastest laps. Rookie Bryce Fullwood also impressed, scoring a breakthrough podium at The Bend Motorsport Park and, by the end of the season, edging closer to Mostert and justifying the all-new driver line-up in 2020.
Kelly Racing switched from Nissan Altimas to Ford Mustangs and downsized from four to two entries in 2020, with the challenge of the car swap compounded by being away from its home base in Victoria for the majority of the season. Nevertheless, André Heimgartner scored two second places as he continued to impress, while Rick Kelly bowed out of full-time driving with a best of three sixth places. 34
Nick Percat solidified his place as Brad Jones Racing team leader with seventh place in the drivers’ championship and two race wins at Sydney Motorsport Park. While Percat led the way, new teammate Todd Hazelwood also impressed with his first pole position and podium in Supercars. In the other garage, with the team expanding from three to four entries, Macauley Jones cracked the top 10 once, while rookie Jack Smith recovered from a challenging start to the season with his own top-10 race result.
Garry Rogers Motorsport returned to Supercars with a wildcard appearance at Bathurst, though it wasn’t without controversy with Nathan Herne failing to meet the criteria to qualify for a license. Jayden Ojeda stepped in to team up with Tyler Everingham, with the rookies running a solid pace before a late-race hit with the wall for Ojeda that led to an extended pitstop for repairs and a 19th-place finish.
SUPERCAR XTRA
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2020 VIRGIN AUSTRALIA SUPERCARS CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTS RACE WINNER
TEAM
CAR
EVENT
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Triple Eight Race Engineering DJR Team Penske
Holden ZB Commodore Ford Mustang
DJR Team Penske Brad Jones Racing DJR Team Penske DJR Team Penske Brad Jones Racing Tickford Racing Erebus Motorsport DJR Team Penske Triple Eight Race Engineering DJR Team Penske DJR Team Penske DJR Team Penske Triple Eight Race Engineering Triple Eight Race Engineering DJR Team Penske DJR Team Penske Triple Eight Race Engineering Triple Eight Race Engineering DJR Team Penske Triple Eight Race Engineering DJR Team Penske DJR Team Penske DJR Team Penske Tickford Racing Triple Eight Race Engineering
Ford Mustang Holden ZB Commodore Ford Mustang Ford Mustang Holden ZB Commodore Ford Mustang Holden ZB Commodore Ford Mustang Holden ZB Commodore Ford Mustang Ford Mustang Ford Mustang Holden ZB Commodore Holden ZB Commodore Ford Mustang Ford Mustang Holden ZB Commodore Holden ZB Commodore Ford Mustang Holden ZB Commodore Ford Mustang Ford Mustang Ford Mustang Ford Mustang Holden ZB Commodore
Adelaide 500Â Adelaide 500 Melbourne 400 Melbourne 400 Melbourne 400 Melbourne 400 Sydney SuperSprint I Sydney SuperSprint I Sydney SuperSprint I Sydney SuperSprint II Sydney SuperSprint II Sydney SuperSprint II Darwin SuperSprint I Darwin SuperSprint I Darwin SuperSprint I Darwin SuperSprint II Darwin SuperSprint II Darwin SuperSprint II Townsville SuperSprint I Townsville SuperSprint I Townsville SuperSprint I Townsville SuperSprint II Townsville SuperSprint II Townsville SuperSprint II The Bend SuperSprint I The Bend SuperSprint I The Bend SuperSprint I The Bend SuperSprint II The Bend SuperSprint II The Bend SuperSprint II Bathurst 1000
Jamie Whincup Scott McLaughlin Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic Scott McLaughlin Nick Percat Scott McLaughlin Scott McLaughlin Nick Percat Jack Le Brocq Anton De Pasquale Scott McLaughlin Jamie Whincup Scott McLaughlin Scott McLaughlin Scott McLaughlin Jamie Whincup Jamie Whincup Scott McLaughlin Scott McLaughlin Shane van Gisbergen Shane van Gisbergen Fabian Coulthard Shane van Gisbergen Scott McLaughlin Scott McLaughlin Scott McLaughlin Cameron Waters Shane van Gisbergen/Garth Tander
SUPERCAR XTRA
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# 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Driver Scott McLaughlin Cameron Waters Shane van Gisbergen Jamie Whincup Chaz Mostert Fabian Coulthard Nick Percat Anton De Pasquale Scott Pye Mark Winterbottom Lee Holdsworth David Reynolds James Courtney André Heimgartner Jack Le Brocq Rick Kelly Todd Hazelwood Bryce Fullwood Macauley Jones Chris Pither Garry Jacobson Jack Smith Alex Davison Will Davison Zane Goddard Garth Tander
Points 2576 2125 2095 2049 1958 1800 1743 1637 1586 1566 1553 1492 1476 1444 1396 1316 1181 1092 980 866 833 812 794 507 438 300
Diff.
#
Driver
-451 -481 -527 -618 -776 -833 -939 -990 -1010 -1023 -1084 -1100 -1132 -1180 -1260 -1395 -1484 -1596 -1710 -1743 -1764 -1782 -2069 -2138 -2276
27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
Jake Kostecki Warren Luff Tony D’Alberto Tim Slade Dean Fiore Michael Caruso James Golding Brodie Kostecki Broc Feeney Dylan O’Keeffe Jonathon Webb Tim Blanchard James Moffat Will Brown Steve Owen Dale Wood Thomas Randle Tyler Everingham Jayden Ojeda Craig Lowndes Jack Perkins Jordan Boys David Russell Kurt Kostecki
TEAMS’ CHAMPIONSHIP
Points 290 258 240 222 204 192 180 168 156 144 138 132 126 120 114 108 102 96 96 0 0 0 0 0
Diff. -2286 -2318 -2336 -2354 -2372 -2384 -2396 -2408 -2420 -2432 -2438 -2444 -2450 -2456 -2462 -2468 -2474 -2480 -2480 -2576 -2576 -2576 -2576 -2576
Position
Team
Points
Difference
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Shell V-Power Racing Team Red Bull Holden Racing Team Tickford Racing (Monster Energy and Supercheap Auto) Tickford Racing (Truck Assist and Boost Mobile) Penrite Racing Team 18 Walkinshaw Andretti United Brad Jones Racing (#8 and #14) Kelly Racing Brad Jones Racing (CoolDrive and SCT Logistics) Team Sydney Matt Stone Racing Garry Rogers Motorsport
4376 4114 3521 3200 3129 3122 3050 2924 2760 1792 1720 1561 96
-262 -855 -1176 -1247 -1254 -1326 -1452 -1616 -2584 -2656 -2815 -4280
36
SUPERCAR XTRA
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NEW 2019 SUPERCAR MODEL
ORDER YOUR MODEL TODAY
RED BULL PETER BROCK’S HOLDEN 1983 ATCC HOLDEN RACING VH COMMODORE TEAM 2019
November 2017 - Order Form No
Customer___Pole Position P/L
Debtor ID_______________________
Order No.__________________________
Rep Name______________________
Order Date___December 02, 2017
Delivery Date____________________
Item No.
