A Holden racing in France? Absolutely.
International touring car racing was at its height in the mid-1980s thanks to the Group A regulations, with the relationship between General Motors’ European and Australian very strong.
At the time, former rally driver Tony Fall was the Director of Motor Sport for GM Euro Sport and provided aid to the Mobil Holden Dealer Team’s fact-finding mission across the continent in 1986.
The Mobil Holden Dealer Team led by Peter Brock completed a reconnaissance of events including Monza, Donington Park, Hockenheim and Spa ahead of a planned attack win the 1987 World Touring Car Championship.
Fall provided a little support to the program although Opel was committed to other disciplines including rallying instead of touring cars.
However, country-based importers ran racing programs utilising models across the Opel range and a Senator was entered in the French Super Production Championship for 1986.
Future team principal of Citroen’s successful World Rally Championship team, Guy Frequelin drove the Senator against Renault 5 Turbos, Mercedes 190Es, BMW M5s, Pontiac Firebird TransAms and Porsche 924s among other eclectic models.
Run to the French Production regulations, the Senator was effectively a Commodore sourced reportedly from the MHDT comprised of parts from the same source.
This is the only one of its kind featuring a 5900cc V8, a Getrag gearbox and many other parts supplied by the MHDT.
Debuting at the Round 2 of the French Super Production Championship at Circuit de Ledenon, Frequelin scored a ninth and finished a best of third at Paul Ricard.
It provided the basis of a relationship between Brock and Fall crucially for 1986, but even more important for the next season’s planned WTCC.
Frequelin did not end the season in the Opel, but the Senator has made its way back to Australia and is said to be restored to its former glory.