Sportwagon tackles Bathurst 12 hour
2 Feb, 2008
43 Comments 
Eager to demonstrate that the VE Sportwagon is just as performance oriented as its sedan and ute siblings, Holden has planned to race its latest addition at this years WPS Bathurst 12 Hour race 8-10 February.
Holden will field a Jack Daniel’s sponsored 6.0-litre V8 Sportwagon SS driven by V8 Supercar drivers Shane Price, Cameron McConville and enduro specialist Nathan Pretty.
“With Sportwagon due in Holden showrooms across the country in the coming months, we saw this as the perfect opportunity to underline the sporting pedigree of the latest model in the VE range whilst highlighting its great style and handling.”
The Bathurst 12 hour is a race for production cars, which Holden has often used to showcase new models. Last year saw an Astra SRi Turbo and CDTi Diesel take to the mountain.
The production version of the VE Sportwagon will be unveiled at the 2008 Melbourne International Motor Show, starting 29 February.
Source: GM
Location: Home / Motorsport, Holden, Holden VE Commodore / ...
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February 2nd, 2008 at 10:29 am
There’s something unwholesome about an alcohol company (Jack Daniels) sponsoring a Holden in a car driving event.
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February 2nd, 2008 at 10:31 am
Its good to see holden entering actual production models in these races over the last couple of years, not like that debacle with the 7.0L monaro they entered a few years ago that “won”. How many of those did they actually sell? 0.
Hope the race is televised somewhere. Theres not enough real production car racing here at the moment.
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February 2nd, 2008 at 10:34 am
Ah………..your right Wheelnut it is in the 12 hour……
Pity it wont win????????hahaha
Wonder how many categories BMW will win this year????
Great race to watch………
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February 2nd, 2008 at 10:54 am
Excellent. Hope it makes it to the end of the race. There really should be more televised races where only actual Production cars are on the track with a bare minimum amount of modification permitted if any at all.
The other way of course is just to get your own road car on the track, however Insurance companies tend to frown on that for some reason :-)
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February 2nd, 2008 at 11:02 am
Good to see… cant help but think Holden are going to blow Ford out of the water… very attractive wagon, diesel V6 coming along wrx
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February 2nd, 2008 at 11:03 am
It will go pretty close to winning its class though BM - as I believe it’s the only one in its class [ha ha]
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February 2nd, 2008 at 11:04 am
wrx wtf… i meant etc. What are Ford coming up with? LPG LPG LPG…. bosses leaving…. employees sacked… offshore engine for future. One set of actions is a sign of a desperate company, the other is one of a company which is thinking.
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February 2nd, 2008 at 11:14 am
Wheelnut says…………It will go pretty close to winning its class though BM - as I believe it’s the only one in its class [ha ha]
hahaha……..I guess it will then! If it makes it. Better bring plenty of spares hehehe. Sorry…you still luv me don’t you?? ha
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February 2nd, 2008 at 11:33 am
Yeah; that’s why Holden chose to race the wagon it can fit more spares in the back.
However; the car is being Prepared by Larry Perkins - so we could see another Last to First victory [like He and Russell did in 95]
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February 2nd, 2008 at 1:04 pm
does anyone know the drag coefficient of the sportswagon?
i would guess it is lower than the sedan.
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February 2nd, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Its great that companies get behind their products and if there was more of them the Production Racing would flourish.
Channel 7 will have a 3hr package two weeks after the event on Sun Feb 24th.
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February 2nd, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Quote: “Channel 7 will have a 3hr package two weeks after the event on Sun Feb 24th.”
I remember Fox Sports had the highlights last year.
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February 2nd, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Interesting thought about the drag coefficient. A wagon is a smoother shape than the sedan and it tapers toward the rear. Could be better than expected.
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February 2nd, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Wonder if they’ll sneak in the V6 Diesel for the event :)
That would set the cat amongst the pidgeons..
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February 2nd, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Volvo raced station wagons with good success a few years ago, no reason why the LP prepared unit should not make the distance.
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February 2nd, 2008 at 6:59 pm
A wagon… hahaha… Holden.. No just NO. Ford should now enter a taxi spec EGAS wagon into the 24 hour race with a few modifications such as possibly a small turbo. They’ve proved themselves as taxis so should last with a crappy driver driving it and the 117L of LPG it should go for atleast 600k’s per tank.
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February 2nd, 2008 at 7:46 pm
600ks per tank of LPG while racing flat out around the mountain - dream on Minnow, not a chance in hell.
While being driven the 200ks to your 50k destination by a nondescript taxi driver from a questionable background working with questionable ID and questionable motives, maybe a tank of LPG would get 600ks. But only if there was a Ford dealer on the route to fix the thing when it breaks down, as 50% of them do regularly.
