HOLDEN TO MARK BATHURST FAREWELL
By Bruce Williams
Date posted: 6 October 2020
Holden to mark Bathurst farewell
The end of Holden’s glorious relationship with Mount Panorama will be celebrated at this year’s Bathurst 1000.
By BRUCE NEWTON
General Motors made the call to axe the brand last February, ensuring this October’s race would be the last time a factory-backed Holden raced at Mount Panorama.
It will also be the final appearance ever for a factory-backed Holden in Australian touring car/Supercars racing, as the October 15-18 event is the final round of the 2020 COVID- impacted calendar.
Holden Commodores will race on in the 2021 Supercars season but without any input from the brand, which is due to be wound up by December 31.
Holden has declined to share details of the celebration with Auto Action, but we understand there are two key components.
One involves a display of historic and important Holden racers from the company’s Bathurst history, that could also include demonstration laps of the circuit.
Separately, a documentary covering Holden’s involvement in championship racing and Bathurst is being prepared for broadcast during the Bathurst telecast.
It is understood Holden’s media partner AME is compiling the documentary.
It will certainly have a lot of ground to cover, as the Holden brand has won the 1000 and its 500 mile predecessor a record 33 times via the Monaro, Torana and five generations of Commodore.
Those cars have been piloted by some of the greatest talents ever to grace Australian racetracks; Peter Brock, Mark Skaife, Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup to name a few.
Holdens have also been campaigned by great racing teams including the Holden Dealer Team, the Holden Racing Team and Triple Eight Race Engineering, run by powerful pitlane figures such as Harry Firth, Tom Walkinshaw and Roland Dane.
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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