Motor racing: Holden brand retirement stuns Australian motor sport

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Motor racing: Holden brand retirement stuns Australian motor sport

 

FILE PHOTO: Holden cars are pictured at a dealership located in the Western Australian city of Perth, December 12, 2013. REUTERS/David Gray

 

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - The future of Australia's Supercars series is under a cloud following the decision by U.S. auto maker General Motors to scrap the iconic Holden brand that has underpinned the touring car championship for decades.

 

General Motors Co said on Monday it would retire the Holden brand by 2021 as it winds down Australian and New Zealand operations in the latest restructuring of its global business.

 

The move has rocked the V8 Supercars series in which eight of the 13 teams race Holden's Commodore model cars.

 

Holden has said it planned to fulfil its commitments to the series this year but its future involvement remains unresolved.

 

"We will begin discussions with the organisers of Supercars and Red Bull Holden Racing Team,” Holden said in a post on social media.

"We will update you on these discussions at the appropriate time."

 

Holden provides factory backing to the Red Bull Holden Racing team in Supercars and signed an agreement last year to continue its partnership through to the end of the 2021 season.

 

The brand has been an integral part of the Australian motor racing landscape for over half a century, claiming 21 national touring car titles.

Mark Skaife, who won five championships from 1992-2002 in Australia's premier touring car series, said he was fighting back tears after Monday's announcement.

 

"I just never in my lifetime thought that there'd be a day where we would see Holden move out of this country," the television motor sport pundit told Sky News.

 

"The reality around football, meat pies, kangaroos and Holden cars, it's been part of our psyche ... it's been part of the social fabric of Australia."

DJR Team Penske, Ford's factory squad in Supercars, said they were saddened by the closure of their competitor.

 

"Holden was always a fierce rival. A great Aussie brand coming to an end is sad for our country, no matter your allegiance," the team said on social media.

 

(Reporting by Ian Ransom; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-02-18

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[canopus1969]

and Holden cars, it's been part of our psyche

 

Well if the Aussies had bought more instead of their favourite Jap vehicles then there would still be a Holden - their fault it's gone

[sandrabbit]

if they are going to retire the brand have they just killed all sales till then and also what would you feel like if you had taken delivery of one before the announcement?.

[natway09]

This is old news,,,,I heard about this 2 years ago 

[mrfill]

3 hours ago, sandrabbit said:

if they are going to retire the brand have they just killed all sales till then and also what would you feel like if you had taken delivery of one before the announcement?.

Ask any Saab driver.

GM did the same to them nearly 10 years ago.

[Joinaman]

must be Brexits fault again 

[rocksniffer]

Just search in Google, such as this one https://www.budgetdirect.com.au/car-insurance/research/australian-car-sales-statistics.html  In 2018 Holden were already in 6th place, by sales, in Australia. I am sure that there are reasons for that. 

 

[IAMHERE]

38 minutes ago, Joinaman said:

must be Brexits fault again 

I love Brexit; take a lot of pressure off POTUS. Corona virus is almost as good.

[Don Mega]

The only thing Holden in the V8 supercars was a composite body shell that had a vague resemblance to a Commodore.

 

Nothing really to be stunned about and everyone knew this time was coming.

[GreasyFingers]

Owned Holdens for many years, apart from a Ford and Volkswagons, so it is a sad day. Can remember when they first started racing the Torana against the big Fords at Panorama, great sight to see them brake late at the end of Conrod straight.