Holden and the Holden Racing Team pay tribute to the ANZAC spirit

Sunday 22nd March 2015
Holden and the Holden Racing Team pay tribute to the ANZAC spirit
Holden will commemorate next month’s centenary of the Gallipoli landings with its factory Holden Racing Team paying its annual tribute to the ANZAC spirit with a one-off livery in Tasmania next weekend.V8 Supercars Champions, Garth Tander and James Courtney’s HRT Commodores will carry the commemorative ANZAC design at the Tyrepower Tasmania SuperSprint, at Symmons Plains Raceway, on 27-29 March.

Now in its third year, HRT’s tribute is approved and supported by the Returned & Services League, with the initiative raising awareness and funds for the RSL’s annual ANZAC Appeal.

The 2015 version sees Holden’s famous HRT lion and driver logo again replaced by the RSL’s ANZAC Appeal Rising Sun logo, with a silhouette of ANZAC diggers from the original Gallipoli landing featuring on each side of the car and bonnet.

The ANZAC Appeal logo also features on the boot lid, with “ANZAC Centenary, April 25, 2015” featuring above the front windscreen and on the rear wing.

GM Holden Motorsport and Sponsorship Manager Simon McNamara said Holden was proud to donate its space on the HRT Commodores to acknowledge those who have served our country.

“The Holden Racing Team’s annual ANZAC tribute has become a very special part of Holden’s motorsport activities and in this, the 100th year since the Gallipoli landings, it makes us even more proud,” McNamara said.

“As a company, Holden is privileged to be able to continue supporting the ANZAC tradition, honouring those that have served and paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country, while also helping raise awareness to the valuable work of the RSL.”

The RSL’s Victorian Branch Appeals Manager, Peter Smith OAM, said the organisation was delighted with Holden and HRT’s ongoing commitment to remembering the service and sacrifice of the Australian Defence Force.

“The ANZAC appeal logo on the car is great, and the silhouette of the solders is just so powerful. The cars look fantastic and it’s a testament to Holden’s support. It makes us very proud,” Mr Smith said.

“We’re raising money for veterans welfare – old veterans, young veterans, and their families when they most need help. This support and helping get our message out to Australians is very important to us.

Tander said he is passionate about ANZAC Day and the RSL’s appeal because of family ties.

“ANZAC Day is a very special day in my family because grandfather served overseas in the Army, so when you say ‘ANZAC’, the first thing I think about is respect,” Tander said.

“The ANZAC spirit epitomises what Australia is all about; going out of your way for a mate, doing the hard work, and doing it properly, and working together – and now as a parent I’m making sure my kids hear the full ANZAC story and what it means.

“To me, it’s special to be able to carry the ANZAC Rising Sun, and even more so this year with the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings.”

Courtney agreed, saying the ANZAC tribute is a memorable part of HRT’s year.

“The ANZACs fought for our freedom and made Australia what it is today, and their spirit and courage in battle is something we can never thank them enough for,” Courtney said.

“To have the original ANZACs shadowed across my car is a strong image that really brings home the impact of what diggers went through, and it’s great of Holden to give up its space for the appeal.

“It’s a special time of year and something I really look forward to representing with pride.”

The Holden Racing Team encourages everyone to support the ANZAC Appeal by purchasing an ANZAC Appeal badge and wearing it with pride, or by donating online at www.anzacappeal.com.au.

Holden Racing Team Win Clipsal 500

1st March 2015
Holden Racing Team Win Clipsal 500
It was a dream ending for the Holden Racing Team on the final day of competition at the Clipsal 500 with James Courtney winning today’s 250km race and Garth Tander joining him on the podium in 3rd.Both the #2 and #22 Holden Commodores qualified for the Top Ten Shootout and it was Courtney who was victorious in claiming his first pole position of the year, his second pole position at this event.

Tander set the 9th fastest time in the shootout but was later advanced two places on the grid to 7th after a timing error was discovered.