Classic Carlectables Description
18644
1/18 1966 Pony Mustang – Wimbledon White with Red Interior
18654
1/18 Holden VK Commodore – 1986 Wellington 500 Winner Brock / Moffat
Scheduled Production
Due
750
2 Qtr 2018
1,000
2 Qtr 2018
nd
nd
W/S $
R
149.00
25
149.00
25
Orders can be made by:
Mail: Southern Model Supplies PO Box 405 Melrose Park SA 5039
Fax: 08 8277 6252 E-mail: sales@southernmodels.com.au
DON’T
These special livery model cars have just been announced andBeare available T Orders Must Received By 30th November 2 ISS OU M ORDERnow to pre-order. It’s a great model to add to your collection!
NOW
∗∗∗ IMPORTANT NOTE ∗∗∗ Please place your orders by return email, fax or post only. Phone orders will no longer be accepted.
November DELIVERIES
IN STOCK!
The following will commence being dispatched on approximately 23rd November 2 ITEM NO.
CLASSIC CARLECTABLES
DON T MISS O’U T PRE-O RDER
1/18 Holden VS Commodore – 1997 Bathurst 1000 - Lowndes / Murphy
750
18636
1/18 Retro Ford XY Falcon GT-HO Phase III
1000
NOW
NEW
WHINCUP This special livery model hasVAN just beenGISBERGEN announced and is available to order. Perfect to add to your collection! November 2017 - Order Form No.1
JAMIE WHINCUP’S 2019 RED BULL HOLDEN RACING TEAM #88 HOLDEN ZB COMMODORE RESIN
3 SIZES SCALE 1:18 $179 +p&h SCALE 1:43 $39.99 +p&h SCALE 1:64 $19.95 +p&h Customer___Pole Position P/L
Debtor ID___________________________
Order No.__________________________
Rep Name__________________________
Order Date___December 02, 2017
Delivery Date________________________
November 2017 - Order Form No.1
SCALE 1:18
Item No.
Classic Carlectables Description
18644
1/18 1966 Pony Mustang – Wimbledon White with Red Interior
18654
1/18 Holden VK Commodore – 1986 Wellington 500 Winner Brock / Moffat
Scheduled Production
Due
750
2 Qtr 2018
1,000
2 Qtr 2018
nd
nd
W/S $
RRP $
149.00
259.00
149.00
259.00
Order Qty
2
SHANE VAN GISBERGEN’S 2019 RED BULL HOLDEN RACING TEAM #97 HOLDEN ZB COMMODORE RESIN
$279 + P&H
3 SIZES SCALE 1:18 $179 +p&h SCALE 1:43 $39.99 +p&h SCALE 1:64 $19.95 +p&h Item No.
Customer___Pole Position P/L
Debtor ID___________________________
Order No.__________________________
Rep Name__________________________
Order Date___December 02, 2017
Delivery Date________________________
Classic Carlectables Description
18644
1/18 1966 Pony Mustang – Wimbledon White with Red Interior
18654
1/18 Holden VK Commodore – 1986 Wellington 500 Winner Brock / Moffat
Orders can be made by: Mail: Southern Model Supplies PO Box 405 Melrose Park SA 5039
Mail: Southern Model Supplies PO Box 405 Melrose Park SA 5039
∗∗∗ IMPORTANT NOTE ∗∗∗ Please place your orders by return email, fax or post only. Phone orders will no longer be accepted.
November DELIVERIES
Holden VH Commodore fpa.indd 37
2 Qtr 2018 2 Qtr 2018
nd
nd
W/S $
RRP $
149.00
259.00
149.00
259.00
Order Qty
2
Fax: 08 8277 6252 E-mail: sales@southernmodels.com.au
03 9370 6755 Orders Must Be Received By 30th November 2017
VISIT STORE: Shop 2 / 30 Holmes Road, Moonee Ponds, VIC 3039 BY APPOINTMENT ONLY November DELIVERIES
www.podium-gear.myshopify.com CLASSIC CARLECTABLES
Due
750
1,000
∗∗∗ IMPORTANT NOTE ∗∗∗ Please place your orders by return email, fax or post only. Phone orders will no longer be accepted.
The following will commence being dispatched on approximately 23rd November 2017
ITEM NO.
Scheduled Production
Orders can be made by:
Fax: 08 8277 6252 E-mail: sales@southernmodels.com.au
Orders Must Be Received By 30th November 2017
LE
AVAILABILITY
18612
1/18 Holden VS Commodore – 1997 Bathurst 1000 - Lowndes / Murphy
750
Sold Out
18636
1/18 Retro Ford XY Falcon GT-HO Phase III
1000
Sold Out
LE
18612
The following will commence being dispatched on approximately 23rd November 2017
ITEM NO.
CLASSIC CARLECTABLES
LE
AVAILABILITY
18612
1/18 Holden VS Commodore – 1997 Bathurst 1000 - Lowndes / Murphy
750
Sold Out
18636
1/18 Retro Ford XY Falcon GT-HO Phase III
1000
Sold Out
AUSTRALIA-WIDE DELIVERY 16/11/2020 10:43:01 AM
2020 IN REVIEW WORDS John Bannon IMAGES Peter Norton, Kelly Racing, Team 18
THE ULTIMATE ROAD TRIP
The 2020 Virgin Australia Supercars Championship was run and won by midOctober, defying the odds as the COVID-19 pandemic hit throughout Australia. And it was the sacrifice from Victorian teams Erebus Motorsport, Kelly Racing, Team 18, Tickford Racing and Walkinshaw Andretti United that enabled the season to go ahead.
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t’s 11am on July 6, 2020, a week after the BP Ultimate Sydney SuperSprint. A toolbox meeting has been called at Erebus Motorsport in Dandenong, Melbourne. The team huddled around with big decisions needing to be made, and fast. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews had announced the border was to close the following day. It was a time to decide whether to put your hand up and leave your family, friends and loved ones behind for an undefined period, or to stay put not knowing if and when the border would re-open so you could join your team again. Not an easy decision to make on the run. At the same time, the other four Victorian teams were making plans. Kelly Racing, Walkinshaw Andretti United, Tickford Racing and Team 18 were all swept up in this collective dash to keep the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship alive in 2020. Erebus Motorsport managing director Shannen Kiely reflected: “At that point it [the road trip] was potentially for two to four weeks [away], but it ended up going for a little bit longer than that.”
