HOLDEN’S LAST STAND AT THE HOLY GRAIL

For many years, NZV8 has featured the iconic Holden brand and shared numerous success stories from its racing past. But with Holden’s final factory-backed race at Bathurst as part of the Repco Supercars Championship, it’s time to bid farewell to the Australian motorsport legends and recall the triumphs and victories from the magic mountain.

Bathurst is as Australian as it gets and the event bid farewell to its most successful brand in Holden.

Although an Australian brand, in recent years New Zealanders have added to its incredibly successful history not only at the Mountain, but also in the Repco Supercars Championship.

Since the first Bathurst endurance event for touring cars in 1963, Holden has provided many memories and opportunities from the EH S4 right up to the ZB Commodore.

Although the Commodore’s latest iteration proved unpopular in the marketplace for a number of reasons, whether because it was fully imported, or frontwheel-drive, or lacking a V8 in its range, it still remained a favourite for the race right until the end.

To be replaced by the Chevrolet Camaro in next year’s new Gen3 era for the Repco Supercars Championship season starting on the streets of Newcastle, it closes the book on a remarkable history of Holden motorsport.

Starting in a covert way due to General Motors’ ban on circuit racing involvement, the Holden Dealer Racing Team was spawned in 1968 following an attack on the enduro London to Sydney Rally by a trio of Monaros led by David McKay.

The respected journalist and driver (who in fact won the first Australian Touring Car Championship in a Jaguar) entered three HK Monaro GTS 327s to blow Ford out of the