Green lights for Race 3 and Courtney was quick off the mark holding his position while Tander jumped two places to 5th.  The two Holden Racing Team drivers were on different race strategies to each other, and to the rest of the field, which made it difficult to predict where the positions would fall in the later part of the race.  After their third and final pit stops Courtney and Tander were effectively in positions 1 and 2, with just three cars in front still to stop.

Van Gisbergen wanted in on the action after his final stop and with the advantage of four new tyres he was on the hunt for the HRT team mates.  He managed to pass Tander and with Courtney now firmly in his sights, began his assault for the win.  Tander stayed in touch with the race leaders and held 3rd place until the finish line.

For 20 longs laps van Gisbergen was relentless in trying to overtake Courtney.  Lap 60 was intense as the two came together pushing Courtney wide.  But the 2010 Championship winner would not back down and regained the lead which is where he stayed until he past chequered flag.

James Courtney now stands at the top of the leader board in the V8 Supercars Championship and Garth Tander is currently 3rd.

Adrian Burgess, Managing Director:
“The weekend has been fantastic.  You make all these plans before the start of the year and you all go to the track thinking you’re going to be on the pace and going to win it.  But to get both cars on the podium today and for James to win the race is tremendous.”

“It’s a great reward for all the guys who have been working hard for the last 14 months, but its early days yet.  The drivers did a great top in qualifying, James did a fantastic lap in the shootout and they both had an incredible drive under pressure.”

Click the below link to see what the driver had to say about today’s win and podium finish:
http://youtu.be/PZ6vDswo0hM

Holden Racing Team Launches Regular Season Livery on 25th Birthday

25th February 2015
Holden Racing Team Launches Regular Season Livery on 25th Birthday
Celebrations for the Holden Racing Team’s 25th anniversary are off to a roaring start, with the iconic team launching its regular season livery on its birthday at Holden’s retail facility at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide.The new-look HRT Commodore, unveiled today by the team’s champion drivers Garth Tander and James Courtney, features an aggressive-looking black and dayglo red livery incorporating sponsors Holden, SP Tools, Mobil, HSV, and Monster Energy.

The team, which won Adelaide’s Clipsal 500 event last year with Courtney taking victory, made its race debut 25 years ago to the day – at the opening round of the Australian Touring Car Championship, the event held at the now-defunct Amaroo Park Raceway in Sydney.

On Sunday 25 February 1990, then-team manager and driver Win Percy drove the Holden Racing Team’s lone entry at the event, the #16 HRT VL Commodore SS Group A SV, and finished 14th.

Since then, HRT has become one of Australia’s greatest sporting success stories with a record-200-plus race wins, including seven at the Bathurst 1000, and six championships – including a record-five straight from 1998 to 2002.

HRT also remains the only team to have won championship races in Australia, New Zealand, China, the UAE, and the Kingdom of Bahrain.

GM Holden Motorsport and Sponsorship Manager, Simon McNamara said HRT’s achievements across two and a half decades are a huge source of pride for Holden – with the relationship not only the longest in Australian motorsport, but also its most successful.

“The Holden Racing Team is an Aussie icon, and its history of sustained success is something that we can all be proud of – especially today, given it’s the team’s 25thbirthday,” McNamara said.

“2015 is going to be a great year for HRT, as we celebrate its silver anniversary – and may the success on-track continue all the way through to the final round in Sydney, and beyond.”

GM Holden Design Manager, Peter Hughes said the team’s regular season livery took its inspiration not only from the menacing black HRT Commodore that ran at the V8 SuperTest earlier this month, but also past masters.

“I think the new look is aggressive, and unmistakably HRT,” Hughes said.

“The red and black look with traditional white bonnet is a respectful nod to the original VE Commodore from 2007. The livery we ran at the V8 SuperTest was really a prelude to what we’ve revealed today, with far more black.”

The enduring partnership between Holden and its official factory racing team is complemented by major commitments from SP Tools; Mobil, who head into their 22nd year with HRT, and HSV, which has been on-board from the outset.

Additional long-term partnerships include NGK, entering its 21st year with HRT; John Hart, a partner for 15 years; MTAA Super, celebrating its eighth season with the team; and PPG Industries, which has been with HRT from day one (initially as Dulux).