Kiely remembered the hurried departure from Victoria. “I knew we had to be out that night [July 6],” she recalled. “We originally thought it was the next night, but there was a difference between rural and metro [Melbourne]. “We had about five to six hours to put everything in the truck that we needed. And you also had to go home, pack bags and say goodbye to family. That goodbye was for a period of time and we didn’t really know how long. “We had a rough guideline, but as we know, anything can happen in 2020. We packed for what we thought was Sydney and potentially Darwin and just threw a couple of t-shirts in because we didn’t want to pack too heavy. “You now realise how much you don’t need given what little we packed. I only had one suitcase for months, so I’ve done pretty well.” Once packed and on the road, the first priority was to find a base ahead of Sydney’s second event, the Truck Assist Sydney SuperSprint on July 18 and 19. Sydney Motorsport Park opened up the garages for teams who needed a base for the next 12 days.
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Kelly Racing headed to Mildura for the family farm prior to the Sydney event, while Erebus Motorsport were also able to rely on some useful connections. “Once we got over the border we knew where we were going,” said Kiely. “David [Reynolds] was lucky that he had family in Albury, so he went there. But the whole team were also lucky that Betty [Klimenko, team owner] had a farm in New South Wales. “We knew we could head there and base ourselves for two weeks in the lead up to SMP [Sydney Motorsport Park]. Once we got to SMP, we weren’t really sure what was happening entirely, or how we would get to places. We knew we were going to Darwin [next] but not how we were going to get there.” Having escaped the Victorian lockdown, Erebus Motorsport arrived at what was quickly becoming the COVID sporting state of Australia, Queensland. Kiely reflects on the team’s transition to the sunshine state. “We headed to the Gold Coast for two weeks to basically isolate [pre-Darwin],” she said. “We weren’t partying but we could go and do our grocery shopping and the things we needed to do to go to work. We were lucky that on the Gold Coast we stayed in some Airbnbs and we had Norwell [Motorplex] as our base so we could continue working. “So we were going to work and prepping the cars and getting ready for Darwin. And we had to spend 14 days out of New South Wales, which was at that time declared a hotspot by the Northern Territory.” Kiely was full of praise for Supercars and how they managed a complex, evolving situation with many moving parts, as the sport worked on the best solution to make racing in the Northern Territory a reality. “I guess for us we were waiting on answers [on what was to happen next],” she said. “Supercars were dealing with governments to make sure that we could continue. Once we knew, okay, this is how we’re getting there [to Darwin], we could put things into place. “So there were times where there were moments of uncertainty in how we were going to go about it. But Supercars were really good about getting the job done and making sure we could continue in the safest way possible.” By the time the teams arrived for the BetEasy Darwin Triple Crown, they had already been on the road for over a month. And, with the Victorian COVID situation showing no signs of easing, the prospect of remaining on the road until the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship had been completed became a real possibility. “I believe it was at about Darwin when we realised that we would continue on,” said Kiely. “It was all dependent on what Victoria was doing. We had two double-headers in Darwin and two 40
double-headers in Townsville. So we knew there was a four-week period where there was no point in going home. “I suppose the Victorian teams were kind of hopeful that maybe Victoria would be better by then and we would be able to go home for a couple of weeks before coming back out. But obviously things didn’t change there. “So it was at about Darwin when we realised Supercars are understanding of the situation the Victorian teams are in. And we’re basically just trying to fulfil the commitments we had, to make sure we delivered a full season in the shortest amount of time so that the Victorian teams could go home to their families.” Kiely said the Victorian teams worked collectively, alongside the rest of the Supercars community, to complete the championship. “Our CEO Barry Ryan was in more regular contact with Supercars and the other Victorian team owners,” she said. “Without the Victorian teams there would have been no real racing this season. They all did a great job and all the crew members should be applauded for what they’ve done and the sacrifices they’ve made. Supercars and all the team owners from Victoria were talking a lot and figuring out what was the best way forward for their staff and personnel, and how do we keep the category going.” Kiely said the entire Supercars community quickly adapted to what would be their new COVID normal on the road, taking as many precautions as practical so nothing would derail the season. “We were all in the same situation; I think a lot of us [from Victoria] were very similar in our approach],” she said. “We were under the government’s guidelines, through the various states and from Supercars, who definitely gave us directions as to how we could continue to travel safely around Australia. “We definitely kept to our bubble and things like that, and basically everyone performed what they needed to do within the COVID guidelines. So, whether that was isolating at times or just being extra careful, sticking to our bubble or not mingling with the wider community.” Kiely said she was surprised by who in the team adapted well to the evolving situation and who struggled. “We’ve got some team members that are younger and single, so I suppose to them it was a bit of a boy’s trip and they were probably living the dream,” she laughed. “And then we’ve got some guys that had young families or wives or even older kids in their teens, who I thought would definitely find it harder. But it actually surprised me. The people that I thought wouldn’t be able to do the 15 weeks on the road were sometimes the first ones to put their hand up and say I’m committed to this. “That [commitment] is what we needed to keep
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Kelly Racing had the added complication of working with new cars and a new manufacturer in 2020. SUPERCAR XTRA
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2020 IN REVIEW
Team 18 moved into Ross Stone’s facility in Queensland.
