Marcos Ambrose sends special message to GRM drivers, fans
Ambrose, Russell Ingall mentoring Rogers squad's Bathurst wildcard
James Moffat and Nathan Herne sharing ex-Triple Eight Camaro
Marcos Ambrose has hailed the impact of Garry Rogers Motorsport fans for helping the team honour the past and its future, as the team readies to salute their late team boss.
The memory of the late Garry Rogers, who passed away last October, is well and truly alive in the Team Valvoline garage at Mount Panorama.
From Barry Rogers' antics on the grid — in dressing up as his father — and his pink shorts, to a photo collage in the garage, to the finest details of the livery, the GRM spirit is well and truly alive.
Key to that spirit being there is calling on the likes of Ambrose and Russell Ingall, who have been a constant both through the testing process and the race weekend.
Ambrose, a Supercars Hall of Famer, is simply delighted to have been brought on the journey.
"The DNA of GRM is still intact," Ambrose told Supercars.com.
"In putting this program together, GRM have done an incredible job. It's in memory of Garry. We're all here to celebrate life, to celebrate Bathurst, and to give drivers a chance.
"James Moffat deserves to be on the grid, it's a famous name, and it's great to have him here.
"And then Nathan Herne, one of the best young racers in the country coming through the ranks, to give him a shot at Bathurst 1000 means a great deal. We've got a lot of good vibes in here. It's been a great week for us.
"The plan's gone perfect for us. The car's been reliable. Triple Eight delivered a fantastic car for us to work on, and we're just happy to be part of it. I'm happy to be back in the garage, in the Supercars paddock, just enjoying it."
GRM's first Bathurst start since 2020 will come amid a hotly contested race, pitting Moffat and Herne up against a field of drivers desperate to win the race, with others also chasing a Finals berth.
The Rogers squad, though, is doing it its own way, and loyal fans of the team have come along for the ride.
When asked what his message to GRM fans was, Ambrose replied: "Oh, just thank you. The fans haven't forgotten the past. You know, I'm from the past, Russell's from the past, GRM from the past.
"But I think that's what makes our sport dynamic, is that it's been around for a long time. It's got a lot of history, and we should celebrate the history as well as the future."
Having watched on from the sidelines, Ambrose has felt the ripples of a Bathurst weekend. But does that scratch an itch for him to get in the car?
"No. I have no desire to drive the cars," he smiled.
"I'm actually happy just to be part of it. You know, I know a bit about motorsport and racing and how to conduct yourself, so I'm really happy to pass my knowledge along."
As for a message to his drivers, Ambrose was clear: "Just be conservative and just be there with one stop to go. Stay on the lead lap, have a clean car, get to one stop to go, and go for it."
