Garry Rogers Motorsport
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Motorsport team |
| Founded | 1963 |
| Founder | Garry Rogers |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
Area served | Australia |
Key people | Garry Rogers (founder) |
| Products | Racing cars, motorsport engineering |
Garry Rogers Motorsport is an Australian racing outfit established by former driver Garry Rogers to further his own motorsport pursuits. Headquartered in Melbourne and initially operating out of Rogers' Nissan dealership, the team has participated in a wide array of Australian touring car competitions, ranging from Nissan production vehicles to Chevrolet NASCAR machines and the GT-class Holden Monaro 427C. GRM achieved significant triumphs, including winning the Bathurst 1000 in 2000 and claiming victory in both Bathurst 24 Hour events in 2002 and 2003. The year 2013 marked the 50th anniversary of Rogers' initial racing appearance.
Recognized for its role in developing emerging talent, GRM has been instrumental in launching the careers of drivers like Steven Richards, Jason Bargwanna, Garth Tander, Jamie Whincup, Lee Holdsworth, and Scott McLaughlin, many of whom went on to become champions and Bathurst winners.
During the 2019 TCR Australia Touring Car Series, the team fielded two Renault Mégane R.S TCR vehicles alongside an Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce TCR. Backed by Renault Australia, they entered the 2020 season under the banner Renault Sport GRM, running a trio of Renault Mégane R.S TCR cars.
In 2018, GRM expanded its engineering expertise into open-wheel racing by collaborating with the newly launched S5000 Australian Drivers' Championship to construct the first batch of S5000 single-seater race cars.
The early years
Garry Rogers Motorsport traces its roots back to 1963 when Garry Rogers began competing with Appendix J Holdens. Throughout the late 1960s and 1970s, he advanced through Sports Sedan categories, piloting a BDA Ford Escort before moving on to an ex-Ian Geoghegan Holden Monaro. By late 1978, Rogers entered the Australian Touring Car Championship as an independent driver with an ex-Bob Jane Holden Torana, competing until 1979 before returning to Sports Sedans. Notably, in 1981 he took part in the Australian Sports Sedan Championship behind the wheel of a Holden Torana LX SS A9X Hatchback.
The team took a break as Rogers concentrated on managing his Nissan dealership and drove for other outfits at Bathurst, including Allan Browne's Re-Car team in 1982 and co-driving with Clive Benson-Brown in 1983. In 1984, he partnered with Peter Janson for endurance races but encountered retirements. Following the introduction of Group A regulations in 1985, Rogers competed selectively, including teaming with Jim Keogh in a BMW 635 CSi and securing sixth place at Bathurst.
GRM resurfaced in 1986 when Rogers acquired a BMW 635 CSi from JPS Team BMW and campaigned it throughout the season under Bob Jane T-Marts sponsorship. Despite strong performances during the AMSCAR Series, mechanical difficulties curtailed their Bathurst effort. After sitting out most of 1987, the team returned late in 1988 with a Les Small-prepared Holden VL Commodore SS Group A SV at the Tooheys 1000, sharing driving duties with John Andretti; however, their race ended prematurely due to an accident involving Andretti.
In 1989, GRM participated selectively in the Australian Touring Car Championship rounds while Rogers drove a Ford Sierra RS500 for Colin Bond Racing at Bathurst, though they did not finish. Throughout the early 1990s, GRM shifted focus toward competition at Calder Park Thunderdome and AUSCAR events with Ford Falcons, securing Valvoline as a principal sponsor. During this time, Rogers gradually handed over driving responsibilities to Steven Richards.
Additionally, GRM competed in Production Car racing during this era at events such as the Winton 300 and Bathurst 12 Hour using Nissan vehicles associated with Rogers' dealership. The team also supported Formula Ford initiatives throughout the 1990s, promoting Valvoline's motorsport involvement while fostering talents like Steven Richards and Garth Tander.
Super Touring
In 1995, GRM made its debut in the Australian Super Touring Championship with Steven Richards behind the wheel of an Alfa Romeo 155. Richards quickly established himself as a top privateer, ending the season in ninth place. That same year, the team transitioned to a Honda Accord, with Richards capturing the Privateers Cup and achieving fifth overall, trailing only factory-backed BMW and Audi entrants. The following year, 1996, saw GRM switch to a Nissan Primera; however, results declined as the team’s attention shifted towards V8 Supercars. Richards finished seventh and was unable to retain the Privateers Cup.
1990s
Garry Rogers Motorsport entered the Australian Touring Car Championship in 1996, fielding Steven Richards in a Holden VS Commodore sourced from Gibson Motorsport. By 1998, the outfit expanded to a two-car operation, bringing in Jason Bargwanna alongside Richards. When Richards departed for a British Touring Car Championship test drive, former 1997 Australian Formula Ford champion Garth Tander took his place. Bargwanna secured GRM’s inaugural race victory at Calder in 1998, while Tander earned the team’s first round win the following year at Queensland Raceway. Both drivers finished as runners-up in the 1999 Queensland 500.
