SCOTT Pye’s Team 18 Camaro will sport a bold retro look at this weekend’s Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500.
The #20 entry pays homage to major sponsor Hino’s racing roots, and specifically a ‘Team Samurai’ prototype intended for the 1967 Japanese Grand Prix and Le Mans.
“Hino is renowned for our track record with Hino Team Sugawara racing trucks in the gruelling Dakar Rally,” said Richard Emery, vice-president brand and franchise development for Hino Australia.
“But this striking red livery is actually inspired by our brief, little-known foray into car racing in the 1960s.
“It was a hailed a ‘styling triumph’ featuring in several magazines and displayed at motor shows, but ultimately it didn’t compete in the Japanese Grand Prix due to a stewards’ ruling that it had insufficient ground clearance.
“A merger with Toyota in 1967 ended Hino’s production of cars and racing program, and the ‘Team Samurai’ prototype remained just that, a prototype.”
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Emery added: “The story of our involvement in car production is one that is rarely told.
“In 1953 Hino became a private car manufacturer, initially assembling another brand’s car under licence.”
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Pye welcomed the revised livery, for what will be his penultimate round start with Team 18.
“I’m really excited and proud to represent Hino, which has been a huge supporter of our team, but in particular this livery behind me looks fantastic,” he said.
“It was something in 1967 that never actually hit the track, so I’m excited to get on the circuit at the Gold Coast 500.
“The livery looks great I think it’s really cool. It’s a nice twist on a retro livery, 1967’s a long time ago and I think the designs back then were very cool.
“I mean everything we’ve done that’s been retro in the past in Supercars has always had a really cool flair to it so I think the car looks fantastic and Hino is really prominent on it and very proud to represent the brand on the Gold Coast.”
