Fujisu GRM #33 heads to the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 with a shiny new livery, celebrating 50 years in Australian Touring Cars.
The Holden Commodore to be steered by Scott McLaughlin and Jack Perkins has been kitted out with a chrome body team boss Garry Rogers described as smart.
“All of this 50 year thing, I never thought anything of it – but the more we get into it, the more excited I become of it!” Rogers told v8supercars.com.au.
“We wanted to do something – and retain the colours we have – to make it different,” he said.
The team has an arrangement with overseas company Hexis, which produces vinyls for wrapping cars.
“They suggested they would be able to supply us with chrome-coloured tapes in various colours to make the car brighter, for want of a better word.
“We spoke to Brushes (Neville “Brushes” Bolton) who is our main sign man and has been since forever, and he said yep, he could wrap it if we gave him some time. So that’s how it all came about.”
Transforming the car has been a huge job, as each panel needs to be wrapped individually. Rogers estimated it would take two people at least a week, uninterrupted, also remembering spare panels needed to be converted to the new scheme.
“When you see it happening around you, a mudguard appears, and then the next day or day after, all of a sudden there’s a door and a roof and so on. You sort of see that all happening, and of course that’s just the base and you’ve got to put all your stripes, all your signage – all the signage is also in chrome.
“So when the lights all went on it and we took the photos I thought, good on you Brushes, you’ve done it again.”
Rogers believes he is the worst offender of saying Bathurst is just another race, when honestly there is much more meaning attached to the 1000km challenge.
“The fact of the matter is, it’s not just another race. Because really, it’s five or six races rolled into one in terms of distance and the amount of practice time.
“There’s a lot more preparation work required for Bathurst.
“Whether we like it or we don’t, the atmosphere at Bathurst, no matter how many times you’ve been there – and I speak for myself, other people might be different – but when I drive in there I sort of get a lump in my throat, I think, ‘Geez, here we are again’.
“It can all go bad for you but really it can be such an enormous satisfaction in your life. It is a special event.”
While the #33 could be considered a dark horse with McLaughlin and Perkins at the wheel, Rogers said he wouldn’t be making any rash predictions, but continued to praise the crew for each individual’s ongoing efforts. The team’s last win at Mount Panorama was in 2000 with Garth Tander and Jason Bargwanna behind the wheel.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to bits with our workforce and work, everyone has really, really put their minds (to it). I’m not using the word ‘focus’ because I think focus is for pretenders.
“We know what we’ve got to do and through all that the guys have just been non-stop, it’s been go – and don’t forget we’ve had to build our Volvos in the meantime as well and that’s been quite a lengthy process.
“But not one has gone sooking or crying in the corner, we’ve all knuckled down and got on with it.”
