The disappointing nature of the HSV Racing Team’s decline in the 2017 Supercars Championship has been well documented in this column and it appears the decorated Holden outfit isn’t going to be on the way back up anytime soon.
Having typically occupied the moniker of the ‘second-best Holden team’ on the grid for many seasons – behind juggernaut Triple Eight – there is little hope the Tom Walkinshaw team will be claiming those honours again this season.
However, Walkinshaw’s failures are set to be capitalised by two unlikely contenders, who have enjoyed a far more rewarding start to 2017 than the former factory Holden squad.
Minnow outfit Erebus Motorsport and Supercars stalwart GRM have come out of the blocks firing, each recording a respective podium in the five rounds to date, as well as having a driver each within the top ten of the championship.
Both teams have endured a vast spectrum of fortunes in the build-up to this season, with the common denominator being that they’ve had to ditch their previous cars in favour of the Holden Commodore VF.
Erebus came into the Australian touring car category in 2013, having brought the prestigious Mercedes-Benz marque to the sport. The project ultimately fizzled away with little success, forcing team owner Betty Klimenko to park the E63 AMGs at the end of 2015 and move their entire operation to Melbourne, with an entirely new crew and ex-Walkinshaw Commodores.
Garry Rogers’ famous unit, however, weathered an acrimonious falling out with Swedish manufacturer Volvo, who, despite their fruitful involvement in the Supercars Championship, decided to ruthlessly withdraw from Australia at end of last year.
With a very small turnaround from the end of 2016, GRM were able to prepare two new Commodores for 2017, as well as an additional two for their drivers contesting the Super2 development series.
While Erebus have had a one-year head start on GRM with the development of their Commodores, both are closely matched in the team standings, with 348 points separating them for fourth and fifth. Only the leading championship contenders lie up ahead.
Veteran Garth Tander’s team-building skills are visible in his return to GRM, which is something the HSV Racing Team would sorely need in their current dire state. Meanwhile, since his dismissal from the Prodrive Ford operation, David Reynolds has held a similar role as Tander at Erebus.
It is difficult to see both drivers for their respective teams being in championship contention. Though in their bids to be named the best Holden team behind Triple Eight they can certainly make an impact on the final outcome.
Having demonstrated top-ten worthy results at demanding circuits such as Phillip Island and Winton this year, there is a case for both Erebus and GRM to win a race or two before season’s end.
At the conclusion of 2016, Reynolds was able to clinch a hard-fought podium at the championship finale in Homebush, indicating that the Erebus Commodore has the capability to be strong at street venues also.
On the other hand, Tander demonstrated his specialist abilities during the Season of Endurance during his final years with Walkinshaw’s Holden Racing Team, becoming the Enduro champion in 2015.
It would be significant considering the history of both outfits, if they were to take race victories this year and finish ahead of the HSV Racing Team in the standings.
Both are often looked upon as underdog teams and to punch above their weight and succeed would be a great tale to tell for Supercars in 2017.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
I always think that is was a great shame that the E63 AMG project never got to be as successful as say the Volvo involvement in Supercars. It's good for Reynolds too as a driver, as he seems to have matured a fair bit since moving to Erebus. Perhaps taking on greater responsibilities in that 'team leader' capacity, as supposed to at PRA where he was the third wheel to Frosty and Chaz. GRM have benefited greatly from the experience of Tander, which'll vindicate their decision to put him alongside Moffat as supposed to promoting James Golding, as they would normally have done. I'm sure we will all miss the lack of free candy that Tekno had been giving out over the past few seasons, though there'll be some who'd wish the alcoholic beverage was being given away!
Bayden Westerweller
Roar Guru
Reynolds' desire to recommit to Erebus is a pleasing sign that they're a destination outfit, rather than being confused what it wanted to be for a few seasons. GRM could easily have imploded having lost its star, though they've emerged as an extremely consistent outfit no longer addled by the reliability issues of previous campaigns. Tekno aren't as aesthetically pleasing minus the sugar backing, yet for a single car operation they're admirable.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Thanks mate! With GRM, having James Moffat on hand also is an asset, as his confidence in the Commodore continues to grow. The Volvo was almost entirely developed around McLaughlin, hence Moffat struggling to come to grips with it last year - though with a clean slate now, he should come strong next to Tander soon. Tekno should improve soon, though being a single car operation, it makes it difficult for them to outscore someone like a GRM or Erebus in the team standings and it was on that basis that I omitted them from this article.
Jamie Mills
Roar Rookie
I've been impressed with GRM this season and as far as the team standings go, I think they will finish the year as the second-best Holden outfit. After losing their lead driver, Scott McLaughlin, as well as a late switch back to Commodores after the Volvo saga, it's great, as a fan, to see them running well. I must add though, I think Tekno Autosports are also a very strong team, and although they've had a rough start to the year and won't feature in the team standings being a one-car team, I feel they have a good chance to score the strongest results in a Holden this season aside from Triple Eight. Depends on how you define second-best team I guess. Nice article mate.