For over a decade the Bathurst 1000 has been the sole domain of Holden and Ford but 2012 is the last year the two manufacturers will have the Mount Panorama circuit all to themselves.
Next year’s V8 Supercars endurance classic will feature Nissans and Mercedes as well as the usual Commodores and Falcons, meaning Sunday’s 1000km race is one last chance to claim bragging rights in a solely Holden-Ford rivalry.
In 51 races at Australian motorsport’s holy grail, Holden has notched 28 wins with Ford claiming 17 race victories while only six races have been won by another brand.
Nowhere is the red and blue divide as noticeable than at the biggest weekend in the championship and triple Bathurst champion Garth Tander is intimately aware of how much it means to the fans.
The Holden Racing Team driver, who has spent his whole career being the wheel of a Commodore, says the addition of new manufacturers to the championship won’t diminish that rivalry either.
“It’s 50 years of Australia’s great race, and it’s always been an event with tribal following of either Holden red or Ford blue,” Tander told AAP.
“You’re never more aware of that than when you’re racing for the factory Holden Racing Team.
“I’ve heard people saying it’s the end of a tradition, but we don’t see it like that, next year we’ll just have two more makes of cars to beat.
“I think it’s exciting, it’s a new era and there’ll be a lot of competition amongst the brands. Come Bathurst, if we win, there’ll still be a sea of Holden flags waving and the Red Army will be just as loud and proud as they’ve always been.”
While HRT have struggled to make an impact in this year’s championship there’s been a classic Holden-Ford battle for the title between TeamVodafone and Ford Performance Racing.
The two teams’ four drivers – Jamie Whincup, Craig Lowndes, Mark Winterbottom and Will Davison – are the only ones to have won a race this year in what has been one of the tightest championship battles in V8 Supercars history.
And FPR team principal Tim Edwards said having a true red and blue title race is surely a thrill for fans.
“It’s great for the championship that you’ve got such a strong Ford-Holden fight,” Edwards said.