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February 2nd, 2008 at 9:11 pm
I reckon these Sportswagons look great. For a Commodore. :P
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February 2nd, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Why put the wagon in the 12hr? maybe axel tramp under heavy braking dont happen in the wagon
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February 2nd, 2008 at 9:41 pm
This is one big promotion for holden and this is one stupid looking racing car, let’s be sensible people, wake up!!!!! trust holdenwoo to come up with childish ideas………….bunch of crazy fools…
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February 2nd, 2008 at 11:19 pm
Oh Yea…the SS Sportswagon….Straight from the Factory with a Mid mounted Supercharged 7.0 Chev V8, Hollinger Gearbox…yea…Game Over…all over again…
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February 2nd, 2008 at 11:46 pm
All the credentials of Bathurst died when Holden and Ford had to change the rules to exclude Nissan. They couldnt compete against its superior technology.
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February 3rd, 2008 at 12:27 am
Huh, the Holden Commodore! The car that even Holden’s own engneers openly admit is overrated and which it’s bogan fans have a blind, almost religious fixation with. Give me a break!
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February 3rd, 2008 at 6:38 am
All the credentials of Bathurst died when Holden and Ford had to change the rules to exclude Nissan. They couldnt compete against its superior technology.
What a load of —-. The reasons the rules were changed by CAMS - Not by Ford Holden or the Fans as you Nissan lovers like to think.. was in order to ensure that the category survived.
Last years Bathurst where Gentleman Jim Richards announced his retirement he agreed that changes had to be made and that CAMS had made the right decision.. It actually cost Fred Gibson more to keep the GTRs on the Track than it did the Ford and Holden teams to try and Catch Up..
Yes the GT-R was a phenomenal piece of machinery but it was also a victim of it’s own success.. because of it’s dominance.. 1000s of fans staed away and as a result so to did corporate sponsorship as no one wants to see who is going to come second.
Since the changes were made the competition is closer crowd numbers are up; as are TV rating so to is corporate sponsorship. So even though you mightn’t like it its a Formula that obviously works..
Similar changes were made to F1 inorder to try and stop Ferraris dominance but no-one seems to have noticed that
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February 3rd, 2008 at 8:11 am
I agree with Elistist, fact is Holden and Ford cant compete with the foreigners when it comes to performance, but they enjoy being sheltered in the publicity stunt that is V8 Supercars
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February 3rd, 2008 at 8:24 am
Yeah but long before the GT-Rs hit the scene - back in the 60-80s; the Bathurst 1000 was a production car race.. similar to that of the 12 hour.. where the cars that were on the track were exactly the same as those in the showrooms and on the road apart from a fairly basic rollcage..
It was extremely popular then so it made sense for CAMS to revert back to what is/was a proven formula when they noticed problems the “Group A” formula
And as I have said before just like all other Forms of Motorsport the V8s have a set of criteria which must be met by those wishing to compete.. the main one being that the car must be based on an Aussie Built RWD Family Sedan and have a 5.0 litre V8 which produces 620-700Bhp
Therefore; If Toyota and Mitsubishi decided to turn the Aurion or 380 into a RWD CAMS and AVESCO would most likely welcome them to the category..
10 years ago TC approached both the TMC and MMAL to see if they were interested but they said no.. which is a pity because with the success and popularity the sport is experiencing at tthe moment would help change peoples views on the Aurion/380 and probably increase sales
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February 3rd, 2008 at 8:37 am
Chris the 12 hour is a production car race with the only real modification being a 8-12 point roll cage depending upon the size and type of vehicle.
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February 3rd, 2008 at 8:58 am
V8 Supercar Wagons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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February 3rd, 2008 at 8:59 am
I agree with wheelnut but v8supercers is almost like Porsche cup now there nearly the same race cars (HOLDEN & FORD)
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February 3rd, 2008 at 10:37 am
I’d like to see the 12 hour on the telly this year, or parts of it.
For me, the golden years of Bathurst were the late seventies, when there was great variety in the field and the cars were more closely related to production cars than today’s V8s.
This wagon would be good to see.
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February 3rd, 2008 at 11:32 am
wheelnut is right,
the series would have died if it did not take the route that it did.
to the people that dont like the 2 make series dont forget there are still plenty of series out there that do offer a variety of makes for your viewing. the funny thing is they have not enjoyed anywhere near the success that the V8 supercar formula has enjoyed.
doesnt that spell out something?????
most of the people the winning Nissan many years ago were p-i-s-s-e-d off that it was declared a winner even though it was crashed on the side of the track. even JR was surprised he was declared the winner
wheelnut,
actually i thought Mitsu actually showed interest in the V8’s. i still have magazines with an impression of a magna V8 on the cover. the only thing is Mitsu went through their financial down fall and and wouldnt have had the funds to run in the series.
