PRIVATEER COMMODORES RETURN TO THE MOUNTAIN

Privateer Commodores return to The Mountain – Photo: Supplied

Two Holden Commodore V8 Supercars have been announced as part of the Shannons Holden Bathurst Revival and both machines will be driven by the drivers who raced them back in the day.

By DAN McCARTHY

The John Alcorn-owned Commodores have been entered into the all Holden motorsport category as part of the Bathurst International event.

David Attard will drive the Alcair entry, while Ric Shaw will compete in a rare Commodore V8 Supercar that has only competed in the Development Series.

Alcorn explained that the Shannons Holden Bathurst Revival is the perfect place for these cars to revisit the mountain.

“This is the perfect event for these two cars to race at, and I can’t wait to take them to Bathurst,” said Alcorn.

“(John’s wife) Wendy and I both loved the Supercars, and I really wanted to give them a run again. I didn’t want to compete, but these type of spirited demonstrations are ideal.”

Alcorn has invited his former driver Attard back to pilot the #49 Commodore, Attard was a frontrunning privateer in the mid-1990s, winning the privateer class in 1995.

Attard will drive the nicely presented Alcair Commodore that has been restored to period.

The other Commodore that Alcorn will enter was originally built by the late Bob Tindal, who also oversaw the running of the Alcair entry in the 90s.

Tindal built a new VS Commodore (one of the last VS Commodore to be built to Supercars specification) for Shaw to compete in the 2001 Konica Series.

“To have both David and Ric drive them is a nice touch, they are really going to enjoy it,” said Alcorn.

“Both of the cars are in amazing condition, our team has done an incredible job bringing them back to their former glory.

“I’d been to Bathurst and support a bunch of drivers and teams in the early 1990s, and I almost quit on the sport, but I remember saying ‘I’m only coming back to Bathurst if I own my own car.’

“In 1995, our first race with our own car, I went to Caltex Chase and watched the cars go through there and I was flabbergasted at the speed. If you are looking for me during our sessions at Bathurst in November, I’m going to go right back to that same spot.”

The Holden Bathurst rival is celebrating the motorsport history of the famous Australian car manufacturer, allowing all Holden race vehicles from back in 1948 until now to compete.

The class will run during the four-day Bathurst International event at Mount Panorama from November 12-15.

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