Garry Rogers Motorsport will make a return to the Repco Supercars Championship six-years after its last start when it tackles a Repco Bathurst 1000 Wildcard in honour of its late founder this October.
The team will enter a Wildcard at the upcoming Repco Bathurst 1000 for rookie Nathan Herne and long-time GRM driver James Moffat in an ex-Triple Eight Race Engineering Chevrolet Camaro.
Backing of the Wildcard will come from oil company and loyal team backer Valvoline as the livery will pay tribute to GRM’s 2000 Bathurst triumph sporting the #34.
GRM first debuted in the Australian Touring Car Championship back in 1996 with a single entry for Steven Richards, but went onto forge a revered reputation in giving young talent a chance at the top level.
It departed full-time competition in the Repco Supercars Championship after the 2019 season and did complete a Wildcard in 2020 to mark its final appearance at the level.
Herne was in fact slated to drive the Wildcard alongside Tyler Everingham, but was controversially denied due to Motorsport Australia’s Superlicence regulations leading to Jayden Ojeda replacing him.
Barry Rogers has continued his father’s team operations despite his death last October and announced the Wildcard program on what would have been his 81st birthday.
“My motivation for wanting to return to Supercars and race at the 2026 Bathurst 1000 was in memory and out of respect for my dad, Garry Rogers,” Barry Rogers said.
“Those same feelings are shared by the GRM crew and our loyal sponsor group, led by Valvoline.
“I’m aware of the romantic side to GRM again racing in Supercars and in particular at Bathurst and although it’s important to embrace that feeling, this entry is to celebrate what Dad contributed to Motorsport and to thank him.
“Dad is missed enormously by our family and for the many past and present Garry Rogers Motorsport employees, sponsors, friends and motorsport fans, we are determined to put our very best foot forward in every aspect of this entry.
“Dad always supported young people, Nathan Herne won the 2022 Trans Am Series as a 19-year-old under the tutelage of Garry. To have him joined by James Moffat, who dad was tremendously fond of and also a GRM Trans Am Champion, is a very fitting lineup.
“I’d like to acknowledge Supercars and in particular Barclay Nettlefold, Shane Howard and Tim Edwards in assisting with the information required to have this entry approved and get GRM on the grid for this year’s Bathurst 1000.”
For Herne, it will be a long-awaited debut in Supercars and Bathurst after dominating the Australian Trans Am Series, which has also opened up opportunities in the US.
“I feel extremely prepared for this opportunity to come back with GRM and for the team to also make their return to Supercars for the first time since that program, it’s exciting stuff.
“To be doing it with Moff is a huge deal as well. He mentored me early on in my career and was one of the big catalysts behind me moving down to Melbourne in 2021 to work for GRM full time.
“I have a lot of time for Moff, he taught me a lot about racing, and we’ve had some good moments off the track too.”
Moffat has acted as mentor to Herne and is excited to be part of this special program.
“To be heading back to Bathurst with GRM is going to be very special. I wasn’t sure if my streak of starts at Bathurst was going to end this year, so to be coming back once again and particularly with GRM is an opportunity I couldn’t pass up,” Moffat said.
“I’m very much looking forward to lending my experience to the whole wildcard program and being able to help guide Nathan Herne through his first Bathurst 1000 start.
“I’ve known Nathan for a long time, done a lot of racing against him in Trans Am and there’s no doubt about his talent. For both of us, it should be a really natural connection given our history to partner up and form a great co-driver partnership.”
The Repco Bathurst 1000 will be held on October 8-11.