Milestone year inspires new Heimgartner livery

A big year for naming rights partner R&J Batteries has inspired the new 2025 livery on Andre Heimgartner’s Brad Jones Racing Supercar.

Heimgartner, who has received a new chassis for 2025, returns for a fourth season with BJR, having finished 10th, seventh and 10th in his previous three campaigns with the team.

The Kiwi, who won on home soil at Taupō last April, will have a new-look Camaro in 2025, courtesy of R&J Batteries’ 30th anniversary.

Heimgartner’s Camaro will still feature the classic R&J Batteries colours of red and black, but with a gradient across the rear panels and bonnet. The #8 Chevrolet will also carry the tagline ‘Celebrating 30 years, 1995-2025’ across the car for the entire 2025 season, which begins in Sydney next weekend.

R&J Batteries was co-founded by Managing Director Ray Robson in 1995, and was carried to Supercars victory by Heimgartner for the first time last year.

Heimgartner will drive his new-look #8 R&J Batteries Camaro at a new-car shakedown at Winton Motor Raceway on Wednesday, ahead of next week’s pre-season test and Round 1 in Sydney.

“It’s a special year for R&J Batteries, congratulations to Ray and Stuart [Hamilton, R&J Batteries CEO] on an incredible achievement,” Heimgartner said.

"I’ve had the chance to see R&J Batteries locations and team members around Australia and NZ and they’re always so friendly and motivated — it’s a pleasure to be able to be part of their story even just a little bit.

“The car itself looks fantastic — the livery has had a bit of a refresh and it’s just stunning.

“Coming into 2025 with a new chassis, new livery and the support from the team at R&J gives us a lot of confidence that we’re going in the right direction.

“I went into the off season feeling that there was more on the table for us which just adds to the fire in the belly for this year. Can’t wait to get racing and for some of the big events of this year.

"Returning to Taupō will be special and we all have our eye on the JR Trophy, that’s a big goal for this year. We came close in 2024, we were just a couple of points short in the end but that’s one that would be quite nice to win.”

Team owner Jones said: “Congratulations to everyone at R&J Batteries on being able to celebrate 30 great years in business. It’s a testament to what Ray has built over three decades that they’re in the position they are.

"Ray is a tremendous person and someone that I count as a friend. R&J are a natural fit to BJR and are really part of the family. Ray and Stuart come along to most races and are as much a part of our garage as the rest of our team.

"So to them and to all of the R&J Batteries crew we thank them for the support and here’s to many, many more years as an Australian business success story.”

Stuart Hamilton, R&J Batteries CEO, said: "Turning 30 is a huge milestone for R&J Batteries, so we plan to celebrate this throughout all of 2025. A key part of these celebrations is the #8 R&J Batteries Racing Camaro.

“Motorsport is in our DNA. From local events to sponsoring go-karts right up to the elite Supercars Championship, we just love motorsport. We are keen to get the 2025 season underway.

"Having Andre in a brand-new chassis is very exciting! We’re very confident he can build on the success he had in 2025.

"Brad and the team naming the new #8 Camaro Rhonda, in honour of Rhonda Robson is amazing and a very special touch. Brad and the whole BJR team are very much part of the R&J family, and we can’t thank them enough for this honour.”