A DOZEN HOLDENS LOCKED IN FOR REVIVAL

A dozen Holdens locked in for revival – Photo: Supplied

Over a dozen entries are listed for the Holden Bathurst Revival set to run at the legendary Mount Panorama Circuit during the Bathurst International event later this year.

By DAN McCARTHY

The class will pay tribute to all eras of Holden’s motorsport history, from the 48-215 all the way to modern Supercars and everything in between.

The entries so far include Holdens from the V8 Supercars era, Group A period and other interesting categories and classes.

The first V8 Supercar to find its place onto the grid was the Perkins Engineering-built Commodore VR of Darren Freeman formerly raced by Auto Action’s Mike Imrie alongside truck racing legend Rodney Crick.

Chassis PE018 was originally built to VP specification for West Australian privateer Ian Love but now in the hands of Freeman can be found in the colours that Imrie and Crick raced during the 1999 Bathurst 1000.

Freeman is looking forward to achieving a dream of driving a V8 Supercars around The Mountain.

“I’ve been to Bathurst before, but not in a V8 Supercar, and this is going to be a bucket list moment for me,” said Freeman.

“I’ve driven around the mountain in my Clubman Birkin, but this will be something completely different.

“Bathurst is an iconic circuit. I’m one of those guys who’d get up early to watch the Bathurst 1000, sitting there all day with my dad and watch the whole race. Since I was five years old, I’ve loved the place.

“To drive any car there is awesome, but to drive a Supercar in anger is going to be something again. And to have the chance to do it in a period-correct, legitimate V8 Supercar is bucket list stuff for anyone who loves motorsport.”

Also confirmed to enter the General’s category at the Bathurst Revival is a VK Group A Commodore formerly raced by Gerald Kay in the late 80s. The car was originally built by the Holden Dealer Team as a customer car, Kay and Geoff Munday finished eighth in the 1988 Bathurst 1000.

Richard Wells bought the car in 2015 and has driven it at track and club days, this will be the first time he has ever driven at The Mountain.

“I’ve been to Bathurst plenty of times before, but I’ve never driven a race car around there, so I’m really looking forward to it,” said Wells.

“I’ve used the car a few times at track days, but it’s always been a dream to drive at Bathurst. I wouldn’t be confident racing it in the heritage touring cars. I don’t have the experience, but something like this is perfect for me.”

Already the category is showing great diversity, a 48-215 Holden owned and raced by Brian Russell will be competing. Russell refurbished the car in 2001, winning its class in Targa Tasmania that year, he also can’t wait to get to Bathurst in November.

“I’ve been watching Bathurst since it was first on television, and this will fulfil all of my racing dreams,” said Russell.

“We started racing Holdens in Appendix J in 1969, I’ve always had early model Holdens, and we’ve always wanted to go to Bathurst.

“It’s so expensive to do the real races, and while this is not a ‘race’, it will tick a big box for me.”

The call eligibility reaches out to almost every series that Holden has competed in, from Group N and Improved Production and now-defunct categories such as V8 Utes, Commodore Cup and Future Tourers.

The Bathurst will take place from November 12-15 with the Holden class joining categories including TCR Australia, the S5000 Championship, Touring Car Masters and production cars competing in the Bathurst 6 Hour.

For more of the motorsport 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.