17.9 C
Mount Panorama
Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsGRM TO TAKE TWO MONAROS TO THE MOUNTAIN

GRM TO TAKE TWO MONAROS TO THE MOUNTAIN

GARRY Rogers Motorsport has confirmed it will take two Monaros to this year’s Shannons Holden Bathurst Revival at Mount Panorama in November, including the 2002 Bathurst 24 Hour-winning car.

In addition to the new-build car currently being put together by the team at its Melbourne workshop, the yellow Nations Cup-spec Monaro will return to Bathurst and run on the famous track at speed for the first time since it finished runner-up in the 2003 24 Hour race.

Just who will drive the two cars has not yet been publicly confirmed.

GRM built two of the cars in period, the yellow car that won the 2002 24 Hour and the red car that won the 2003 ‘twice around the clock’ endurance classic.

Both have been depicted in two Peter Hughes artwork prints – limited to 427 of each, they are available to order now here.

There’s also a chapter devoted to the Monaro Nations Cup program in our new book, ‘Racing the Lion’, a 400-page hardcover collector’s edition publication available to order here now, an illustrated history of Holden in Australian motorsport.

Due to the imminent closure of the Holden brand, GRM claims that the current CV8 Monaro under construction is likely to be the last brand-new Holden ever built.

Team owner Barry Rogers says that the Shannons Holden Bathurst Revival is the perfect way to farewell the car brand and give the new Monaro a serious track hit out.

“When COVID-19 first hit, we were looking for some work to keep our guys busy, and there were containers out the back with quite a bit of stuff for the Monaro in there, including a body shell,” he says.

“With Holden leaving Australia, we felt this was a great way to say thanks and farewell, and it will most likely be the last Holden ever built in Australia. For our team, we feel that is quite special.

“The Bathurst International event is going to the perfect way for GRM to salute Holden and the recognise the massive role it has played in Australian motorsport and our team.

“The new car is built to the exact same specification as the original car. Ron Harrop had quite a bit to do with the original, and he is building uprights and a bunch of other bits for it. He is semi-retired now and works in his own shed in country Victoria. He has sourced and retained all of the IP to produce those components. 

“Gypsy (long-time GRM engine man Jeff Marshall) is currently rebuilding the 427 engine that we proudly displayed in our boardroom. Thankfully we retained that engine after all of these years.

“We can’t wait to get both of them to Bathurst and get them around the track.”

The Bathurst International is scheduled for November 12-15.

Want to read more?

Subscribe to V8 Sleuth to receive regular updates of news and products delivered straight to you.



Latest News