GRM unveils retro Tander, Moffat tributes

Garry Rogers Motorsport is the latest team to roll out two retro-themed Supercars for the Wilson Security Sandown 500.

GRM has chosen to pay tribute to James Moffat’s father, Allan, who 30 years ago won the opening round of the World Touring Car Championship in a Holden Commodore.

Victory alongside John Harvey in the Monza opener – which came after the leading six BMWs were disqualified – was one of four European races run by Moffat that year.

The Rothmans and ANZ-backed, Holden Dealer Team-built car also took on the Jarama (Spain) and Dijon (France) WTCC events and finished a fine fourth in the 24 Hours of Spa.

Garry Rogers says he’s proud to pay homage to the campaign for James, but isn’t taking the kudos for the concept.

“In my opinion the livery for the #34 is the best I have seen. I would love to claim the credit for the idea, but all the credit must go to James,” said Rogers.

“Moff came and saw me and said it was 30 years this year that his dad raced the Rothmans VL Commodore at Spa and asked if it was possible to recreate that car.

“Of course Allan is best known for his exploits in a Ford and of course the Mazda RX-7, but there was that time when he raced a Holden and to recreate a car that Australia took to the world is fantastic, I’m sure James will be very proud racing it.”

James Moffat will share the Rothmans-themed car with Dunlop Super2 Series driver Richard Muscat, who is making his main game debut at Sandown.

Garth Tander and co-driver James Golding will meanwhile share a car that gives a nod to the former’s debut with the team in 1998.

Tander received a mid-season call-up to make his Supercars debut that year before going on to complete six full seasons at GRM.

A 12-year stint at Walkinshaw was followed by his return to the Rogers team this year, where he has led the squad’s charge following its switch back to Commodores.

“It's amazing how quickly the years go and I am very, very proud of the things that we have done over the years and to see Garth in the livery that he first raced with GRM will be special,” said Rogers.

“Garth’s career with GRM began at the Phillip Island round of 1998 as Steve Richards left following an opportunity (to become a test driver) with Nissan in England.

“Garth rang me and said he heard we needed a driver and believed he was the man. We tested Garth on the Tuesday the week of the PI round and the rest is history.”

The 1998 throwback is the second Tander livery confirmed for Sandown following

GRM’s latest retro looks follow its Volvo Dealer Team tribute of 12 months ago, which was seen by many as the best in the 2016 Sandown line-up.