2000s
The year 2000 marked GRM’s most triumphant season to date. Tander clinched victories in three rounds and, alongside Bargwanna, won the prestigious Bathurst 1000, ultimately finishing second behind Mark Skaife in the championship standings. Despite a promising start, Tander encountered difficulties mid-season that allowed Skaife to seize the championship lead. The subsequent season proved less fruitful; Tander and Bargwanna ended tenth and fifteenth respectively. Bargwanna achieved his final team win at Surfers Paradise in 2002 before departing for Larkham Motor Sport. Jamie Whincup, who had claimed the 2002 Australian Formula Ford title, replaced him.
In 2003, GRM was among the pioneers to introduce the Holden VY Commodore with Tander driving it; Whincup continued with an older VX model but was dismissed at season’s end and succeeded by Cameron McConville for 2004. McConville secured a round victory at Winton amid some controversy. After 2004, Tander left for Kmart Racing and was replaced by Andrew Jones; however, Jones was relieved of his duties mid-2005 and Dean Canto took over for the latter part of that season and into 2006. Lee Holdsworth joined Canto in 2006, with the team achieving one race win when Canto triumphed at Barbagallo Raceway following a late spin by a competitor.
In 2007, following the loss of major sponsor Repco, GRM unveiled a fresh livery featuring black, silver, and red hues. Holdsworth and Canto remained as drivers; Canto piloted a new Holden VE Commodore while Holdsworth started with a VZ model before switching mid-season. Holdsworth endured a severe crash at Winton but recovered to secure his maiden V8 Supercar round victory at Oran Park through astute strategy in wet conditions.
Michael Caruso replaced Canto in 2008. Although no wins were recorded that year, Holdsworth achieved second place at the Clipsal 500 and both drivers finished fifth at the L&H 500 endurance race. In 2009, Caruso earned his first race win at Hidden Valley Raceway; Holdsworth again reached the podium at Clipsal (second), and together they claimed third place at Bathurst. A second car driven by Greg Ritter and David Besnard showed strong pace late into Bathurst but ultimately finished ninth due to an ill-timed safety car intervention.
2010s
In 2010, the team secured a significant sponsorship agreement with Fujitsu, replacing Valvoline and adopting a new red and white color scheme accented with black. During the 2010 Clipsal 500, Holdsworth achieved a third-place finish on the podium. The squad came close to victory at the 2010 Bathurst 1000, leading most of the event until a pit lane speeding infringement relegated them to seventh place; meanwhile, teammates Caruso and Ritter ended the race in tenth. Holdsworth wrapped up the season by winning the Sydney 500 after clinching both pole positions.
Holdsworth and Caruso remained teammates throughout 2011, earning three podium finishes: Holdsworth took second at Hamilton and Winton, as well as third at the 2011 Armor All Gold Coast 600 alongside Simon Pagenaud. Caruso’s top result was a fourth place at the Sydney 500. In 2012, Holdsworth moved to Stone Brothers Racing and was succeeded by French driver Alexandre Prémat, while Caruso embarked on his fifth campaign. The team faced difficulties maintaining competitive speed; Caruso’s best was fourth at Hidden Valley, and Prémat encountered challenges for much of the year but showed potential at the Sydney 500 before withdrawing due to heat exhaustion and being replaced by Development Series champion Scott McLaughlin.
For 2013, McLaughlin was signed full-time alongside Prémat as Caruso transferred to Nissan Motorsport. With the introduction of new rules for the New Generation V8 Supercar, the team commenced strongly—Prémat and McLaughlin finished fourth and sixth respectively in the opening round at the 2013 Clipsal 500 Adelaide. McLaughlin became the youngest winner in V8 Supercar history at Pukekohe and maintained consistent top-ten finishes early in the season. Although results dipped mid-season, he recovered with a second-place finish and a victory at Queensland Raceway. Both drivers placed inside the top ten at the 2013 Wilson Security Sandown 500, with McLaughlin paired with Jack Perkins finishing eighth and Prémat alongside Greg Ritter in tenth. McLaughlin ended the championship tenth overall; Prémat ranked nineteenth.
