The Holden Racing Team has revealed a unique and menacing testing livery ahead of next month’s sydney.com SuperTest at Sydney Motorsport Park, signalling its intentions for a season-long celebration for its 25th anniversary.
The team’s tough, one-off look for its HRT Commodores, which again proudly features major sponsors Holden, SP Tools, Mobil and HSV, also provides the first taste of its new partnership with Monster Energy – which has also signed a personal deal with 2010 V8 Supercars Champion James Courtney.
The testing livery is part of a number of exciting, unique schemes planned for the team’s milestone season, including its traditional ANZAC livery that this year commemorates the 100th anniversary of Gallipoli, and other one-off activations.
HRT’s regular season livery will then be officially unveiled at the season-opening Clipsal 500 in Adelaide on the team’s birthday, Wednesday February 25.
The launch will be held during the opening of Holden’s impressive, new circuit retail facility, which has been developed by TPF Sports, the merchandising firm appointed as the Master Licensor for the Holden Family of Brands – including HRT and Holden Special Vehicles.
Holden’s official factory racing team, founded in 1990, remains one of the great Australian sporting success stories – with its long-term relationship with iconic manufacturer Holden not only the longest in Australian motorsport, but also its most successful.
GM Holden Motorsport and Sponsorship Manager Simon McNamara said Holden is proud its long-time relationship with the official factory team.
“HRT is a real source of pride for all of us at Holden – and you only need to look back through history to see the incredible things this team has achieved over a quarter of a century,” McNamara said.
“And with all the ingredients in place, we fully expect the legend to continue with more race wins and championships.”
Holden Racing Team Managing Director, Adrian Burgess said the milestone year for the team was a good omen for additional success on-track.
“This is a special year for HRT, with 25 years of incredible history to celebrate – but we’ve also been working hard through the off-season to ensure we’re at the sharp end of the field to give the fans even more to celebrate,” Burgess said.
“It’s also fantastic to see our new partnership with Monster Energy take effect, with the famous claw marks adorning our HRT Commodores.”
The team enters the new season with an unchanged primary driver line-up featuring Courtney, and 2007 V8 Supercars Champion and three-time Bathurst 1000 winner Garth Tander.
Both have their sights locked on the front of the field, with race wins and HRT’s seventh ATCC/V8SC title the goal.
“I’ve been training very hard over the off-season, and can’t wait to get back in my HRT Commodore and take the fight to the front of the grid,” Tander said.
“This year is HRT’s 25th anniversary, and there would be no better way to kick things off than with a win in Adelaide and build momentum from there. I’ve won the event twice, and HRT’s taken six Clipsal victories – so we know how to blast-off in style.”
Courtney said: “We exist to win – races and championships – and this year we expect to be at the front consistently.
“We’ll be working tirelessly in the weeks leading up to the first race to ensure that the HRT Commodore comes out of the transporter quick – and then we’ll turn up the heat to ensure we stay there.
“It’s also great to have Monster Energy on board. Together we can achieve great things!”
Over a quarter of a century, HRT has secured six ATCC/V8SC titles, including a record-five straight (1998-2002), along with more than 200 all-time race wins including seven victories at Australia’s Great Race, the Bathurst 1000.
HRT is also the only team to have won championship races in Australia, New Zealand, China, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Kingdom of Bahrain.
