Red Bull HRT unveils Sandown retro livery

The Red Bull Holden Racing Team has revealed a new retro look for its Commodores at next month’s Wilson Security Sandown 500.

Triple Eight has opted to run liveries inspired by Holden Dealer Team Monaros and Toranas from the late 1960s’s and 70’s on its cars for Shane van Gisbergen/Matt Campbell and Jamie Whincup/Paul Dumbrell.

The team is the first to showcase its livery concept for the Sandown 500 retro round from September 15-17.

The livery created by Holden designer Peter Hughes is not supposed to mirror a particular colour scheme from the past.

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It is only the second time the team has run a special livery since securing Red Bull as a primary sponsor in 2013 and the first time it will carry a retro paint scheme for the Sandown 500.

Last year’s inaugural retro round at Sandown saw Red Bull’s crew adorn 1950’s style overalls.

“This livery is a direct throwback to the glorious years of Holden’s original factory racing team, which I’m confident the fans will love,” said Hughes.

“HDT’s 1971 GTR-XU1 Torana was drawn upon for the thick, simple red striping and placement of the historic Holden Lion on the c-pillar, combining it with the ‘70s Holden font on the rear quarter signage.

“Keeping true to the look of the era, the bonnets of the Red Bull Holden Racing Team Commodores are dark blue, maintaining the stark contrast between panels that was common for the period.”

The livery has proved a hit with the team’s drivers.

“To have a new livery on the car is exciting. We didn’t do one last year, so that makes it even more special for the team this time, but I hope we get to bust out the retro flat caps again,” said Whincup.

“I think our Commodores will look awesome, they’re so different to what we usually race, hopefully the fans like our throwback livery as much as we all do,” added van Gisbergen.

“I’m a bit too young to have seen the original HDT Monaros and Toranas racing, and I don’t even think Lowndesy (Craig Lowndes) was around back then, but I’ve been a Holden fan since I was a kid so it’s pretty special that we can now pay tribute to this historic era in our own way.”

A special range of merchandise is also set to be produced.