Not only does 2022 mark the final time a Holden Supercar will compete in the Bathurst 1000, it will also mark 50 years since the late Holden driver Peter Brock won the first of his nine victories at the Mount Panorama circuit.
Chevrolet Racing general manager Chris Payne says Sunday will be an emotional day for former Holden staff and dealers and former members of the Holden Racing Team, Holden Dealer Team, and fans.
“It would be an outstanding way to farewell Holden from the Mountain if one of the Commodore drivers’ can add to the brand’s 35 race wins at the circuit,” Payne says
There will also be several special moments which focus on the 50th anniversary of Peter Brock’s first Bathurst victory in 1972.
“When you think of Bathurst, it’s difficult not to think of Peter – the King of the Mountain,” Payne says.
“He was an incredible driver who achieved an unrivalled nine wins here for Holden, an achievement I don’t ever think will be bettered.”
“Peter’s first win here for Holden was in 1972, so 50 years on it’s just a wonderful tribute to him that Supercars have created a Peter Brock Tribute display at Bathurst, so the fans can come into the Harris Park precinct and enjoy seeing some of his cars again and just remember the great moments and memories he gave to us all,” he says.
In conjunction with Australia Post and the Brock family, General Motors Australia and New Zealand has released a limited-edition postage stamp dubbed ‘Peter Brock – King of the Mountain.’ The stamps feature five of Brock’s famous victories at Mount Panorama and are available now at Australia Post Offices.
One of Holden’s other sons will also have special reason to celebrate this weekend, as he takes to the track for his 300th combined Touring Car/ Supercars round starts – a record unmatched in the history of the sport.
“I’ve enjoyed an incredibly memorable career and am humbled to be here for my 300th round start,” seven times Bathurst winner, Craig Lowndes says.
“I have a strong affinity with the Mountain and would like nothing more than to add to the wins I have savoured here.
“It’s a long race, one in which anything can happen – and it usually does – but to be in the running come Sunday would be hugely satisfying.” Lowndes says.
Brock – King of the Mountain
In a 15-year period between 1972 and 1987, Peter Brock made the Mount Panorama circuit his own, winning the Bathurst 1000 a record nine times. He took his first win in The Great Race, driving solo in the HDT prepared LJ Torana XU-1.
Brock went on to win the great race again in 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1987.
The L34 race homologation Holden Torana V8 model provided a second Bathurst win for Brock in 1975, racing as a privateer under the banner of Melbourne engine builders Gown-Hindhaugh.
After three years, Brock returned to the HDT in 1978 after Holden appointed John Sheppard to replace founder Harry Firth.
Brock turned HDT into a genuine dealer-backed team in return for providing special road cars that served as the basis of the new Commodore race car. He was rewarded with not only immediate on-track success but also a new road-car business – HDT Special Vehicles – that for seven years was the biggest little carmaker in Australia.
At Bathurst, Brock made it a hat-trick of victories driving a VC Commodore. Although he was forced to concede to Dick Johnson and his Ford Falcon XD in 1981, the Holden driver switched to the latest VH Commodore SS model and again reigned supreme in 1982 and 1983, the latter after switching to the team’s second car.
Brock made it six Bathurst wins in seven years in 1984 driving the ultimate Group C touring car, a VK Commodore with a dayglo orange paint scheme. HDT celebrated a famous 1-2 result with a formation finish.
The introduction of international Group A regulations from 1985 disadvantaged the small local carmakers. Brock and Holden persevered and managed to produce a competitive Commodore V8 that surprised the world in 1987. He was welcomed to the podium as the local hero after finishing third behind two international Ford Sierras, but months later was declared the winner when the German-built Fords were excluded for technical infractions.
Brock was now a nine-time Bathurst winner, and an even greater hero to the legion of Holden fans around the country.
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