Holden capped their 52-year stint at Australia’s greatest motor racing with an incredible victory at the 2020 Bathurst 1000 at Holden’s final event with a factory team
Holden Red Bull driver Shane van Gisbergen claimed his first victory at Mt Panorama, farewell Holden’s involvement in the factory with incredible driving in the second half of the race
Van Gisbergen (below) performed in the race himself after a brief downpour of rain and a brilliant afternoon stint from co-pilot Garth Tander, preparing to push back a raging Supercar pack twice afterwards. two periods of safety cars at the end of the race which compressed the field
The 31-year-old New Zealander fought determined rearguard action from poleman Cameron Waters, who led a brilliant race in his Tickford Ford Mustang
Van Gisbergen capped the day by pinching a fan’s flag to the side of the iconic track, sending the Holden Lion in style
– It was a real race in track position, super difficult to overtake and when the rain came, I was a little slow at the start but I started
« It’s important enough for Holden to say goodbye to them as a factory team and an official race team, » he added. “When I joined Holden, I remember how welcoming they were; you felt like family and like a Holden driver It was pretty cool to be a part of
« Then being on the factory team two or three years ago, having that weight on your shoulders and portraying them like that is pretty special, and winning on the last of a Holden is pretty cool. »
« Bathurst means a lot to the Holdens, » said co-driver Garth Tander, who won his fourth crown from Bathurst – the only driver to do so in both iterations of the Factory Holden team.
« One of the fondest memories of my career is when we won the trophy at head office after 2011 with Nick [Percat, his co-pilot] at Fishermen’s Bend and how excited everyone was to have this success in Bathurst
Going to Elizabeth’s manufacturing plant and doing the same there, and seeing the chain employees take a picture with the trophy, was very, very special
« I feel incredibly honored This is a very sad end for a fantastic brand, and I’m glad we were able to shed some light on these final moments »
MOTOR magazine test rider Warren Luff also enjoyed a solid outing with Chaz Mostert in the Walkinshaw Andretti United Commodore to finish third – which, incidentally, was raced after being sold to auction on Friday of the event
It was a different picture from across the Red Bull Racing garage, however
It’s a rare sight to see Jamie Whincup make a mistake in a Supercar – but that’s exactly what happened at the 2020 Bathurst 1000, with the seven-time series champion ending his day in the fence
What makes it more painful is the fact that the race didn’t just mark the final event of a truncated 2020 season where Whincup failed to stop three-time champion Scott McLaughlin’s charge. , but that the last time Holden would be represented on The Mountain in a factory capacity after year
Whincup was involved in a battle for position with Penrite Racing driver Brodie Kostecki on lap 33 when he ran wide at turn four, influencing The Cutting’s outside wall and retreating in place
“Obviously Brodie was making it pretty tough there – it’s not his fault he has every right to go as hard as he can and wasn’t doing anything untoward,” Whincup told the Fox Sports host broadcaster
« I was trying really hard to pass and trying to get back up the road and on second thought I think I smoked the backs of The Chase quite heavily while trying to pass and I probably underestimated the temperature surface at the entrance to The Cutting «
EVIDENTED ð ?????? Whincup and Lowndes are out of the race! The @ kayosports safety car was called out on the circuit # Bathurst1000 # VASC picTwittercom / NKfAibsrS9
The Red Bull Commodores played second fiddle to Tickford Racing’s Ford Mustangs all weekend, but courageous strategy and a changing track brought Whincup and his co-driver, Craig Lowndes, into the game.
« Looking back I should have waited for another round, I probably would have brought it down to Conrod in the next round, » admitted a depressed Whincup, whose four wins at The Mountain were also accompanied by ‘a number of very public failures
« I’m disappointed for everyone I’m fine but obviously everyone has put a lot of effort here in this garage and the engineers in particular deserve better »
The lack of crowds at the event sullied any real chance of a farewell to the Holden brand, while the cancellation of Bathurst International in November destroyed another opportunity to say goodbye to the Lion at a location where he won 34 Ford 20 and 570 Supercars series victories
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World News – AU – Holden’s latest factory victory at the 2020 Bathurst 1000