General Motors has laid out the future of its performance and racing efforts in Australia with this week’s launch of Chevrolet Racing and the Gen3 Supercars Chevy Camaro ZL1 race car.
The Supercars Series’ new Gen3 ruleset will come into effect for the 2023 season, with the new Gen3 Chevy Camaro ZL1 replacing the Holden Commodore ZB that currently competes in the championship.
The arrival of the new Camaro ZL1 race car is bittersweet, as it signals the eventual departure of Holden from Supercars, which has been a mainstay in the Australian racing scene ever since the inception of the Australian Touring Car Championship in 1960. Holden remains the series’ most successful manufacturer ever, racking up 588 wins, 21 drivers’ titles and a record 34 Bathurst 1000 victories.
“Our company has a proud history of racing in the Australian Touring Car Championship and in Supercars for over five decades,” said Jim Campbell, director for Chevrolet Performance and Racing. “Today we’re excited to announce a new chapter in the history of Australian motorsports with the introduction of Chevrolet Racing and the all-new Gen3 Camaro ZL1 for Supercars.”
The Gen3 Chevy Camaro ZL1 is built to the series’ latest ruleset, which is intended to give the vehicles a tamer, more production-looking exterior appearance. It was developed by the Chevrolet Performance & Racing Centre in Australia with help from Supercars team Triple Eight Race Engineering, the Supercars Gen3 Steering Committee and the designers who were responsible for the production Camaro and other global Camaro racing efforts like the GT4 program. Power comes from a naturally aspirated 5.7L LTR V8 pushrod engine developed by Australian engine builder KRE Engines, while shifting duties are handled by an electronically-controlled sequential transmission.
Ford also debuted its Gen3 Mustang alongside the Camaro this week, which will tap a 5.4L V8 based on the automaker’s Coyote engine, along with the same six-speed sequential transmission. Both vehicles will be on display at this weekend’s Bathurst 1000.
General Motors Special Vehicles will also be present at the 2021 Bathurst 1000 to promote the new Chevrolet Racing outfit and its latest imported Chevy models, said Marc Ebolo, Managing Director of GM Australia and New Zealand.
“Today’s announcement is particularly timely as GMSV has just celebrated 12 months of operation in Australia and New Zealand and race fans will be able to see the full portfolio of new models here at Bathurst across the weekend, including the debut of Chevrolet Silverado Heavy Duty LTZ Premium and right-hand-drive C8 Corvette,” Ebolo said.
“The look and sound of the new Gen3 Camaro is just incredible,” he added.
Chevy and Ford took both Gen3 cars around the Bathurst circuit this week as part of a promotional effort at the Bathurst 1000. Check out the video embedded below to see and hear both cars in action ahead of their 2023 race debut.
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Comments
NICE Camaro. I hope our road race Camaros look this good. The wide body makes the whole Camaro look Greater than street
ever will.
Nascar should have started with these cars for their new car.
Going to miss the Holden even though neither of the brands have any connection with their road going versions for years.Interesting that the new Nascar Gen cars are almost the same as our Supercars wit. US bosses have been coming down here for ages to look at what we have been doing so no must have got the message
I wish that the Super Cars race series was broadcast in America as a repeat in our time zone. Great racing what little we get to see.
Cadillac CT-V Blackwing should be considered for Series 2 Australian Touring cars and hopefully a RHD version will be brought/converted here to Australia so it can be sold. Ex Holden fans would jump at this car and it makes a very comparable Holden Commodore replacement. GMSV Australia I hope they read this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!