Holden’s decision to retain its iconic Commodore nameplate for the next-generation large car to be imported from GM global operations from 2018 also signals its intention to do the same in Australia’s premier motor racing series, the V8 Supercars Championship beyond 2017.
Debuted by the late Peter Brock in 1980, the Commodore nameplate has gone on to become the most successful in Australian Touring Car Championship/V8 Supercars history with more than 425 race wins.
It is also the most successful car in Australia’s iconic race, the Bathurst 1000, with 22 victories at the world famous Mount Panorama circuit, including a record seven-straight from 1999 through to 2005.
Commodore drivers have also taken 15 of Holden’s 19 ATCC/V8SC titles, including the past four straight by Red Bull Racing Australia’s Jamie Whincup.
GM Holden Motorsport and Sponsorship Manager Simon McNamara hailed the brand’s intention to retain Commodore as the brand’s flagship racecar, but said talks would continue surrounding V8 Supercars’ recently announced 2017 Gen 2 Supercars strategy.
“Racing is an integral part of Holden’s DNA and Commodore is the most successful nameplate in Australian Touring Car and V8 Supercar history and we are looking forward to winning races and championships with Commodores in the future,” McNamara said.
“We have every intention of racing Commodore for many years to come, but obviously we need to keep working with the regulators and ensure the specific program is the right one.”
Holden dominated the world’s most competitive touring car series again in 2014, sealing all three titles (drivers’, teams’ and manufacturers’) with one round to go.
The aim remains the same in 2015, with 12 Commodores to line up on this year’s V8 grid led by the official factory Holden Racing Team and reigning champions Red Bull Racing Australia.
Holden Racing Team’s Garth Tander, 2007 V8 Supercars champion, said: “We’ve won a lot of races in Commodore so it’s great the nameplate lives on. Obviously Holden needs to work through the new rules and regulations, but we’ve been told it has every intention of racing Commodore well into the future and we’re happy with that.”
Tander told v8supercars.com.au it would be exciting to be part of the Gen2 phase of Supercars when it was announced in December – click here for his and six-time champion Jamie Whincup’s comments on the coming breed of Supercar.
