Newly-crowned Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen will carry the #1 and drive a special livery to pay tribute to the Holden brand in what will be its final top-level motor race at this weekend’s Adelaide 500.
The livery sees the team’s usual Red Bull blue replaced with white with Holden logos from across the decades featured all over the cars that van Gisbergen and teammate Broc Feeney will race.
GALLERY: Triple Eight's Holden tribute livery
While the ZB Commodore was an imported model, Holden had manufacturing facilities in South Australia for decades so it was considered a second home for the brand; outside of its headquarters in Port Melbourne, Victoria.
For van Gisbergen the chance to send off Holden in style, running the #1 on the side of his Commodore, was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.
“I think the Holden tribute livery looks awesome – everyone that has been involved in the design has done a fantastic job,” van Gisbergen said.
“I’ve also decided to run #1 on my car for the final round of the season. We’re in a lucky position with the championship wrapped up that we can do something cool like this. 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.
“I’ve got memories of Jamie [Whincup] and Skaifey [Mark Skaife] running the #1 at the start of the season and winning on the streets of Adelaide, and it was the manufacturing home of Holden, so hopefully it will be a meaningful tribute to the many employees past and present. It would be great to win the last race for sure, but if it can’t be me, hopefully it’s another Holden.”
Holden has 614 wins in Australian Touring Car/V8 Supercars racing history, with the chance to add two more this weekend. It will be replaced by the Chevrolet brand in 2023 with the introduction of the Camaro under the new Gen3 regulations.
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