Top 10 Supercars stories of 2021: Part 2
The 2021 Repco Supercars Championship had no shortage of big headlines.
Shane van Gisbergen and Red Bull Ampol Racing won the big titles as big stories unfolded around them.
Earlier in the year, one of the season’s biggest stories happened next door at Triple Eight.
However, the biggest story was saved until the very end, to much noise, fanfare and excitement.
Look back on a massive 2021 as Supercars.com counts down the final five of the year's biggest stories. Read here to catch up on the first five.
5) Mostert and Holdsworth’s weekend on top
Few Bathurst weekends have been as dominant as what Chaz Mostert and Lee Holdsworth produced.
Pole, victory, fastest lap, over 100 laps led - not to mention, being in the top three in every practice and qualifying session.
Mostert clocked the fastest ever Supercar lap in the shootout, and not even a puncture midway through the race could halt their charge.
It was Mostert’s second Great Race win, Holdsworth’s first in 18 attempts, and Walkinshaw Andretti United’s first in 10 years.
4) Kellys leave, Groves take over
The Kelly era ended in 2021, with brothers Todd and Rick selling their team to the Groves.
The Groves announced their buy-in into the team early in the season, before taking full control by season’s end.
It ended two decades of Kelly involvement in Supercars, with the family team making its fully-fledged debut in 2009.
3) Van Gisbergen’s injury, and the epic performance that followed
Shane van Gisbergen’s 2021 title charge appeared over after he suffered a broken collarbone and ribs in a mountain biking accident.
Weeks of intense recovery were followed by a stunning Sandown sweep, with van Gisbergen winning from 17th on the Saturday.
He would end the season as champion, with metalwork removed from his collarbone four months after the accident.
The Kiwi later affirmed that the recovery aided his charge to the championship, saying it helped him focus on what he loves most: racing.
2) Whincup calls it a day
The greatest called it quits in February, with Jamie Whincup announcing the end of his full-time career.
Whincup’s announcement coincided with Roland Dane stepping down from the Managing Director and Team Principal roles, of Whincup will assume in 2022.
Tony Quinn’s stake in Triple Eight was also announced.
Whincup, a seven-time champion, couldn’t add No. 8 in 2021, but finished runner-up behind teammate van Gisbergen.
He was inducted into the Supercars Hall fo Fame prior to the race start in Bathurst.
1) The future in the flesh
The biggest story was saved until last, with the long-awaited Gen3 prototype reveal at the season-ending Repco Bathurst 1000.
The Gen3-spec Ford Mustang GT and Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 were unveiled to great fanfare, ended 12 months of anticipation.
The cars were taken around Mount Panorama first by van Gisbergen and Anton De Pasquale.
The new-spec cars will debut in the 2023 Repco Supercars Championship.
The 13-event 2022 Repco Supercars Championship will commence in Newcastle next year. Tickets for the event are on sale now.
The 13-round draft calendar was released during the Repco Bathurst 1000 weekend.
