Team drivers Jamie Whincup and Shane van Gisbergen unveiled the new car that shares the 2018 Holden Commodore’s hatchback body shape but, for the 2018 season, not the drivetrain that will retain the 2017’s V8 engine and rear-drive layout.
Mr Whincup, the reigning Supercars champion, says the team made some changes for the next-generation Commodore supercar.
“We’ve decided to really change it up with the colour scheme this year, which looks awesome on the new body shape,” he said.
“We’re obviously hoping it’s a rocket, but I guess we’ll find out in Adelaide in just a few weeks time.”
The seven-time series champion has extended his contract with Triple Eight Race Engineering until at least the end of the 2019 Supercars season. Mr Whincup joined in 2006 making him a 14-year veteran with the team.
At the reveal, the new racecar was placed on a floating pontoon and towed onto Sydney Harbour to Farm Cove.
The striking new livery design on the Red Bull Holden racecar is the work of GM Holden design manager Peter Hughes, who describes it as “fresh, daring and definitely different”.
“The next generation livery is dominated by a completely dark blue front, fading to completely white rear and should be unmistakable on track,” he said.
“Graphics front and rear have been kept to a minimum, showcasing and highlighting the elegant lines of the new Commodore.
“Funky, bold slashes help connect the aggressive blue front to simple and bold white rear, where Holden’s signature nameplate is now vibrant black on white in keeping with our new corporate direction.
“I feel it’s a great way to celebrate the entry of a new era of Commodore into Australian motorsport and I hope the fans like the new look.”
This year is the sixth for Red Bull as a naming rights partner of Triple Eight Race Engineering and the second time the team has debuted a new model Commodore.
Alongside Holden and Red Bull, the #1 and #97 Commodores are supported by Caltex, Iveco, GearWrench, O’Brien AutoGlass, XForce Performance Exhausts and TW Steel in 2018. Triple Eight also welcomes ACDelco on board as a partner.
The new Red Bull Holden racecars open the 2018 season at the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship with the Adelaide 500 on March 1-4.
By Neil Dowling
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