“WHAT THEY HAVE ACHIEVED IS QUITE EXTRAORDINARY; WE WORKED OUT THAT OVER THE EIGHT ROUNDS WE STOPPED IN 57 DIFFERENT TOWNS AND SLEPT IN 24 DIFFERENT BEDS.” – TODD KELLY the team alive, to keep the sport alive and to keep racing.” Kelly Racing co-owner Todd Kelly also paid tribute to his crew for their efforts after arriving back at their Braeside headquarters after their 15,000km road trip. “All of the travelling crew were able to return home and see their loved ones for the first time in months, and myself and the entire Supercars community cannot thank them enough for their commitment to the sport and our team,” he said. “What they have achieved is quite extraordinary; we worked out that over the eight rounds we stopped in 57 different towns and slept in 24 different beds. It was such a big sacrifice for each team member to make for our team that I had a ‘2020 Championship Completion’ trophy made for each of them.” Another to appreciate his teams’ sacrifice was Walkinshaw Andretti United team principal Bruce Stewart. “Through adversity comes strength of character,” he said. “The WAU team’s resilience blew me away. 42
“Travelling over 11,860 kilometres in 106 days, operating away from their homes and families in Melbourne, they stepped up and pushed even harder. It was just amazing to be a part of. I’m honoured to call these heroes my teammates.” Tickford Racing boss Tim Edwards reflected on their season. “It’s been a hell of a season and I can’t say enough about the work that our team has put in to not only keep us going but increase our competitiveness as the season went on,” he said. “It’s certainly been a year for the history books.” Team 18 owner Charlie Schwerkolt believes the category’s response to COVID has been noticed. “Supercars have done an amazing job to keep the sport going as well,” he said. “You look at all of the other sports and we have really stood out and excelled as a mainstream sport during COVID.” As Kiely unwinded in Sydney post-season before returning to Melbourne, she reflected on the 106 days on the road and believes it was the best way to ensure fans had the opportunity to watch a season, even if for most it was from home. “I don’t know how else we could have done it,” she said. “Obviously, it is quite a difficult thing when you’ve got different teams in different states. In football they did something similar, but at the same time they can travel with a pair of boots and a ball. “So the logistics of actually carrying us around the country is actually quite a big task. And I think the sport as a whole did a brilliant job to keep us racing in 2020.”
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2020 IN REVIEW
THE BATHURST FINALE
WORDS Andrew Clarke IMAGES Peter Norton, Supercars
The Mount Panorama Circuit held the championship season finale for the first time since 2000, with a final Bathurst 1000 win for Holden a fitting way to end such a rollercoaster of a season. 44
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his was a Bathurst like no other. The COVID19 pandemic hit the sport hard, but somehow Supercars completed a season which reached its culmination a little more than 100 days after the Victorian teams left home for a life on the road.
It had been tough for them, many heading away with only a few hours’ notice and leaving families at home just to keep the show on the road. They based themselves in temporary workshops and lived out of hotels before racing in Sydney, Darwin, Townsville and Tailem Bend. SUPERCAR XTRA
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The start of the 2020 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.
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Throughout that championship, Scott McLaughlin picked up enough points for his third title in a row to be sealed before the makeshift final round at Bathurst. Tickford Racing, Erebus Motorsport, Walkinshaw Andretti United, Team 18 and Kelly Racing did the hard yards, and race day at Bathurst marked the day to collect the rewards. Every one of those teams had a contender or two to challenge the might of Triple Eight Race Engineering and DJR Team Penske, who headed the Queenslanders. Three days of practice and qualifying was surprisingly tame for Bathurst; the Mountain claimed few scalps on the lead-in to the race, and all the crash damage was only minor at best. The speed quest was dominated by Cameron Waters in the Monster Energy-backed Mustang, with a shower near the end of qualifying stopping him winning provisional pole. But he blitzed the Shootout to stake an early claim for the Peter Brock Trophy. Second on the grid was McLaughlin, and he started the race in his car while Will Davison was starting the car he was sharing with Waters. It was critical that McLaughlin not just lead early but pull a gap, and that he did. It was an eight-second lead before he handed the car over to Tim Slade, with Waters setting about hunting him down. It wasn’t until the first safety car, for Jamie Whincup crashing just before The Cutting on lap 32, that car #6 finally moved into the lead of the race.
The Shane van Gisbergen/Garth Tander car was lurking in third with Chaz Mostert/Warren Luff in fourth when the second safety car came out (for a pit straight crash for Jordan Boys). Then it rained. McLaughlin’s car was clearly a handful in the wet and he dropped to fifth, Waters was troubled a little less and he dropped to third, while van Gisbergen climbed into the lead from Fabian Coulthard. Cars #12 and #6 swapped spots in the pits on lap 74 and 75, and that set up the run to the flag with the two fastest cars on the track together for the rest of the race. Van Gisbergen and Tander did just enough, which meant being fast and not making any mistakes. With Waters and Davison lurking, even the smallest error could cost critical track position, and given how hard it was proving to pass at Mount Panorama, it would be hard to get it back. Neither of the lead two cars put a foot wrong for 100 laps, and try as he might Waters just couldn’t find a way past the factory Holden. Waters was good on cold tyres, so coming out of the pits or firing up after a safety car were his best chances. He was also good on the pit entry too; on one of his stops his run into the pits was as wild as we’ve ever seen, closing a two-second gap down to tenths to keep the pressure on van Gisbergen. Van Gisbergen knew what he had to do, though, and he positioned the car beautifully each time he was under threat and then took control again.
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It was a fascinating battle, but it was dulled by the aero wash. McLaughlin/Slade were in it for a while, too. They recovered after the wet spell to run second, but then when the safety car came on lap 97 and all the leaders pitted, Slade was one lap short of the 54 required and he had to stay in the car while all the other lead runners had the main driver in for the run to the finish. As good as Slade has been in the past, this was not going to be a good outcome. He dropped to fifth in that stint, and that is where they stayed for the rest of the race. That left it as the battle of the energy drink brands from lap 100 to 161, with van Gisbergen ultimately taking the honours for Red Bull over Monster Energy. But, more importantly, it was the last win for the factory-backed Holden team, following the demise of the brand. There will be Commodores there in 2021, but not with factory backing or Holden branding. “I’m stoked to finally win this race,” said van Gisbergen. “The last 60 laps were so intense, and all the safety cars made it really tough, but it was an awesome job all day by Garth and the whole team as well. The car just got better and better throughout the day, and the last couple of stints were really cool to drive. “I’ve had some bad runs at Bathurst in the past, and it was all about making no mistakes. I made
sure I capitalised when it rained – I got to the front and never let go of it. “We’ve been the factory team for the last couple of years, and to not have Holden support racing anymore is devastating, but to win the last Bathurst 1000 for them was something pretty special.” Waters was stellar all weekend and gave it his all, with a failure of his cool suit early in the race not helping with the triple stint at the end. Second place was his first podium at Bathurst, and he looked shattered after the race, even though he snagged second in the title as well. For Davison it was his fourth visit to the podium with two wins also to his name. “I gave it absolutely everything I could; they just did a little bit better job than us,” said Waters. “Those safety cars were probably just another chance for me to try and get in front somehow. The first one he was probably a bit vulnerable at one and two, and over the top I thought maybe I’d have a lunge, but I was just not quite there. “And then the next one I thought I might as well try and push him the whole way until he went, which kind of half worked, but he just put his car in the right spots, which made it bloody hard. Hats off to their team. They drove awesome all day; they deserve the win. They didn’t put a foot wrong and they had a fast car. “I just wanted the thing to be over. I threw everything at it to try and pass him, but it wasn’t to be.”
