THE Holden Racing Team’s all-new 2013 Car of the Future-specification Commodore has hit the test track for the first time at Calder Park in Melbourne today.

The brand new car has appeared in a black and gold livery in stark contrast to the red cars it has so famously prepared and raced over the majority of the team’s 20-plus year history.

The new car hit the circuit this morning at Calder for its first shakedown laps after being unveiled on Seven’s Sunrise television program this morning.

Reigning Bathurst champion – and Walkinshaw Racing’s Dunlop Series pilot – Nick Percat was given the honour of the first stint at the wheel.

The car is the 16th constructed by Walkinshaw Racing since it began building VE Commodores for the 2007 season, though the first Car of the Future-spec machine completed by the team.

Today’s rollout makes HRT the third team to put a Car of the Future 2013 machine on the circuit.

Triple Eight Race Engineering have shaken down a ‘hybrid’ car (featuring some parts it will not race with next year) at Norwell and then tested at Queensland Raceway, while Ford Performance Racing has run a handful of days with their new Falcon at Winton.