HRT launches regular season livery
Celebrations for the Holden Racing Team's 25th anniversary are off to a roaring start, with the iconic team launching its regular season livery on its birthday at Holden's retail facility at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide.
The new-look HRT Commodore, unveiled today by the team's champion drivers Garth Tander and James Courtney, features an aggressive-looking black and dayglo red livery incorporating sponsors Holden, SP Tools, Mobil, HSV, and Monster Energy.
The team, which won Adelaide's Clipsal 500 event last year with Courtney taking victory, made its race debut 25 years ago to the day - at the opening round of the Australian Touring Car Championship, the event held at the now-defunct Amaroo Park Raceway in Sydney.
On Sunday 25 February 1990, then-team manager and driver Win Percy drove the Holden Racing Team's lone entry at the event, the #16 HRT VL Commodore SS Group A SV, and finished 14th.
Since then, HRT has become one of Australia's greatest sporting success stories with a record-200-plus race wins, including seven at the Bathurst 1000, and six championships - including a record-five straight from 1998 to 2002.
HRT also remains the only team to have won championship races in Australia, New Zealand, China, the UAE, and the Kingdom of Bahrain.
GM Holden Motorsport and Sponsorship Manager Simon McNamara said HRT's achievements across two and a half decades are a huge source of pride for Holden - with the relationship not only the longest in Australian motorsport, but also its most successful.
"The Holden Racing Team is an Aussie icon, and its history of sustained success is something that we can all be proud of - especially today, given it's the team's 25th birthday," McNamara said.
"2015 is going to be a great year for HRT, as we celebrate its silver anniversary - and may the success on-track continue all the way through to the final round in Sydney, and beyond."
GM Holden Design Manager Peter Hughes said the team's regular season livery took its inspiration not only from the menacing black HRT Commodore that ran at the V8 SuperTest earlier this month, but also past masters.
"I think the new look is aggressive, and unmistakably HRT," Hughes said.
"The red and black look with traditional white bonnet is a respectful nod to the original VE Commodore from 2007. The livery we ran at the V8 SuperTest was really a prelude to what we've revealed today, with far more black."
The enduring partnership between Holden and its official factory racing team is complemented by major commitments from SP Tools; Mobil, who head into their 22nd year with HRT, and HSV, which has been on-board from the outset.
Additional long-term partnerships include NGK, entering its 21st year with HRT; John Hart, a partner for 15 years; MTAA Super, celebrating its eighth season with the team; and PPG Industries, which has been with HRT from day one (initially as Dulux).
New partners Monster Energy and Dell join them, while Morris Finance has an upgraded presence with the team.
As part of the milestone festivities, the HRT Commodore will feature a number of special one-off liveries throughout the season, including the traditional ANZAC livery that this year commemorates the 100th anniversary of Gallipoli.
The celebrations have also extended to the official team wear and merchandise - which has been transformed by TPF Sports, the global firm recently appointed as the Master Licensor for the Holden Family of Brands.
Holden Racing Team Managing Director Adrian Burgess said the best possible way for the team to celebrate its 25th anniversary was by fighting at the front of the ultra-competitive V8 Supercars grid.
"V8 Supercars truly is the world's most competitive touring car series, and over the past 25 years HRT has established itself as one of the sport's leading lights," Burgess said.
"The team has worked tirelessly over the off-season to ensure we start this very special season on the front foot, and we look forward to seeing Garth and James fighting tooth and nail for race wins - and celebrating in style."
It's a sentiment echoed by HRT's drivers, Tander and Courtney.
"It's a wonderful thing to be part of the Holden Racing Team on this occasion - and I feel proud as a driver," Tander said.
"The #2 HRT Commodore was strong at the end of last year, so with the amount of work we've done throughout the off-season we should be in a good position to fight at the front from the outset."
"I love the new-look, our HRT Commodore just looks so tough and menacing - which is as it should be," Courtney said.
"We're planning to start this season in style, with plenty to celebrate off-track, so I'm ready to get behind the wheel and give it my best."
The HRT Commodores will be on track from Friday 27 February, with practice set to start at 9.05am ACDT.