Cameron Waters scored pole position for Bathurst, going on to take second place alongside Will Davison in the race.
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2020 IN REVIEW
Holden won in the final appearance for a factorybacked entry at Bathurst.
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Third place home was Mostert (the 2014 Bathurst winner) with Luff, who now has six podium finishes from the last nine years but not yet a winner of the race. The two Shell cars were next, with Coulthard/ D’Alberto leading home McLaughlin/Slade in a battle of what could have been, but a result good enough to win the teams’ championship for DJR Team Penske once again. “As a team, we would have loved to have won the race,” Coulthard said. “But a fourth and fifth for two cars isn’t too bad, and we wrapped up the teams’ championship, so there were a lot of positives. Having said that, we would have loved to have been on the podium.” Pye and Fiore were next with a six-spot gain from qualifying. “We asked a lot of Dean [Fiore] at the start of the race,” Pye said. “The first safety car fell a bit short of the window to get me in, so we gave him a full double stint first up and he was just awesome.” Provisional polesitter Lee Holdsworth came home in seventh with Michael Caruso. The Truck Assist Mustang just didn’t take a trick all day. Winterbottom and Golding jumped 10 spots from their 18th on the grid start and last at the first corner run.
De Pasquale and the hard-to-pass Brodie Kostecki (who forced the error by Whincup) were next in the first of the Penrite Commodores from Erebus, a day of battling a straight-line speed disadvantage leaving the car’s rear bumper with lots of witness marks. Both drivers were phenomenal in defence, particularly at The Chase and Griffins Bend. The amount of effort required was visible in a few wide exits to The Chase. Filling the final spot in the top 10 was the #44 Boost Mobile Mustang of James Courtney and rookie Broc Feeney on his 18th birthday. It was most certainly the strangest Bathurst ever. The lack of a crowd, according to the teams, sapped a bit of energy out of the place. And while van Gisbergen and Tander were happy with the win, it must have been a bit deflating to raise the trophy without the thousands that normally swarm onto the pit straight at the end of the race.
Scan to watch race highlights of the 2020 supercheap auto bathurst 1000
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2020 BATHURST 1000 RESULTS POSITION DRIVERS
ENTRY
CAR
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 NC NC NC NC NC NC
Red Bull Holden Racing Team Monster Energy Racing Mobil 1 Appliances Online Shell V-Power Racing Team Shell V-Power Racing Team DEWALT Racing Truck Assist Racing IRWIN Racing Penrite Racing Boost Mobile Racing NED Whisky Racing Local Legends Racing Team CoolDrive Supercheap Auto Racing Penrite Racing Team SYDNEY Castrol Racing R&J Batteries Team Valvoline GRM UNIT Racing SCT Motor Sports Mobil 1 Middy's Racing Yellow Cover Racing Cub Cadet Mowers Red Bull Holden Racing Team
Holden ZB Commodore Ford Mustang Holden ZB Commodore Ford Mustang Ford Mustang Holden ZB Commodore Ford Mustang Holden ZB Commodore Holden ZB Commodore Ford Mustang Ford Mustang Holden ZB Commodore Holden ZB Commodore Ford Mustang Holden ZB Commodore Holden ZB Commodore Ford Mustang Holden ZB Commodore Holden ZB Commodore Holden ZB Commodore Holden ZB Commodore Holden ZB Commodore Holden ZB Commodore Holden ZB Commodore Holden ZB Commodore
Shane van Gisbergen / Garth Tander Cameron Waters / Will Davison Chaz Mostert / Warren Luff Fabian Coulthard / Tony D'Alberto Scott McLaughlin / Tim Slade Scott Pye /Dean Fiore Lee Holdsworth/ Michael Caruso Mark Winterbottom / James Golding Anton De Pasquale / Brodie Kostecki James Courtney / Broc Feeney AndrĂŠ Heimgartner / Dylan O'Keeffe Alex Davison / Jonathon Webb Macauley Jones / Tim Blanchard Jack Le Brocq / James Moffat David Reynolds / Will Brown Chris Pither / Steve Owen Rick Kelly / Dale Wood Nick Percat / Thomas Randle Tyler Everingham / Jayden Ojeda Jake Kostecki / Zane Goddard Jack Smith / Jack Perkins Bryce Fullwood / Kurt Kostecki Garry Jacobson / David Russell Todd Hazelwood / Jordan Boys Jamie Whincup / Craig Lowndes
LAPS 161 161 161 161 161 161 161 161 161 161 161 161 161 161 160 159 144 133 121 155 149 147 62 50 32
RACE TIME 06:10:56.1143 06:10:56.9805 06:10:57.7232 06:10:58.2760 06:10:58.8256 06:11:00.0832 06:11:00.8480 06:11:02.2524 06:11:03.7590 06:11:03.8300 06:11:04.2046 06:11:05.2584 06:11:05.5722 06:11:07.5855 06:11:18.6709 06:11:08.8261 06:11:07.7511 06:11:31.3113 06:11:19.4232 05:55:01.8781 05:42:46.9916 05:43:44.2619 02:37:32.1949 01:53:15.1778 01:09:03.8245
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Year 1968 1969 1972 1975 1976 1978 1979 1980 1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1990 1993 1995 1996 1997 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2009 2010 2011 2012 2015 2016 2017 2018 2020
50
Drivers Bruce McPhee/Barry Mulholland Colin Bond/Tony Roberts Peter Brock Peter Brock/Brian Sampson Bob Morris/John Fitzpatrick Peter Brock/Jim Richards Peter Brock/Jim Richards Peter Brock/Jim Richards Peter Brock/Larry Perkins Peter Brock/Larry Perkins/John Harvey Peter Brock/Larry Perkins Allan Grice/Graeme Bailey Peter Brock/Peter McLeod/David Parsons Win Percy/Allan Grice Larry Perkins/Gregg Hansford Larry Perkins/Russell Ingall Craig Lowndes/Greg Murphy Larry Perkins/Russell Ingall Steven Richards/Greg Murphy Garth Tander/Jason Bargwanna Mark Skaife/Tony Longhurst Mark Skaife/Jim Richards Greg Murphy/Rick Kelly Greg Murphy/Rick Kelly Mark Skaife/Todd Kelly Garth Tander/Will Davison Craig Lowndes/Mark Skaife Garth Tander/Nick Percat Jamie Whincup/Paul Dumbrell Craig Lowndes/Steven Richards Will Davison/Jonathon Webb David Reynolds/Luke Youlden Craig Lowndes/Steven Richards Shane van Gisbergen/Garth Tander
Team Wyong Motors Pty Ltd Holden Dealer Team Holden Dealer Team Gown - Hindhaugh Ron Hodgson Motors Holden Dealer Team Holden Dealer Team Holden Dealer Team Holden Dealer Team Holden Dealer Team Holden Dealer Team Roadways Racing Holden Dealer Team Holden Racing Team Perkins Engineering Perkins Engineering Holden Racing Team Perkins Engineering Gibson Motorsport Garry Rogers Motorsport Holden Racing Team Holden Racing Team Kmart Racing Kmart Racing Holden Racing Team Holden Racing Team Triple Eight Race Engineering Holden Racing Team Triple Eight Race Engineering Triple Eight Race Engineering Tekno Autosports Erebus Motorsport Triple Eight Race Engineering Triple Eight Race Engineering
