GRM THROUGH THE AGES
By Bruce Williams
Date posted: 18 October 2019
Tracing its roots back to 1963 Garry Rogers Motorsport joined the top flight touring car category in 1996, a year before the V8 Supercars monicker took over.
After announcing the team will leave Supercars after this season here are a few images representing each phase of the team’s touring car eras.
Team boss Garry Rogers competed competitively in the ex-Bob Jane Holden Torana A9X before it was written off at Amaroo Park.
Rogers was a hired gun co-driver during the 1980s.
Bathurst 1988, Rogers returned to run his own car, but it proved unsuccessful with co-driver John Andretti severely damaging the car.
After supporting and running Steve Richards in Formula Ford, AUSCAR and Super Touring, Rogers and his team stepped up to the Australian Touring Car Championship an ex-Gibson Motorsport Holden Commodore.
The late 1990s into the early 2000s were a fruitful period for GRM drivers Jason Bargwanna and Garth Tander. This culminated in victory at Bathurst in 2000, a year where Tander also finished runner up in the championship to Mark Skaife.
GRM weren’t as successful in the mid-2000s with Cameron McConville taking a stunning victory at Winton in 2004 being the only highlight. Tander and Bargwanna left in quick succession, though it wasn’t the last time the team would field Tander.
Lee Holdsworth was impressive during his formative years in Supercars, taking a round victory at a wet Oran Park in 2007. He further followed that up with consistent podium finishes along with teammate Michael Caruso, enhancing GRM’s reputation as a team that fosters young talent.
It was a new dawn for GRM, when it aligned with Volvo. Off the back of young star in the making Scott McLaughlin, the team was rejuvenated and enjoyed increase of popularity just as the team’s fortunes rose.
Volvo pulled out at the end of 2016, GRM returned to its Holden roots and Tander made a welcome return for 2017. A famous name in Moffat was aligned with the team at this time in the form of James, but hot on his heels was youngster James Golding. Here running as a wildcard entry at Winton.
It was a shock that Tander was ousted by GRM at the start of 2018 for Kiwi Richie Stanaway.
Only last weekend, the team was in contention for Bathurst victory in the late stages of the event as James Golding made a good run towards the end, but a loose wheel took him out of the battle. Though it has been a disappointing year for the team it appeared to turn around its form most recently. TCR and S5000 commitments will keep the team busy in 2020.
For more of the latest Supercars news pick up the current issue of Auto Action. Also make sure you follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or our weekly email newsletter for all the latest updates between issues.
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