Herne back in the Big Bangers for Adelaide 500

Nathan Herne returns from competing in the TA2 America series to take on the S5000 field at the VAILO Adelaide 500, with the “Lismore Bullet” getting back behind the wheel of a GRM.

The reigning S5000 Tasman Series champion will compete at the season ending event on the Adelaide streets where he took out Race 1 at last year’s event.

This year represents a sole Tasman round, as well as doubling as the Gold Star championship decider, of which GRM’s Aaron Cameron has the upper hand against Versa Motorsport’s Cooper Webster.

Here returns from the states where he took four podiums as one of the leading rookies in the Cube3 Mustang for the Stevens-Miller Racing team, as well as taking part in some Late Model events on the dirt of Missouri and St Louis.

Herne in the American TA2 taking on the streets of Nashville in the Cube3 Mustang.

The four-time S5000 race winner is looking forward to jumping back behind the +500hp GRM open wheeler.

“It’s going to be exciting to come back home and race at Adelaide again, especially in the S5000s,” said Herne.

“A lot of my best memories from racing came from the S5000 series last year, obviously the Tasman Series being a highlight of that. To have the opportunity to come back and have a crack at going back to back in the series, it’s pretty exciting, and an opportunity I am super thankful for from Barry and the crew at GRM.

“Coming back into the seat with the GRM crew behind me once again will be awesome, I had a visit from a few of the GRM boys not too long ago, so to have the band back together is going to be awesome. We definitely floated the idea around between us whilst they were here once or twice.

Herne jumping in the Millard Family Racing Late Model in Missouri for his US dirt track debut at Moberly Motorsport Park

“It’s been good to see Aaron (Cameron) flying the GRM Team Valvoline flag at the front. Aaron and I had some good racing last year at the Adelaide Street Circuit, where he actually pipped me in qualifying and pushed me along all the way in race one, so I’m excited to reignite that battle.

“It’ll be an awesome event to be a part of, open wheelers on a street circuit, what else could you want.”

Aside from battling his teammate Cameron, one of the assured highlights will be the battle between himself and Webster, who is also fresh from an overseas campaign where he finished second in the GB4 Championship in Britain.

Both return from busy campaigns, whistler Webster has been juggling both series’ in his first year as a professional journeyman.

GRM Director Barry Rogers speaks glowingly of Herne and his achievements with the team, and can’t wait to get the backside of the “Lismore Bullet” back in a GRM Big Banger.

Herne sealed the Tasman title in 2022 with a Race 1 win at the Adelaide 500. Image: Daniel Kalisz

“We’ve watched with interest as Nathan has competed in the USA during 2023, and has continued to show his talent in the Trans Am car, regularly featuring on the podium against the next generation of NASCAR drivers,” Rogers said.

“We first got him across to GRM in 2021 to race an S5000 and in 2022 he raced Trans Am and S5000 with GRM.

“Nathan immediately took to the S5000, and his results showed, winning four of the six races in the 2022 Tasman Series and entering the 2023 three-race Tasman Series as the reigning champion.

“The pointy end of the S5000 field is going to be very sharp with Cooper Webster, Aaron Cameron and another yet to be announced high profile addition. These are three races you will not want to miss at next week’s VAILO Adelaide 500.”

The return of Herne sees the GRM stable settle at six for the Adelaide 500, joining Cameron, Ben Bargwanna, Nic Carroll, Jordan Boys and Sebastien Amadio.

For more of the latest motorsport news, pick up the latest issue of AUTO ACTION or subscribe HERE

On this week’s Auto Action RevLimiter, we ramble on about Supercars. Why the finances don’t need a boost! What’s wrong with the calendar! Plus more!