Car HK Monaro GTS327 HT Monaro GTS350 LJ Torana GTR XU-1 LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 LX Torana A9X SS LX Torana A9X SS VC Commodore VH Commodore SS VH Commodore SS VK Commodore VK Commodore SS Group A VL Commodore SS Group A VL Commodore SS Group A SV VP Commodore VR Commodore VR Commodore VS Commodore VT Commodore VT Commodore VX Commodore VX Commodore VY Commodore VY Commodore VZ Commodore VE Commodore VE Commodore VE Commodore VE Commodore VF Commodore VF Commodore VF Commodore ZB Commodore ZB Commodore
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2020 BATHURST 1000 THE LEGEND OF AUSTRALIA’S ICONIC MOTOR RACE
1000 BATHURST 2020
THE LEGEND OF AUSTRALIA’S ICONIC MOTOR SPORT
$75 +p&h
This is the latest edition of our Bathurst book series chronicling Australia’s favourite car race. It is a ‘must have’ for all race fans and collectors. Postage: Australia $15 New Zealand $25
Rest of the World orders, please contact us at office@v8x.com.au or +61 3 9372 9125
Return the order form below or order online www.SupercarXtra.com.au
Please make all cheques and postal orders payable to Raamen Pty Ltd
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MAIL TO RAAMEN P/L, PO BOX 225, KEILOR VIC 3036 2020 Bathurst book.indd 51
17/11/2020 3:58:36 PM
RICK KELLY
WORDS James Crocker IMAGES Supercars, Kelly Racing, Justin Deeley
Rick Kelly is stepping away from full-time driving in Supercars, bringing to an end the Kelly family’s presence as regulars on the grid since the early 2000s. This is the story of a career that netted one championship and two Bathurst 1000 wins, in addition to helping build Kelly Racing.
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RICK KELLY
W
hen the Supercars grid takes to the track in 2021, it will do so without one of the series’ longest serving and most consistent competitors. Rick Kelly has had one of the more intriguing careers in the sport’s history, and to see a Supercars grid without a Kelly name on it feels strange. After all, it will be the first season since 2001 that a Kelly will not take to the grid full-time, which is a testament to his and his brother Todd’s perseverance in the face of several different challenges throughout their careers. The younger Kelly’s career has been a successful albeit underrated one, as not many drivers can claim two Bathurst 1000 trophies and a Supercars championship win, on top of forming and developing a top-class race team. His career has been a throwback to the days of Brock, Johnson and Perkins, with not many modern-day drivers doing what he and his brother have done with the family-run Kelly Racing. Reflecting on his career, Kelly says he’s “satisfied” with his perseverance over the years. “Whilst as a driver you always want to win, and externally your on-track results hold the biggest influence on your report card, and as you’d expect from any athlete, I’ll leave wanting more,” he says. “But one thing’s for sure, I will step away satisfied with having always given my best and never giving in, no matter how far back we were.” Kelly’s career can be looked at in two parts: one as a successful driver and champion for the HSV Dealer Team during the mid-2000s, the other being a mature veteran with his family’s team as they took the bold step to introduce a new manufacturer to Supercars from 2013. Kelly made his first foray into Supercars in the 2001 endurance rounds with a strong open-wheel pedigree, having finished second in the previous season’s Formula Ford championship, above names such as fellow Supercars stalwart Will Davison and IndyCar champion Will Power, followed by a recordbreaking run to the Formula Holden title in 2001. Kelly made the step up to full-time Supercars in 2002 with the Holden Young Lions and quickly made a name for himself, grabbing a podium and four top fives in his maiden season. With brother Todd’s promotion to the Holden Racing Team in 2003, Kelly was quickly moved up to the Kmart-backed entry, with his first race win coming in the biggest event of them all, the Bathurst 1000, partnering Greg Murphy. It was a feat the pair repeated in the following season, alongside an extra three race wins for Kelly in what was his breakout season. 2006 saw the biggest moment of Kelly’s career, with the then 23-year-old clinching the title in one of the closest run and most controversial battles in the sport’s history. Whilst Kelly’s campaign was not the most spectacular, with only one race win, his consistency helped him take the title, albeit controversially following a clash with title rival 54
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Above left: Kelly rose to prominence in the Kmart-backed entry, teaming with Greg Murphy to win Bathurst in 2003 and 2004. Above right: Celebrating championship success at Phillip Island in 2006, following the controversial tangle with Craig Lowndes. Left: The HSV Dealer Team entry with which Kelly won the title in 2006.
Craig Lowndes that saw the title awarded the following week after a protest from Triple Eight Race Engineering. Reflecting on that 2006 incident, Kelly described it in 2016 as a “terrible day”. “From our point of view, it was a terrible day because it ended the way it did,” he says. “We had a fantastic year and put ourselves in a really great position in the championship. And a mistake I made on the track put a cloud over the whole thing. So as far as how do I think back on that, not in a great light, no. “You don’t want to have that happen – for me it was one of the most challenging days of my whole career. It means that much to you and to go in the car and make that mistake like that was something that put a bad taste in everyone’s mouth – it was just one of those things.” The conjecture around the 2006 finale was quickly brushed aside as the introduction of the new for 2007 VE Commodore saw Kelly go on a tear at the start of the season, with two race wins and 13 podiums up until the midpoint of the season. Following this the wheels fell off his title challenge, with teammate Garth Tander taking the championship and Kelly ending up fourth in the final standings. Kelly’s final season with the Walkinshaw-run operation was strong despite the collapse of the team’s title sponsor midway through the season, with Kelly winning the final race for the outfit at the Oran Park season finale, a fitting conclusion to one of the strongest partnerships of the 2000s. SUPERCAR XTRA
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RICK KELLY
Kelly celebrates a longawaited first win in the Nissan Altima at Winton in 2018.
