Red Bull Ampol Racing pay tribute to Holden

On the eve of the VALO Adelaide 500, the final round of the 2022 Repco Supercars Championship, Red Bull Ampol Racing revealed a special livery paying tribute to Holden, which will disappear from the Supercars grid permanently after this weekend.

Unveiled by Red Bull Ampol Racing drivers Shane van Gisbergen and Broc Feeney in front of a large contingent of Holden owners and customers at Peter Page General Motors Trade Parts in Adelaide, the tribute livery was created by renowned motorsport livery designer and former Holden designer, Peter Hughes, featuring logos and badges from Holden’s 70+ year history as an automotive brand on an all-white background.

“The idea of an all-white livery with a subtle watermark wasn't unheard of within Triple Eight, with Tom [Wilson, Triple Eight Commercial Director] and I floating the idea in the past on more than one occasion, so when the opportunity to execute a ‘Final Triple Eight Holden’ livery presented itself, we knew this theme would work perfectly as a truly unique tribute,” Hughes explained.

“The concept allowed us to celebrate Holden in a very cool and respectful way, impregnating the whole car with Holden logos and badges from its illustrious history, without taking away or competing with our current partners.”

A Short History

The Holden connection with Red Bull Ampol Racing’s parent, Triple Eight Race Engineering, goes back to 2010, when the team switched from Ford. Success came immediately, with Jamie Whincup taking victory in the first four races of the season behind the wheel of Triple Eight’s VE Commodore and finishing second in the championship that year before going on to take the title every year from 2011 to 2014.

At the Bathurst 1000 over the same period, Triple Eight (racing as Team Vodafone, then Red Bull Racing Australia from 2012) achieved a 1-2 finish in 2010, 1-3 in 2012 and podiums in 2011 and 2013.

From 2017 to 2020 inclusive, Triple Eight was the official Holden factory team, rebranded as Red Bull Holden Racing and responsible for the development of the ZB Commodore Supercar, which was introduced in 2018. With the termination of the Holden brand at the end of 2020, the team name changed to Red Bull Ampol Racing for 2021.

Excluding whatever results come this weekend, Triple Eight’s 13-year association with Holden has delivered 189 race wins, ten Manufacturers’ Championships, eight Drivers’ Championships and six Bathurst 1000 wins.

Racers Farewell

At the launch of the special livery on 29 November, Triple Eight’s Managing Director, Jamie Whincup, said the team’s final race in a Holden will be an emotional one.

“There’s certainly no underestimating the significance of this year’s Adelaide 500 - the last Supercars Championship event for the Roaring Lion. Seeing the Holden badge cross the finish line for the final time on Sunday on its home soil will no doubt pull a heart string.

“Although it’s a time to reflect and celebrate the legacy of Holden, I want fans to be excited for the future of the sport with the introduction of Gen3 and the Chevrolet Camaro,” Whincup added. “Triple Eight, General Motors and Supercars have put in a mammoth effort over the past three years to get this project on the track for the beginning of the 2023 season.”

Chris Payne, Chevrolet Racing & Holden Motorsport General Manager, added: “Feelings will certainly be high at the Adelaide 500 for the final appearance of a Holden-badged Supercar.

“Holden fans have been passionate supporters since 1948, and this Holden tribute livery from Triple Eight is a fitting way for the Lion to have one final roar.

“Over 50 years of spirited competition, and at times bitter rivalry between Holden and Ford, will come to an end on Sunday; but the next exciting era will soon be upon us with Gen3, and we cannot wait for the debut of the all-new Chevrolet Racing Camaro Supercar in 2023.”

Shane van Gisbergen, the 2022 Supercars Champion, announced he’ll run #1 on his Holden ZB Commodore Supercar for the final round this weekend, instead of his usual #97, as a nod to the team’s success and a tribute to Holden’s return to the streets of Adelaide for the final time.

“We’re in a lucky position with the championship wrapped up that we can do something cool like [the #1],” van Gisbergen said. “It’s a ‘Thank You’ to the entire team because I know they’ve always loved running the #1 and have truly earnt it this year. It also suits with the last race for Holden running the #1 on the side of the car.

“Hopefully it will be a meaningful tribute to the many [Holden] employees. It would be great to win the last race for sure, but if it can’t be me, hopefully it’s another Holden.”

Red Bull Ampol Racing’s second driver, Broc Feeney, added: “It feels surreal that this is going to be the last time. You grow up watching [Supercars] and all the heroes running in a Holden. To race the final ever event in a Holden is going to be pretty special.

“I know it’ll mean a lot to the fans who have supported the brand for so many years - longer than I’ve been alive - so hopefully we can send it out on a high.”

Craig Lowndes was also at the unveiling and obviously has a longer history with Holden than either of the current drivers. While he understands the significance of Holden’s exit after this weekend’s finale, he’s also looking forward to the future, when Chevrolet will replace Holden on the Supercars grid.

“It’s going to be emotional for all of us,” Lowndes said. “We’ve got huge history with the Holden brand.

“On Sunday, we close the chapter on Holden, but with the Camaro, we open up a brand new one. The commitment with GMSV going forward is huge. We’ve got the Silverado ZR2, the Camaro, the Corvette coming out - there’s a whole new line of cars and trucks coming out in the next 12 to 24 months.”