Volvo
In June 2013, it was announced that for the 2014 season, the team would switch to competing with the Volvo S60, forming a partnership with Volvo Cars and Polestar Racing.<ref> Swedish driver Robert Dahlgren replaced Prémat as part of this transition.<ref> While Dahlgren experienced difficulties adapting, McLaughlin secured four victories including at the 2014 Plus Fitness Phillip Island 400, ultimately finishing fifth in the championship standings. The second vehicle was piloted by David Wall in 2015 and James Moffat in 2016.<ref> After Polestar parted ways in 2015, Garry Rogers Motorsport (GRM) ended its formal relationship with Polestar in 2016 but continued to feature branding from Cyan Racing—Polestar's former motorsport arm—and Volvo Dealer Racing.<ref> The collaboration with Volvo concluded following the 2016 season, with cars and engines returned to Sweden.<ref> On track, after a winless campaign in 2015, McLaughlin revitalized performance in 2016 by winning both races at the 2016 WD-40 Phillip Island SuperSprint and securing third place in the drivers' championship.<ref>
Reinstatement of Holden
In January 2017, the outfit revealed plans to switch back to competing with Holden Commodores following Volvo's departure from the championship. Garth Tander, who had been part of the team from 1998 until 2004, returned to replace Scott McLaughlin after his transfer to DJR Team Penske. The team managed to secure a single podium finish at Phillip Island with Tander behind the wheel and also introduced James Golding as a wildcard entrant during the season. At the conclusion of 2017, Moffat departed and was succeeded by Golding.
For the 2018 season, the team campaigned ZB Commodores, taking over from the previous VF models, and achieved one podium result at Melbourne courtesy of Tander. By the end of that year, Wilson Security withdrew as the primary sponsor and Boost Mobile took over sponsorship duties. Garth Tander was replaced by Richie Stanaway; however, no podiums were earned as Stanaway withdrew from the final rounds due to a longstanding neck injury. Chris Pither stepped in for races at Winton and Darwin, while Michael Caruso made a one-off comeback at Queensland Raceway.
Exit from Supercars
In October 2019, Garry Rogers declared that his team would withdraw from the Supercars competition for the 2020 season. The decision was attributed to escalating costs within the sport and a series structure that required teams to purchase parts rather than develop them independently. After the season concluded, Richie Stanaway announced his retirement from professional racing, and James Golding moved to Team 18 as an Enduro Cup co-driver.
Car No. 33 results
| Year | Driver | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | Position | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Glenn Seton | 33 | Holden | ADE R1 18 |
ADE R2 10 |
PHI R3 9 |
EAS R4 26 |
WIN R5 12 |
BAR R6 14 |
BAR R7 15 |
BAR R8 18 |
HDV R9 Ret |
HDV R10 16 |
HDV R11 17 |
QLD R12 Ret |
ORA R13 Ret |
SAN R14 16 |
BAT R15 2 |
SUR R16 12 |
SUR R17 5 |
PUK R18 11 |
PUK R19 9 |
PUK R20 11 |
EAS R21 18 |
EAS R22 Ret |
15th | 1266 | ||||||||||||||||||
Car No. 34 Performance
... [Table continues with similar structure for subsequent years and drivers] ...| Year | Driver | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | Final Position/Points | Points Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Craig Lowndes | 6 | Ford | ADE R1 Ret |
ADE R1 7 |
PHI R3 1 |
EAS R4 2 |
WIN R5 10 |
BAR R6 6 |
BAR R7 Ret |
BAR R8 17 |
HDV R9 28 |
HDV R10 27 |
HDV R11 15 |
QLD R12 6 |
ORA R13 2 |
SAN R14 16 |
BAT R15 2 |
SUR R16 15 |
SUR R17 9 |
PUK R18 16 |
PUK R19 12 |
PUK R20 18 |
EAS R21 6 |
EAS R22 4 |
5th place | 1756 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | Cameron Waters
... [Results truncated for brevity] ... |
2nd place |
2125 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
TCR Australia
In the year 2019, the team participated in the TCR Australia Touring Car Series, entering one Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce alongside two Renault Mégane R.S vehicles. Midway through the season, Jimmy Vernon stepped down and was succeeded by Jordan Cox. The team achieved a total of seven podium finishes thanks to the efforts of Cox, James Moffat, and Chris Pither. For the following year, Renault enhanced its sponsorship role, leading to the team’s rebranding as Renault Sport GRM. This expansion included the addition of a third car, with James Moffat and Dylan O'Keeffe confirmed as drivers.
Expanding its footprint further, the organization competed under the banner of GRM Customer Racing, fielding an Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce and a Peugeot 308, piloted by Jordan Cox and Jason Bargwanna respectively. Concurrently, Team Valvoline GRM entered competition with both an Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce and a Peugeot 308, driven by Michael Caruso and Aaron Cameron in each car.
Australian Touring Car Championship and Supercar Competitors
Below is a list of drivers who have represented the team in the Australian Touring Car Championship and Supercars, organized by their initial appearance. Part-time participants are indicated in italics.