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2009 represents the start of the second chapter of Kelly’s career, with the complex transition and combination of the HSV Dealer Team and Perkins Engineering entries forming Kelly Racing. The early years of Kelly Racing showed promise, despite the usual teething issues and workload of four cars proving difficult to manage at points. The team also saw itself have a revolving door of drivers for its third and fourth cars through this period, adding to the growing pains. The younger Kelly brother was the leading driver, though, with 2011 being a standout of the early Kelly Racing era, as Rick took home three race wins on his way to sixth in the championship. The Car of The Future in 2013 ushered in more changes that would dictate Kelly’s career, with the team introducing the Nissan Altima to the category. The seismic change saw Kelly’s results drop, due to the added workload of developing a new race car, alongside its unique engine package and several aero changes in its infancy. Following a rough two years, Kelly entered somewhat of a renaissance in the following years with the Altima becoming a consistent top 10 runner that netted Kelly a handful of podiums and a race win at Winton in 2018, days after Nissan pulled factory support for the program. It was a rare success for a driver/owner in the modern era of the sport. 2020 saw yet another seismic change for both driver and team, with the switch to the Ford Mustang and more challenges brought on by the global COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the Victorian-based teams.
As co-owner of Kelly Racing, as well as being a driver, Kelly had to assist in organising the team’s intense rush across the border in July, as well as developing the Mustang without access to the team’s Melbourne-based factory, a workload rarely seen for a driver in the modern era of Supercars. Reflecting on his career with Kelly Racing, Kelly says he’s “proud” of what the team has achieved in its lifespan. “As a whole I’m proud of what we have achieved as a team over the last decade,” he says. “We have relentlessly pushed hard, worked directly with three different manufacturers and represented some of the most recognised brands in the world, and delivered some great programs off the track, from creating a talent search reality TV show through to having pictures of our fans ride with us at Bathurst. “I’d like to thank the team at Kelly Racing, and also congratulate each and every team member for what they have been able to deliver this year. It’s been nothing short of impressive. “I’d also like to thank all of the past team members that I have worked with over the last 20 years. “I have worked with so many great people in this sport. And a massive thank you to all of the business partners that have supported me throughout my career both past and present.” As Kelly steps back from full-time driving, new opportunities present themselves as a highly sought-after endurance co-driver, a favourite with television/media outlets and in his role within Kelly Racing.
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THE GLORY YEARS
Twenty years ago, Mark Skaife and the Holden Racing Team had just concluded the first in a crushing three-year run that netted three consecutive Supercars championships and two Bathurst 1000 wins. In this chapter extract from his new book, Mark Skaife, The Complete Illustrated Autobiography, published by Affirm Press, Skaife reflects on that dominant run from 2000 to 2002. SUPERCAR XTRA
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BOOK EXTRACT
E
ach year in motorsport, there is always someone who jumps up and makes a statement. In 2000 that was Garth Tander, but even though he finished second in the championship and won Bathurst, it didn’t diminish the intensity or the importance of my battle with Craig [Lowndes]. Lowndes had won three titles in HRT cars, and all the talk for most of the year was that he was going to leave the team and even go to Ford, which was eventually all confirmed. In my mind, I wanted to beat him at HRT. I wanted those two years of learning to count for something. So it was satisfying to beat him and to win with him at the Queensland 500, since we were paired together for the endurance races. I was solid and consistent early in the championship and that set me up to win, so long as Bathurst wasn’t a disaster. Bathurst was the last race of the season that year and I had a good lead over Tander heading into that race. If he won Bathurst I only had to finish 17th to win the title, but I just wanted to win the race and send Craig off on a high in his last ride for HRT. It was going well and the real battle for the lead on lap 114 was between Neil Crompton, Tander and me. Matt Neal was a lap down but he decided to race us, and went up the inside of Crompo and hit him. I still laugh when I think of what Crompo said later: ‘I’d never been dive-bombed by a wobbling backmarker before.’ He was driving with Glenn Seton that day, and they absolutely had enough speed to win, and this joker took him out. I hit the back of him because I had nowhere to go, and that was close to ruining my day. The steering was bent and two laps later I got a flat tyre, which I had to get fixed. When I got back on the track I asked Rob [Starr] where I was and he said 17th. ‘And where is Tander?’ He was leading, so we set off. I couldn’t drop a spot or I’d lose the championship, but we got into it and I finished sixth. It was a frustrating race because we probably should have won; the car was absolutely excellent. Craig did a really good job too and it would have been a nice send off for him. But it wasn’t to be. Even on the Sunday night at Bathurst, Tom [Walkinshaw] was still trying to get Craig to stay. I knew that John [Crennan] was far from happy with Craig and the people advising him. John also had a management contract with Craig that he was breaking, but this was big and it was pretty clear Craig was moving on. This was the only time someone went from factory Holden team to factory Ford team, other than when Colin Bond went across to Allan Moffat’s team in 1977. The funny thing is Craig joined a new Ford team being set up by Fred Gibson! We had some great battles over the next two years. Fred had certainly proven again that when he had the finance in place he could build a great
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Mark Skaife’s Holden VX Commodore was nicknamed ‘Golden Child’.
team. Craig was a bit inconsistent in 2001 but I dominated, with nine wins from the 30 races and 20 podium finishes to win back-to-back titles – this time from Russell Ingall, with my new teammate Jason Bright in third. A Bathurst win with Tony Longhurst capped off the 2001 season. Then we went back and did even better in 2002 to beat Greg Murphy – who was running in a second team that we were essentially running, which didn’t make me happy – and Marcos Ambrose who was emerging for Ford. I won more than half the races that year and won the first five rounds before getting beaten by Brighty. I should have won that too but Bondy gave me a shit penalty and I was feral – before winning again next start. That was six wins from the first seven rounds and the title was virtually over. It’s funny though – between 2001 and 2002 the only thing we changed on the car was that the red on the back of the car became a red, black and white chequered flag. I couldn’t believe it; nothing else changed, even though we went from Bridgestone to Dunlop tyres. I decided to use the fact that we had the four cars and ran pre-qualifying for the Clipsal 500 instead of Rick Kelly. That was one of the great days in motorsport. Those last five minutes of the final session at Mallala were dead-set out of control and I had to do one of the best laps I’ve ever done just to get to the ‘real’ race meeting. The reason I wanted to do that session was to get some extra laps early on the Dunlop tyre. As it turns out the new tyres suited our car perfectly, which is why we started the season so well.