New partners Monster Energy and Dell join them, while Morris Finance has an upgraded presence with the team.

As part of the milestone festivities, the HRT Commodore will feature a number of special one-off liveries throughout the season, including the traditional ANZAC livery that this year commemorates the 100th anniversary of Gallipoli.

The celebrations have also extended to the official team wear and merchandise – which has been transformed by TPF Sports, the global firm recently appointed as the Master Licensor for the Holden Family of Brands.

Holden Racing Team Managing Director, Adrian Burgess said the best possible way for the team to celebrate its 25th anniversary was by fighting at the front of the ultra-competitive V8 Supercars grid.

“V8 Supercars truly is the world’s most competitive touring car series, and over the past 25 years HRT has established itself as one of the sport’s leading lights,” Burgess said.

“The team has worked tirelessly over the off-season to ensure we start this very special season on the front foot, and we look forward to seeing Garth and James fighting tooth and nail for race wins – and celebrating in style.”

It’s a sentiment echoed by HRT’s drivers, Tander and Courtney.

“It’s a wonderful thing to be part of the Holden Racing Team on this occasion – and I feel proud as a driver,” Tander said.

“The #2 HRT Commodore was strong at the end of last year, so with the amount of work we’ve done throughout the off-season we should be in a good position to fight at the front from the outset.”

“I love the new-look, our HRT Commodore just looks so tough and menacing – which is as it should be,” Courtney said.

“We’re planning to start this season in style, with plenty to celebrate off-track, so I’m ready to get behind the wheel and give it my best.”

The HRT Commodores will be on track from Friday 27th February, with practice set to start at 9.05am ACDT.

V8 SUPERCARS CHAMPION JAMES COURTNEY LAUNCHES JC KARTS

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Friday, 16th January 2015

Holden V8 Supercars star, James Courtney is set to pass on the experience of his youth and support the next generation of racers by launching his own line of go-karts under the JC Kart banner.

Courtney is a two-time CIK-FIA World Karting Champion, having won the 1995 World Junior Karting Championship held at Braga in Portugal, and the Senior title in Salbris, France, just two years later. He remains the only Australian to have won a world karting title at any level.

The 2010 V8 Supercars Champion and factory Holden Racing Team driver has teamed with former mentor Jon Targett to bring the brand to market, with the first JC Kart to be unveiled next month.

Designed in conjunction with Courtney and Targett, and manufactured in Italy, JC Karts will offer a line of models covering the entire range of go-karting categories, from Cadet to the CIK-FIA classes.

“I cannot explain how excited and proud I am launching JC Karts,” Courtney said.

“Karting is the foundation for all motor racing – it is not only a fun and exciting sport, but is also where so many of today’s champions began their careers.

“I have many great memories of my time karting, and for the past few years have been kicking around the idea of how I could again become involved and give something back to it – and JC Karts is the result.”

Courtney said Targett’s involvement has been crucial in the launch of JC Karts.

Targett is considered one of the world’s best kart drivers and mentors, having raced and beaten former F1 stars Jarno Trulli, Giancarlo Fisichella, Jan Magnussen and Jos Verstappen, before guiding the likes of Courtney and former V8 driver David Besnard.

“When the idea of building my own brand was floated there was no one that I wanted more to be a part of JC Karts than Jon,” Courtney said.

“Not only was he a great driver in his own right, and an advisor to me in my early career, but Jon was also instrumental in the success of the Top Kart and Energy Corse brands.”

JT Motorsport will distribute JC Karts in Queensland, with Australian karting legends, Troy Hunt and James Sera appointed distributors in New South Wales and Victoria respectively.

For JC Kart enquiries, email info@jamescourtney.com.au or your local dealer.

Queensland New South Wales Victoria
JT Motorsport Troy Hunt James Sera’s Karting Centre
0438 646 655 0438 664 626 03 9551 8982

Social Media Links

https://www.facebook.com/pages/JC-Kart/1524075804540577?ref=hl

Twitter: @JC_Kart

Instagram jc_kart
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