TP,
are the porsche carreras sheltered too because that is only a one make series? grow up!!!
you obviously dont know anything about motorsport. go watch the performance car series (if you knew it exsisted).
there you would see the HSV’s in stock hold their own against the imports. the only ones that can keep with them is the EVO’s and thats only due to the corners.
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February 3rd, 2008 at 12:13 pm
The reason the majority of the crowd Booed Gentleman Jim in 92 is not because the Nissan won but more likely that they didn’t understand that when the Red Flag is displayed that thet go back to the previous completed lap at which point the GT-R was winning
Which is understandable because there are a few in race control that don’t have a complete understanding of the rules either.. Luckily though; one of them.. Colin Bond has since left.
Though some flaggies and fans believe the decision to Red Flag the race was a “premature ajudication” because less than 10 minutes later the rain stopped - typical Bathurst
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February 3rd, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Youre right Andrew.. Tom Phillips who at the time was CEO at Tonsley Park did show interest in joining the V8s However Tokyo didn’t think it would improve their image in Oz..
Which is funy because they hired Phillips inorder to try and turn Mitsubishi around as he was the one who helped turn Toyota around a couple of years before.. He had a number of ideas including a RWD Sedan but Tokyo just kept saying No No No
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February 3rd, 2008 at 12:38 pm
TP - The fact that you’re talking about V8 supercars proves that the “publicity stunt” is working.. I mean if you didn’t like it as much as you appear make out. you would try to avoid talking about it.. wouldn’t you?
However; whilst were on the subject I suggest you try to obtain a copy of the V8 Supercars Rules/Guidlelines.. which outlines the criteria the teams must meet inorder to be elligible to compete.. [all forms of motorsport have them]
Then you will see that the V8s are by no means sheltered - it’s just that Ford and Holden build cars which meet the requirements.
Going by your arguement F1 is also shelterd because Holden aren;t allowed to race - why thety don’t build a car which meets the criteria which is essentially an F1 car must be a computer controlled rocket with 4 wheels; sounds like a swarm of bees and has a highly paid jockey along dfor the ride.
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February 3rd, 2008 at 2:25 pm
I hope a Camry cup comes out so we don’t need to have little Paul dancing around us anymore.
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February 3rd, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Quote [Oz]: “I hope a Camry Cup comes out so we don’t need to have little Paul dancing around us anymore.”
Yeah but then the drivers in that category will be “sheltered” as it will just be open to [Beige] Camrys and no one else.. no Epicas etc
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February 3rd, 2008 at 3:33 pm
I mean so he can have fun there at a Toyota only series, so he wont continue being stupid in othere areas.
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February 3rd, 2008 at 5:01 pm
The 12hr is great racing,different manufactors,v8s,turbo,twinturbo straight six,AWD turbo,sedans,coups even stationwagons.(not being sarcastic)Watched the Highlights from 07 thay had in car camera in a wrx sti whitch was behind the Typoon on pit straight pulling away.The sti closeing under brakes then watching the typoon pull away up the hill. dont know what happend after that thay didn”t show but you would think the sti would be climing allover the back of the typoon.Great racing.I hope it will grow.But also v8 supercars should the top car racing series in OZ.But its just on some tracks it becomes a pit stop race.Go the GT in the 12hr
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February 3rd, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Wheelnut,
thats what i was saying about the ‘92 nissan win but when i re-read what i said about it i obviously left a couple of words out ha ha ha ha
the winner would have been Dick Johnson had they not pulled that flag too early.
but its alright JR sorted out the booing fans with a history making podium speech. but as i said even Jim Richards didnt think he had won it
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February 3rd, 2008 at 7:41 pm
try hard wannabees,does anybody know what they are talking about,this is about the 12 hour PRODUCTION CAR RACE why wouldnt any manufacturer show case thier latest release/s ,enjoy real racing with cars you can buy,shove your supercars,group a,and 92 nissan win ,who cares,go the wagon.
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February 4th, 2008 at 1:38 am
Will this one have the recall for the fuel pipework sorted before it goes on the track. Ha Ha
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February 4th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Yes Reckless, Volvo ran some 850 T5 wagons in the British Touring cars in the early 90’s. However these cars were sedans with some extra bodywork to make them look like wagons, a publicity stunt as the wagon was just released. They went to sedans the next year.
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September 18th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
the wagon was put in to the race to show its progressiveness and … well, awesomeness. lol it tops the sedan ve in handling and is a match against performance. it worked not as well as tehy wanted it to but hey, its a friigin wagon, think twice all u ppl who bag it, all you soccer mums wont be bloody volvo drivers anymore. u will be stompin the right pedal down to hear that v8 rumble.
i have a ve ssv sedan and it is bloody awesome, i cant ait til i get my VE Maloo 6.2L on order .!
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