Asian Motor Sports

Holden Racing Team has a new driver - reigning champion Garth Tander no less - new cars painted in an eye-catching new livery and a new big sponsor ready to tackle the 2008 V8 Supercar season.

The pair of mainly white VE Commodores hits the racetrack at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide in three weeks

One has been built brand-new for Tander, who switches across from the sister HSV team. His partner Mark Skaife’s Commodore has done only one race meeting, at the end of last year.

“Team Red” will retain its traditional colour on its clothing and on the trademark lion’s head logo on a now predominantly white car with silver and black accents.

Transport logistics firm Toll also has made the move as a main sponsor from HSV to HRT to join Mobil and Holden as the major supporters.

HRT’s annual unveiling of its updated livery is the most eagerly awaited of all V8 Supercar teams.

Tander said there were changes in switching to HRT but it was “a great honour.”

“It’s an exciting opportunity for me to be going to the factory team as reigning champion,” Tander said.

“It’s a real opportunity for me to cement myself as one of Holden’s ambassadors in V8 Supercar racing.”

Skaife will be starting his 12th season with HRT.

“I feel like I’m driving as well as I’ve ever driven,” said the 40-year-old. “I’m looking forward to starting the year strongly.”

Indeed, Skaife has a good record at the Clipsal 500 but not so in recent years.

He hopes the new-look HRT will be able help him to launch a successful new chapter.

He said the new livery was aggressive and the best paint styling for HRT for a long time.

Tander reckoned the HRT Commodores looked “very tough and very smart.”

Tander said he realized having No.1 on his car would make him the driver all others wanted to beat this year. But he would start this year no differently, the No.1 gave him no advantage and he’d be in the same boat as all others.

“We all start from scratch in Adelaide; and it’s game-on from there,” Tander said.