Shell V-Power Racing run retro livery for Bathurst 1000

Shell V-Power Racing Team, aka Dick Johnson Racing, will make its 1000th race start at this weekend’s Repco Bathurst 1000. The milestone is being celebrated with a special retro livery applied to both of the team’s cars.

DJR was founded by Dick Johnson in 1980 following the infamous ‘rock’ incident at that year’s Bathurst and has been on the Supercars grid ever since. Johnson remains a part owner of the team and is particularly proud of making 1000 race starts – the first Australian motor racing team to do so – but to reach the milestone at Bathurst is extra special.

“What a ride the last 999 races have been, and I could have never imagined the extent of what DJR has become today. To reach 1000 races at the Repco Bathurst 1000 is a pretty cool milestone,” Johnson said.

“I am incredibly proud to be the first Supercars team to reach this milestone. There’s been a lot of ups and downs during those 999 races, some good some bad and some absolutely fantastic.

“To celebrate 1000 races at the Repco Bathurst 1000 is something that Jillie and I are incredibly proud of. We had no idea what would come of DJR in 1981 and celebrating all of the ups and downs with a tribute livery at the biggest event of the year is incredible.”

The livery is inspired by the Shell Helix blue/red/yellow colours applied to the 1998 EL Falcons that were driven by Johnson and John Bowe in a Supercars season that also saw Dick joined by his son Steven in the famous #17 car for that year’s Bathurst.

“The 1998 EL Falcon livery is very special to me as it was the first year I drove the Bathurst 1000 with my son Steven. It’s fantastic to see the livery on the current Ford Mustang, it looks incredible. I can’t wait to see it take on The Mountain.”

Shell V-Power Racing Team Executive Chairman, Dr Ryan Story, is equally excited about the team’s tribute livery.

“It’s no secret that I was a Dick Johnson Racing fan as a kid and to have joined the race team in an official capacity is something I am very proud of,” Story said.

“The 1998 Shell Helix EL Falcon was my favourite livery growing up and what better way to celebrate 1000 races with one of the most iconic liveries from the 1990s.”

The retro livery will be applied to both the #17 Mustang driven by Will and Alex Davison, and the Anton de Pasquale and Tony D’Alberto car, which for this race will swap de Pasquale’s usual #11 for #100 in tribute to the 100th birthday of team sponsor Repco.

The special livery will only feature at the Repco Bathurst 100, which this year runs from 6 to 9 October at Mount Panorama, Bathurst.