HRT goes retro for Townsville street fight this weekend

V8 Supercars 11:42 am July 6, 2015

The Holden Racing Team will step up its 25th anniversary celebrations with a cool retro livery in Townsville, inspired by the 1997 HRT VS Commodore.

V8 Supercars champions Garth Tander and James Courtney will pay tribute to Holden legend Peter Brock in the same colours that he claimed his last ever V8 pole, race and round wins.

Brock also started Australia’s Great Race, the Bathurst 1000 from pole that year and led the opening laps.

Tander said he has fond memories of watching his hero Brock in his final season firsthand, and is honoured to have the same livery on his #02 HRT VF Commodore.

“1997 was a big year for the Holden Racing Team with Brock’s last full time year in V8 Supercars, so it’s really special to carry those colours on my HRT Commodore. The guys have done an incredible job replicating the livery,” Tander said.

“I was racing Formula Ford at the time and remember seeing huge crowds surrounding Brock and the HRT garage.

“It was really memorable to watch him in his final year, take the round in Perth and win a race at Oran Park, so to now carry the same livery is exciting.”

The stunning white, blue and Holden red scheme has been re-created by its original designer, Peter Hughes.

“HRT’s 1997 livery is one of my all time favourites. It was the first HRT Commodore I designed and is sentimental to me being Brock’s final year,” Hughes said.

“I’m always excited to see a HRT liveries come to realisation, and I’m proud to bring back this design.”

Brock and then rookie teammate Greg Murphy celebrated 1-2 finishes at Oran Park and at Symmons Plains, while Tander and Courtney look to record a HRT 1-2 at Townsville for the third consecutive year.

“We’ve had a lot of success at Townsville and I’m hoping we can replicate it, with me first and James second. It would be fitting to do it in the 1997 retro livery,” Tander said.

The Castrol EDGE Townsville 400 is the sixth round of the 2015 V8 Supercars Championship, and takes place 10-12 July. Click here for ticketing information, and here for broadcast details – the event will be shown live on both FOX SPORTS 506 and Network TEN.