- Steven Richards (1996–98)
- Jason Bright (1997)
- Jason Bargwanna (1998–2002)
- Garth Tander (1998–2004, 2017–18)
- Cameron McLean (1998, 2006–07)
- Greg Ritter (1999–2000, 2006–14)
- Matthew Coleman (1999)
- Steve Owen (1999)
- Tim Leahey (2000)
- Paul Dumbrell (2001)
- Leanne Ferrier (2001)
- Jamie Whincup (2002–03)
- Max Dumesny (2002)
- Mark Noske (2002)
- Nathan Pretty (2003–04)
- Allen Simonsen (2003–04)
- Cameron McConville (2004–05)
- Andrew Jones (2005)
- Dean Canto (2005–07)
- Lee Holdsworth (2005–11)
- Phillip Scifleet (2005–06)
- Michael Caruso (2008–12, 2019)
- Steven Ellery (2008)
- David Besnard (2009–10)
- Patrick Long (2010)
- Marcus Marshall (2011)
- Simon Pagenaud (2011)
- Augusto Farfus (2011)
- Alexandre Prémat (2012–15)
- Jack Perkins (2012–13)
- Ricky Taylor (2012)
- James Hinchcliffe (2012)
- Scott McLaughlin (2012–16)
- Robert Dahlgren (2014)
- David Wall (2015–16)
- Chris Pither (2015, 2018–19)
- James Moffat (2016–17)
- James Golding (2016–19)
- Richard Muscat (2017–19)
- Richie Stanaway (2019)
- Dylan O'Keeffe (2019)
- Tyler Everingham (2020)
- Jayden Ojeda (2020)
Super2 Series Drivers
Presented here are the drivers who have participated for the team in the Super2 Series, listed according to their debut. Part-time drivers are shown in italics.
- Leanne Ferrier (2001)
- James Golding (2015–16, in conjunction with Dragon Motor Racing)
- Chelsea Angelo (2016, alongside Dragon Motor Racing)
- Richard Muscat (2016–17, partnered with Dragon Motor Racing)
- Mason Barbera (2017–19)
- Chris Pither (2018)
- Dylan O'Keeffe (2019)
TCR Australia Competitors
The drivers who have raced for the team in TCR Australia are listed below by their first appearance. Part-time drivers are italicized.
- Jimmy Vernon (2019)
- Jordan Cox (2019 to present)
- Chris Pither (2019)
- James Moffat (2019 to present)
- Michael Caruso (2021)
- Aaron Cameron (2021 to present)
- Dylan O'Keeffe (2021)
- Kody Garland (2022)
Bathurst 24 Hour and Nations Cup
In 2002, Holden Motorsport commissioned GRM to construct and operate a Holden Monaro specifically for the Bathurst 24 Hour endurance event. This vehicle competed against rivals such as the Lamborghini Diablo GTR, Ferrari 360 N-GT, Chrysler Viper ACR, and Porsche 911 GT3. Following a decision by the Holden Racing Team not to participate, GRM engineered the car equipped with a variant of the Chevrolet Corvette C5-R's 7.0 litre V8 engine—crafted by engine expert Mike Excel—resulting in the creation of the Holden Monaro 427C.
During its inaugural appearance at the 2002 Bathurst 24 Hour race, Tander secured second place in qualifying. Although early challenges arose—including a punctured tyre, replacement of the fuel cell, and gearbox damage caused by contact with another competitor—the team managed to recover and led during the closing stages. Ultimately, the Monaro triumphed by a margin of 24 laps over a Mosler MT900R, with Tander recording a fastest lap time surpassing even pole position.
In 2003, GRM produced a second Monaro for touring car legend Peter Brock. This vehicle clinched victory at the Bathurst 24 Hour with drivers Jason Bright, Todd Kelly, Greg Murphy, and Brock behind the wheel. The prior year’s winning car finished closely in second place. With instructions from team management to respect their teammates’ performance, Murphy narrowly held off Tander in an intense finale. This victory marked Brock’s last Bathurst triumph and was regarded by some as his tenth overall at Mount Panorama.
Following the race, Garry Rogers commented that PROCAR’s regulations on the 7.0 litre V8 engines constrained performance and suggested that a smaller Gen III engine might have offered superior speed. He also remarked that a professionally prepared V10 Viper could have rivaled or surpassed the Monaros if driven by experienced professionals rather than amateurs.
In a 2013 interview coinciding with GRM’s transition from Holden to Volvo after twenty-five years, Rogers described their Bathurst 24 Hour wins as their most significant accomplishment. Former driver Garth Tander explained that despite utilizing larger engines than contemporary V8 Supercars, the Monaros were approximately 300 kilograms heavier and achieved lower top speeds on Conrod Straight (~275 km/h compared to ~300 km/h), although they were quicker through certain sections of the circuit.
The Monaro that won in 2002 is currently exhibited at the National Motor Racing Museum located at Mount Panorama. The victorious 2003 car remains privately owned; another Monaro driven by Brock was sold at auction in February 2020.