Competitors in the new V8 Sleuth Touring Car Classic at Winton in August will be eligible for a new trophy named after three-time Bathurst 1000 winner, Garth Tander.
The ‘Garth Tander Trophy’ will be presented to the top-finisher in early Project Blueprint era cars (VY & VZ Commodores, as well as BA and BF Falcons) as part of the category which pays tribute to some fan favourites from recent years.
Tander won the most V8 Supercars Championship races of any driver in the first six years of ‘Project Blueprint’ regulations from 2003 to 2008, with 34 race wins as part of the HSV Dealer Team and, later, the Holden Racing Team.
Now an endurance driver for the Red Bull Holden Racing Team, Tander has won 54 Supercars Championship races since he began racing in 1998. During his time in the category, he competed in 282 championship rounds and 634 championship race starts.
In addition to his RBHRT endurance duties the 42-year-old is now a panellist on Network 10’s RPM show.
“Having a trophy named in your honour is not something you normally expect in your career, but it’s a really nice acknowledgement,” Tander says.
“That period of time in the mid to late 2000s was really rewarding with a lot of race wins and, of course, the ultimate achievement of claiming the championship in 2007.
“I had no idea I had the most race wins for the period of 2003 to 2008, so that was a welcome surprise too.
“I think it’s fantastic that these older V8 Supercars are being wheeled out for the Classic. There are a lot of very passionate owners and drivers that are keeping the history of our sport alive; it’s really important.”
Open to former V8 Supercars/five-litre V8 Touring Cars, two-litre Super Tourers, V8 Future Tourers and invited cars, the Classic will be a celebration of Australian touring car racing history.
The event has also secured live streaming coverage as part of the Winton Shannons Nationals telecast that will also be viewable via the V8 Sleuth website and its social media channels.
The V8 Sleuth Touring Car Classic debuts on the Shannons Nationals calendar later this year, and a wide range of fan favourites are expected to enter.
The Winton round of the Shannons Nationals takes place on 31 August – 1 September.
