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https://www.supercars.com/news/championship/camaro-to-join-supercars-grid-in-2022/
Camaro to join Supercars grid in 2022
- VIRGIN AUSTRALIA SUPERCARS CHAMPIONSHIP
- 4 Hours Ago
- By Stefan Bartholomaeus
The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 will join the Supercars Championship grid in 2022, under the category’s new Gen3 rule package.
Supercars and Chevrolet parent company General Motors have confirmed the American muscle car will take on its traditional rival, the Ford Mustang, in a new era for the sport
The news comes on the eve of the final Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 featuring factory-backed Holden Commodores.
With GM electing to shutdown Holden's operations this year, the current Commodores will race on in 2021, before the Gen3 Camaros debut the following season.
Current Holden factory team Triple Eight is spearheading the project, having been charged with the design of the Gen3 Camaro race car body by Supercars under the endorsement of GM.
The Intellectual Property for the race car will be retained by Supercars, meaning other teams will also be able to race Camaros, either by purchasing complete cars from Triple Eight or by building their own.
Renders of a Gen3 Camaro Supercar dressed in Red Bull, Penrite Racing and Walkinshaw Andretti United colours have been released by Supercars as part of the announcement.
Category boss Sean Seamer said: “It’s great news to have GM continuing their presence in Australasia’s leading motorsports category.
“The Camaro will play a key role in the development of our new generation of race cars, so when it hits the track, it’s sure to excite not only our younger fans, but importantly, all those who remember the nameplate’s rich history in the sport.”
GM president Mark Reuss added his backing of the project, saying: “We at GM are thrilled to continue an involvement in Supercars in Australia and New Zealand.
“Chevy Camaro will be an exciting addition to the track, and we have every confidence Triple Eight will ensure the race-going version will be a faithful representation of the road-going Camaro ZL1’s DNA.”
It won’t be the first time Camaros have competed in the Australian Touring Car Championship.
Bob Jane won the 1971 and ’72 titles in a ZL1, while later entries included Kevin Bartlett’s famous Channel 9-backed Z28.
The Roland Dane-led Triple Eight has run Holdens in Supercars since defecting from Ford in 2010, taking over factory team status in ’17.
“It’s very pleasing to bring such an iconic car, the Chevrolet Camaro, back to Australia’s race tracks,” said Dane.
“Personally, I have enjoyed a long motorsports relationship with General Motors, dating back to the 1990s in the British Touring Car Championship, so I’m happy to be able to continue that.
“We’re very pleased that GM have entrusted development of the Gen3 Camaro to Triple Eight for this exciting new era of Supercars racing.
“The Camaro looks fantastic as a road car and there’s no doubt that it will make a spectacular, aggressive race car.
“Preparations for the introduction of Gen3 regulations are well underway, but our sights this week are fully focussed on delivering the best results possible for Holden and Holden fans.”
Interim Chairman & Managing Director of General Motors Australia & New Zealand, Kristian Aquilina added: “We loved every minute of our 51-year involvement through Holden.
“There will never be another Holden, but we now welcome Camaro to the stage and hopefully a whole new generation of fans with it.”
Brilliant drive all day
I've been a multi-year 888 platinum member, had heaps of hot laps with both CL and JW, (never with SvG however), I've owned nothing but Commodores - VT, VE and now a 2015 Craig Lowndes SSV Redline - I suppose you could say I'm an avid fan
I can't explain why it has not upset me that Holden is gone, I've grown up Holden all the way back to my grandfather, if anything I feel the most for the guys and girls on the production line that have lost jobs.
I suppose if I didn't own any Commodore(s), it may have possibly stung a bit more. In a sense I suppose I'm just grateful that I had the chance to own one. In 2014 I drove my previous car (2011 VE) from Brisbane to Bathurst for the Great Race (which didn't end up all that great), and am very hopeful of doing it again in the near future.
Highly likely I will continue to support 888 as they progress on to the Camaro. Hopefully more manufacturers hop on board, Toyota, Kia, maybe even the return of BMW. Lots of rumours and possibilities ahead.
