Holden’s synergy with Bathurst is one that has been, for the best part of seven years, unmatched by its V8 Supercar rivals Ford. As
Matthew Agius begins the first section of a two-part form guide for this weekend’s Supercheap Auto 1000, Holden’s long standing winning streak has even more reason to continue this weekend.
In the varying forms of Wynns Racing, Garry Rogers Motorsport, the Holden Racing Team and Kmart Racing, Holden has successfully annihilated the hopes of many a Ford fan to win Bathurst for the past seven years. All of these teams have been at the top of their game when winning the great race, and now several of these teams, some under new guises, are back at the forefront of the championship equation. Names like Skaife, Tander, Murphy, Todd and Rick Kelly plus the veterans Jim Richards and Tony Longhurst are all still driving for the red side after their wins at the Mountain, but following the recent death of nine-time winner Peter Brock, these men have even more incentive to win.
Brock’s death sent shudders through the V8 Supercar Championship that had never been felt before. The shudders were higher in magnitude at Holden however – the loss of its greatest son hitting many of its modern heroes hard. All of the aforementioned drivers were influenced by ‘Peter Perfect’ during their careers and it would be fitting as the tributes flow this weekend, for any of those drivers to have their name inscribed on the inaugural Peter Brock Trophy for the race winners. Even Holden’s candidates yet to win a race would be worthy of emerging from insignificance to super stardom this weekend – much in the same way Brock did during his first Bathurst win.
Holden will support sixteen cars from nine teams in this weekend’s Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.
Holden Racing Team
#2 Holden Racing Team VZ Commodore
Mark Skaife/Garth Tander
Favourite for victory at Sandown and one of the shortest odds for a back-to-back Bathurst win, the crack combination of Mark Skaife and Garth Tander are looking to avenge an unexpected loss in the Betta Electrical 500. Jumping across from the Toll HSV Dealer Team to the Holden Racing Team for just the enduros, former championship leader and Queensland round winner Tander will drive alongside Pukekohe victor and five-time champion Mark Skaife in the #2 HRT Commodore at Bathurst, after V8 Supercar controllers elected not to re-separate the pair. Both are success stories at Bathurst too – Skaife winning five times, whilst Tander has a sole victory in 2000. The #2 Holden Commodore has had some reliability issues in 2006 – notably with a steering failure at Sandown dropping the car from a huge lead - but has generally been one of the fastest cars at all the rounds this year. Easily the favourite with an unrivalled combination of car speed, driver experience and team record (the Holden Racing Team finished second at Sandown and won Bathurst in 2005) the Skaife/Tander duo is one that should definitely finish inside the top five.
Rating: 9.5
#22 Holden Racing Team VZ Commodore
Jim Richards/Ryan Briscoe
The second Holden Racing Team entry is another that could impress over the Bathurst weekend. Ryan Briscoe was simply stunning in grabbing provisional pole at Sandown, and was also consistent in the 500 kilometre race. Jim Richards is a veteran and wet-weather expert, so should the race go damp – he should also perform well for the Holden Racing Team. With equal love going into both HRT Commodores, this pair could take a top five finish, but with Bathurst being such a demanding track for first timers, all eyes will be on Briscoe to see how well he handles the mountain, and if he ‘does a Courtney’ after Richards’ 2005 teammate James Courtney finished the pair’s race during the opening stint.
Rating: 7
Tasman Motorsport
#3 Tasman Motorsport VZ Commodore
Jason Richards/Andrew Jones
Jason Richards and Andrew Jones head to Bathurst with the momentum of consistent top-ten pace at Sandown, despite their non-finish, and the record of a double enduro podium in 2005 pushing heir case for contention. Whilst the Tasman Motorsport operation hasn’t been the fastest, nor the most consistent in 2006, the team is undoubtedly a dark horse for Bathurst, with Richards and Jones each experienced drivers at the circuit, and the former standing on the podium at last year’s race. As with many strong driver pairings, their result will come down to car performance, and after Sandown a cloud still lingers over the capabilities of the #3 machine.
Rating: 6
