Garry Rogers Motorsport enjoyed a 23-year stint in the Repco Supercars Championship during which it blooded many rising stars and further champions of the sport.
Not only did Garry Rogers’ play a significant in shaping the sport through his keen eye for talent, but also providing plenty entertainment off-track through costumes, plus many behind the scenes positions including with TEGA.
While GRM’s resume of categories is vast, none have lasted longer than its association with Supercars and the Repco Garage has restricted the moments to this (well, close to).
So in honour of Rogers’ passing, the Repco Garage pays tribute to GRM’s great moments.
Breakthrough Bathurst result
It was a dirty day in 2000, but not for GRM.
In one of the wettest Great Races in history, Garth Tander and Jason Bargwanna took a win for the young guns.
Rewarded for staying relatively out of trouble, the key moment came when lapping Matt Neal and Tander emerged unscathed after the Big Kev Commodore tried re-pass Neil Crompton and Mark Skaife.
A late-race retirement for Tony Longhurst due to a tangle with a lapped competitor allowed Tander to take the lead in sight of the flag.
In the end, Tander held off the advances of Paul Radisich to take victory and although he narrowly missed the title, the West Australian was delighted to take victory in Australia’s biggest race.
Bathurst 24 Hour domination
Yes, not quite Supercars.
Holden chose GRM to design, develop, build and race a Holden Monaro for the new Bathurst 24 Hour race created by PROCAR in 2002
Despite some controversy surrounding the rules and eligibility concerning the Monaro, it provided a discussion point for the race.
Taking on manufacturers such as Porsche, Ferrari and Mosler, the GRM Monaro dream debut wasn’t as simple as it appeared on paper.
It actually trailed its opposition by multiple laps heading into the night, but emerged in the lead exiting the darkness to deliver a memorable win.
For 2003, the challenged was doubled to two Monaros including one spearheaded by Bathurst legend Peter Brock.
It was another dream result as both Monaros fought it out until the death as Brock achieved his last Bathurst victory and the mighty Holdens crossed the line 1-2.
GRM run a joint program in PROCAR’s Nations Cup category for the Monaros as well.
Podium success on Volvo debut
Memorable more so for Scott McLaughlin’s post-race interview and his last lap battle with Jamie Whincup, but in fact GRM’s debut result with the Volvo was second.
A major coup to get the Swedish company into Supercars racing, a lot of hard work had occurred to develop Volvo’s S60 into a race winning proposition. Let alone being on the pace in its first race.
McLaughlin was already earmarked for great things in just his second full-time Supercars season.
A title contender in each of the three seasons leading GRM’s Volvo attack, McLaughlin scored six victories in the S60.
However, the first race will always be remembered.
GRM gets on the board
GRM enjoyed reasonable success when joining the Australian Touring Car Championship circus in 1996.
Steven Richards won the Privateers Cup in his first season and a Bathurst podium followed alongside father Jim in 1997.
Rogers continued his pursuit of young talent by employing Jason Bargwanna for season 1998.
Richards started the season, but an overseas opportunity arose opening the door for reigning Australian Formula Ford Champion Garth Tander to take the seat.
Despite Tander displaying his pace during his maiden season, it was team leader Bargwanna securing the first win at Calder Park in 1998.
Bargwanna started fourth in the second race of the day and made a rocket start to lead into the notoriously difficult hairpin Turn 1. Bargwanna was aided by Skaife stalling, but came under late-race heat from Craig Lowndes to make his maiden win hard earnt.
A surprise win for Cameron McConville
It had been a tough season for GRM in 2004 as it struggled to find its form from the turn of the millennium.
Cameron McConville had arrived at the team to replace Jamie Whincup for the 2004 season marking the first time GRM had recruited an experienced driver for a full-time seat.
Running a longer, single-race format in 2004, McConville made a stunning last lap pass at the penultimate turn to catch Rick Kelly napping and take GRM’s first victory in some time.
Yellow flags were on display on the straight leading into the penultimate corner where crucially the zone ended leaving McConville to take the unlikeliest of race victories for his maiden win.
It proved McConville and GRM’s only victory in a two-year partnership.