VICTORY for a Commodore driver in any of the three races at this weekend’s Perth SuperNight will deliver Holden a record 600th Australian Touring Car/Supercars Championship race victory.
The success of Triple Eight’s Shane van Gisbergen and Walkinshaw Andretti United’s Chaz Mostert across the opening nine races of 2022 has brought the brand to the brink of the milestone.
Holden’s current haul of 599 wins has it well clear on the all-time tally ahead of archrival Ford (408), while Nissan (31), BMW (17) and Volvo (11) complete the top five.
This year though is the last in which Holdens will compete in the Supercars Championship, following parent company General Motors’ decision to axe the brand in 2020.
Commodores will be replaced in Australia’s top-flight category next season by the Chevrolet Camaro, which will race against an all-new Ford Mustang under new Gen3 regulations.
Although without a career victory at Barbagallo, van Gisbergen stands as the driver most likely to deliver a 600th Holden race win given his recent form.
Van Gisbergen was responsible for Holden’s 450th, 500th and 550th race wins, scored at Sydney Olympic Park (2013), Symmons Plains (2016) and Townsville (2019) respectively.
The first Holden race victory in the ATCC was recorded by Monaro driver Norm Beechey at Surfers Paradise in 1969, a year before he stormed to the marque’s first title.
Its 100th win came courtesy of then rookie Craig Lowndes at Symmons Plains in 1996 and the high number of races per season has allowed it to quickly amass victories since.
Other major milestone men have included Todd Kelly (200th win, Canberra 2000), Mark Skaife (300th win, Pukekohe 2006) and Jamie Whincup (400th win, Symmons Plains 2011).
Commodores have been responsible for 549 of Holden’s 599 race wins to date, meaning the nameplate also stands to chalk up a milestone when the 600 marker is cracked.
