Prepare for a nostalgic trip down memory lane as three legendary Holden HRT Commodores, driven by racing icons Craig Lowndes and Peter Brock, are set to be resurrected! This isn't just about bringing old cars back; it's about celebrating significant milestones in Australian motorsport history.
Ben Eggleston, the visionary behind Eggleston Motorsport, has an incredible hoard of V8 Supercars, including many built and raced by the very factory team that dominated the sport. He's now embarking on a mission to meticulously restore three of the most iconic Commodores, a project spearheaded by ex-HRT fabricator George Smith. The goal? To have them ready for some major anniversary celebrations later this year.
But here's where it gets truly exciting: Eggleston revealed that the 1996 HRT VR Commodore, the very machine Craig Lowndes piloted to victory at both Sandown and Bathurst, will make its grand re-entrance around the time of this year's Bathurst 1000. And that's not all! The 1997 car driven by Peter Brock, which notably secured pole position with Mark Skaife at the helm, will also be unveiled. Completing this legendary trio is Craig Lowndes' 1998 championship-winning car. Eggleston shared his enthusiasm, stating, "We've got three big ones coming up at the end of this year. It's going to be really busy getting them bang-on, but I'm looking forward to getting them out so people can see them."
Now, let's delve into the stories behind these machines. The 1996 Commodore, which Lowndes debuted mid-season, is etched in Australian V8 touring car lore not just for its triumphs but also for its distinctive design. It featured a unique roll-cage bar extending diagonally into the passenger footwell. While this was added to enhance chassis rigidity, it was later outlawed in subsequent models due to concerns about how easily a driver could be extracted in an emergency. This car, which hasn't seen track action since a crash at the Gold Coast in 1999, was acquired by Eggleston a decade ago, and he's previously expressed a strong desire to see Lowndes himself behind the wheel once more.
And this is the part most people miss... The racing lives of the 1997 Brock and 1998 Lowndes VS Commodores also met rather unfortunate ends. Brock's car suffered significant damage in 1999 at Eastern Creek following a tire failure that led to a crash involving Todd Kelly. The Lowndes VS, on the other hand, was practically obliterated at Oran Park in 2000 while being driven by Paul Morris. It took years for Eggleston to finally persuade Morris to part with the remains of what's affectionately known as the 'Big Kev' car, all with the ultimate aim of restoring it to its former Lowndes HRT glory.
This isn't the first time Eggleston has brought a piece of history back to life. The Adelaide Motorsport Festival recently witnessed the public return of another car Eggleston had pursued for a long time: a HRT VT Commodore that Craig Lowndes briefly raced in 2000. This particular car had been out of sight for a staggering 22 years since its last outing with Paul Romano. Eggleston explained his passion, "I’ve got basically one model of every Craig Lowndes car at HRT – that was one that I needed and wanted." He humorously recounted how he "wore down Bap Romano over a fair few years," eventually convincing him to let go of the car, along with other parts, which has now been restored to the striking 2000 livery Lowndes ran for a few rounds. "I reckon it looks awesome, the red [makes it] a really striking car. It's a ripper," he added.
Adding to the impressive collection, Lowndes' 1995 Bathurst pole-winning VR was also on display at the Adelaide Motorsport Festival. However, the absolute stars of the show were Eggleston's 2010 Triple Eight Bathurst 1-2 Commodores, which have been beautifully restored to their original TeamVodafone colours.
Beyond these featured cars, Eggleston's collection boasts other significant HRT Commodores, including Lowndes' memorable 1999 Calder rollover car and the Bathurst 1000 winning machines from 1990 and 2005.
It's truly remarkable to see these icons of Australian motorsport being brought back to their former glory. But what do you think? Is it more important to preserve these cars in their 'as-raced' condition, even if damaged, or is a full restoration the best way to honor their legacy? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
