THE iconic partnership between Dick Johnson Racing and Shell is set to continue in 2023 and beyond.
DJR has inked a new multi-year deal with Shell’s local distributor Viva Energy Australia for the Shell V-Power fuel brand to remain the team’s naming rights partner.
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To celebrate V8 Sleuth has dug into the AN1 Images library to look back on the iconic Shell colour schemes run by DJR over the years.
They are presented in their six distinct eras (within which only minor changes occurred) and ranked in countdown order, saving the best for last!
One-off specials aren’t included here, this is for full-time liveries only. Let us know your favourite via our social media channels.
6) Shell Helix AU Falcons, 1999-2002
Only a handful of V8 Supercar teams turned out truly stunning AU Falcon liveries, and DJR wasn’t one of them.
This simple red, yellow and blue scheme (which received a mild update for 2001) looked clean enough but runs at the back of this pack.
5) Shell EB-EF Falcons, 1993-1996
Yellow and blue with red wheels? It doesn’t sound great on paper, but it largely worked on track and victories in both the Bathurst 1000 and ATCC helped make it iconic.
This scheme was run for four seasons from 1993, with major sponsorship from FAI Insurance added to that of Shell ahead of the 1994 season, pictured.
4) Shell Helix EL Falcons, 1997-1998
A move to promote the Helix oil brand and the end of the FAI co-sponsorship meant more red and less blue for 1997.
This livery’s relatively short shelf life and a dip in results during the period mean it’s far from DJR’s best-remembered Shell scheme, but we reckon it looked pretty sharp.
3) Shell Sierras, 1987-1992
DJR’s first Shell colour scheme was as simple as it gets, plain red with Shell branding plastered on it!
But sometimes simple works and DJR’s Sierras were not only among the fastest in the world, but the best looking too – especially once they received their seven-spoke gold wheels
2) Shell V-Power FG X Falcons and S550 Mustangs, 2017-2022
The arrival of Shell V-Power backing for 2017 marked a much-welcomed return to a single, full-season primary sponsor for DJR Team Penske after two seasons of rotating liveries.
While some fans have been frustrated that the livery has hardly changed since, it still looks pretty good to us, even with the change from Falcon to Mustang for 2019.
1) Shell Helix BA Falcons, 2003-2004
DJR and Shell went bold for the introduction of the BA Falcon in 2003, producing this eye-catching scheme that cleverly utilised the oil company’s famous pecten.
These cars didn’t do any winning on track over two seasons, but they certainly looked the part and were worthy recipients of DJR’s own retro round remake at Sandown in 2016.