MSR reveals Bathurst tribute livery

Matt Stone Racing will go back to the future at Bathurst, adopting a retro SP Tools livery for the Commodore Todd Hazelwood and Jack Smith will share.

The SP Tools colours offer a throwback to the design run on Shane van Gisbergen’s Stone Brothers Racing Falcon in 2012.

SP Tools backed the Kiwi driver from 2008-12, at the team co-owned by Matt Stone’s father Jim.

It was in that period that 2016 Supercars champion van Gisbergen established himself as a force to be reckoned with at the front of the grid.

Adding meaning to the initiative is the tribute the livery will pay to the late wife of SP Tools CEO Kevin Davis, Leesa, who recently passed away.

“Kevin Davis would like to use this opportunity to give Leesa one last ride around Bathurst to pay respect to her and have her name going around the Mountain,” explained a team statement.

“She had always wanted to go for a few laps around Bathurst, and Matt Stone Racing are making that happen via naming the livery after her ‘Leesa’s SP Livery’.

“This livery, with its dual significance will be retired after the Bathurst 1000 never to be used again.”

The original livery at Bathurst 2012

The team’s #35 Commodore has taken a big step forward in 2019, with Hazelwood becoming a regular midfield runner and taking a career-best fifth place last time out at Pukekohe.

Hazelwood, 24, and PIRTEK Enduro Cup debutant Smith, 20, form one of the youngest driver pairings competing in this week’s Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.