Not everyone was happy with us during that period; we earned all sorts of tags, like the ‘Evil Empire’. But John had built the best team and he did build a big fence around it ... only he started to expand the size of that fence with a second and then a third team as well. This move was building barriers across the board: the media didn’t like us much, the Ford teams cried parity and the other Holden teams just wanted to know what we were doing. We weren’t that fussed how they felt; we were just doing our job. But we also had good fan support. I don’t think you could count the number of HRT jackets that were sold in a season – it was a staggering number. But it was what it was. We were the best team in the country, and we were going to protect and defend that at any cost. I think Bathurst 2002 was my best win ever, and it was made all the better by doing it with Jim [Richards] again – 10 years after our last win there together. It must have been hard for Jim’s wife, Fay, though, because we had to beat his son Steven to win the race in what was a great battle from the start to the end. Jim had no qualms; he was there to win and he didn’t care if it was his son he beat or not. It was funny on the podium – Jim took the microphone and played up the 1992 podium by greeting the cheering crowd with, ‘You’re a pack of very nice people,’ which was funny. This was the second peak of my career. Obviously winning the third title in a row, my fifth overall, was great, but winning Bathurst with Jim again was just the cream on top. Mark Skaife, The Complete Illustrated Autobiography, published by Affirm Press, is on sale now! SUPERCAR XTRA
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BOOK EXTRACT
LOWNDES ON SKAIFE: CHALK AND CHEESE
Words by Craig Lowndes, former co-driver and teammate.
P
ersonality-wise, Mark and I are chalk and cheese. But I think that actually worked in our favour when he joined HRT, and again later in life when we reunited to race with Triple Eight. When he first joined HRT there was a little angst on the workshop floor; we had a lot of ex-Gibson workers there and they weren’t that keen on him coming in, but it proved to be nothing and he just fitted in. But Mark was quickly into every nut and bolt with his attention to detail. I remember him being in the engine shop, wanting to know what map, what cylinder head... he was into every facet of a race team, and I was the complete opposite. I remember walking onto an aeroplane once and Mark was sitting there with an engineering book and studying up on geometry and suspension and aerodynamics. He was always pushing to understand every element of a car. My whole career, all I’ve really focused on is the driving part of it. I’ve always respected Mark as a driver; we just operated differently. He’d even spend twice as long, if not longer, getting the seat position right, the seatbelts right, the steering column. Everything had to be perfect for him. We got to drive at Bathurst together with HRT in 1998 and 2000 because the rules allowed you to pair your top drivers back then. So, like everyone else with two cars, we threw our eggs in the same basket. Physically we are a similar height, but he’s got really long legs and a short torso. So when we actually drove together in the car, I was struggling because the steering wheel was too close to me. And then, of course, vice versa for 62
him: where I wanted the steering wheel was too far away. So the team came up with a two stage column, so when we did a driver change we could push the steering wheel away for me and then bring it closer for him. I think we had a healthy rivalry inside the team. He wanted to beat me and I wanted to beat him, but we weren’t doing anything that would hurt the team. I never tried to stitch him up over anything, and I don’t think he ever tried to on me. It was just leaning on both of our strengths, and his was detail and analysis. Most people think of four stages for a corner – braking, turn in, middle and exit – but Mark had it in about 15 stages, almost like metre by metre. He was super critical about what he wanted from a car. At a race weekend he was focused. He hated me going out and signing autographs – to the point that he asked me to stop. ‘No. For god’s sake don’t sign anything because it makes me look bad.’ He was focused on the data and our brains worked differently. Away from the track I think he relaxed, he opened up more. He really enjoyed catching up with mates and having a drink and just really being normal. When I switched to Ford after the 2000 season, I got the full set of Skaife mind games. He was always in the media saying it wasn’t the Ford that was hopeless – it was the team and the drivers not doing a good enough job. It didn’t bother me. Juan Pablo Montoya was my teammate when I did Formula 3000 in Europe, and he was the master of mind games – he would mentally just kill you – so after that I could cope with anything from Mark. But I saw what it did to others. He was a master.
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FORD’S OTHER
HAT–TRICK TAKER
Ford drivers have twice won three Australian Touring Car Championship/ Supercars titles in a row, with Scott McLaughlin following in the footsteps of Ian Geoghegan.
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cott McLaughlin joined an exclusive club in 2020, becoming the fourth driver in the six-decade history of the Australian Touring Car Championship/Supercars to win three drivers’ titles in a row. He followed in the footsteps of Ian Geoghegan, Mark Skaife and Jamie Whincup in winning three consecutive championships, with Geoghegan and Whincup adding a fourth consecutive title to their runs. While Skaife and Whincup achieved the feat in Holden Commodores, Geoghegan and McLaughlin secured their hattricks in Ford Mustangs. For Geoghegan, it was his fourth title from five seasons, winning the 1964 title in a Cortina Mark I GT before the run of
four titles in Mustangs from 1966 to 1969. Geoghegan achieved the three-peat at the final singlerace championship decider at Warwick Farm Raceway in New South Wales in 1968. American V8-powered cars were well established in the championship following the introduction of the Improved Production regulations in 1965, with Ford Mustangs the cars to beat. In response, rival Norm Beechey swapped his Chevrolet Nova for a Camaro SS for 1968. Geoghegan took pole position, led from the start and was never headed, with the attrition rate behind cementing his dominance. Bob Jane’s Mustang succumbed to a broken camshaft on lap nine, leaving Beechey as
the only real threat to Geoghegan. Then, on lap 12, Beechey retired with a mechanical failure. Geoghegan built up a half a minute lead at the halfway mark of the race and crossed the line with a one minute and 37-second advantage. Darrell King was the best of the rest in his Morris Cooper S in second place, while Alan Hamilton survived a last-lap off-track excursion to finish in third. Fred Gibson lead the other Mustang runners in fourth place. Just 13 of the 30 starters finished the race. The first retiree was future series champion Bob Morris, making his championship debut in a Toyota Corolla; amongst starstudded company with Jane, Beechey and more.
Geoghegan’s victory was his fourth from the nine singlerace championship deciders, an impressive strike-rate that cemented his place among the all-time greats. A fifth championship win followed in the first multi-round season in 1969, setting a record for most championship wins that wouldn’t be equalled for 20 years when Dick Johnson won his fifth title in 1989. It would be 52 years between Ford’s championship hattricks, with McLaughlin also winning his third title in a row in a Mustang. With five championships in a row for the Mustang in the 1960s (Beechey in 1965 and Geoghegan from 1966 to 1969), McLaughlin’s titles in 2019 and 2020 took the Mustang tally to seven titles.
The podium finishers at the 2009 Bathurst 1000.
Ian Geoghegan leads the field at Warwick Farm in 1968.
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