HSV Dealer Team
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Auto racing |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Defunct | 2008 |
| Fate | Dissolved; personnel formed Walkinshaw Racing and Kelly Racing |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | V8 Supercars racing team |
The HSV Dealer Team, previously known as Tom Walkinshaw Racing Australia and later John Kelly Racing, was a prominent Australian V8 Supercar outfit. The team concluded its activities at the close of 2008, with former proprietors and personnel establishing Walkinshaw Racing and Kelly Racing. This team is distinguished for clinching the Bathurst 1000 titles in both 2003 and 2004, as well as capturing the V8 Supercars Drivers and Teams Championships in 2006 and 2007.
Tom Walkinshaw Racing Australia
Formed in 2001 under the name K-Mart Racing Team, Tom Walkinshaw Racing expanded its Holden Racing Team program to include four vehicles. Because each Racing Entitlement Contract (REC) permitted only three cars, Romano Racing’s REC was leased to accommodate two K-Mart cars, while Romano’s own vehicle competed as a third Holden Racing Team entry under the Holden Young Lions banner.
Todd Kelly, who had driven a third HRT car in 2000, returned to pilot one of the entries, while Greg Murphy transitioned from Gibson Motorsport with K-Mart backing. The team achieved its inaugural victories by winning the final two rounds of the 2001 season: Murphy triumphed at the Auckland 500 held at Pukekohe Park Raceway, followed by Kelly securing his first championship round win at the V8 Ultimate event at Sandown Raceway. Murphy went on to replicate his Pukekohe success in both 2002 and 2003.
John Kelly Racing
In 2003, the outfit competed using a REC leased from John Faulkner Racing, with Rick Kelly taking over from Todd Kelly. After Tom Walkinshaw Racing dissolved in February 2003, Holden briefly took ownership before transferring control to John and Margaret Kelly—parents of Rick and Todd—due to restrictions on manufacturer-owned teams. By July 2003, the leased John Faulkner REC was returned and subsequently sold to Paul Weel Racing, while a new REC was acquired from 00 Motorsport.
Bathurst success
The team celebrated victories at both the 2003 and 2004 Bathurst 1000 events, with Murphy and Rick Kelly sharing driving duties. A highlight was Murphy’s 'Lap of the Gods' during the 2003 Top 10 Shootout, setting what was then the fastest lap ever recorded on the circuit. Additionally, Rick Kelly became Bathurst’s youngest winner following their triumph in 2003.
HSV Dealer Team
In the 2005 season, Garth Tander replaced Murphy behind the wheel. With K-Mart ending their sponsorship, the team adopted the name HSV Dealer Team. Rick Kelly’s car carried the Team Buick branding briefly during the V8 Supercars China Round. After initial difficulties throughout 2005, performance improved significantly towards season’s end. In 2006, Toll Group stepped in as title sponsor, prompting a rebranding to Toll HSV Dealer Team. The team quickly established dominance: Rick Kelly secured the drivers’ championship in 2006, followed by Tander winning the title in 2007.
During the 2008 campaign, Tander along with Toll sponsorship transferred to Holden Racing Team; Paul Dumbrell took over Tander’s seat. The HSV Dealer Team persisted with HSV support, featuring Autobarn livery for Dumbrell and Opes Prime colors for Rick Kelly. After Opes Prime collapsed mid-season, Toll Group returned as sponsor. Rick Kelly claimed victory in the team’s final race at Oran Park Raceway in December 2008—this event marked both their concluding competition and Oran Park’s last championship race.
2006 co-driver exchange
During the 2006 endurance events, the HSV Dealer Team and Holden Racing Team arranged a driver exchange to separate championship frontrunners Tander and Kelly, who were ranked first and second in the standings. Tander moved to partner with Mark Skaife at HRT, while Todd Kelly returned to HSV. This swap was enabled by a regulatory loophole that permitted contract cancellations. Despite Kelly achieving second place finishes at both Sandown and Bathurst, Tander ended up twenty-seventh at Sandown and failed to complete the Bathurst race. Following this, the loophole was closed.
Closure and impact
At the close of 2008, John Kelly parted ways with Walkinshaw Performance to launch Kelly Racing, with vehicle preparation handled by Perkins Engineering. The newly formed team grew to field four cars, marking the first occasion both Kelly brothers competed together. They initially continued with Holden Commodores before entering a partnership with Nissan for their 2013 category comeback. This collaboration persisted until 2019; afterward, the team operated Nissan Altimas under licence, then reduced their lineup to two cars and transitioned to Ford Mustangs in 2020. In January 2021, Stephen Grove acquired half of the team’s ownership, prompting a rebrand to Kelly Grove Racing; six months later, Grove purchased the remaining shares, renaming it Grove Racing for the 2022 season and concluding the Kelly family’s involvement.
Walkinshaw Performance sustained a four-car entry by establishing Walkinshaw Racing in 2009, complementing HRT’s efforts. Driver Dumbrell remained for 2009 alongside former HSV Dealer Team teammate David Reynolds. Walkinshaw Racing ceased operations following the 2015 season as it scaled back to two vehicles.
Car No. 15 performance
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Todd Kelly | 15 | Holden | PHI R1 8 |
PHI R2 7 |
ADE R3 15 |
ADE R4 5 |
EAS R5 16 |
EAS R6 8 |
HDV R7 18 |
HDV R8 8 |
HDV R9 20 |
CAN R10 Ret |
CAN R11 18 |
CAN R12 16 |
BAR R13 7 |
BAR R14 7 |
BAR R15 6 |
CAL R16 29 |
CAL R17 Ret |
CAL R18 21 |
ORA R19 4 |
ORA R20 8 |
QLD R21 3 ... (table continues with similar data) ... |
Car No. 16 performance summary
| Year | Driver | No. | Manufacturer | 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 | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Greg Murphy | 51 | Holden | PHI R1 5 |
PHI R2 3 |
ADE R3 Ret |
ADE R4 10 |
EAS R5 1 |
EAS R6 11 |
HID R7 4 |
HID R8 1 |
HID R9 12 |
CAN R10 12 |
CAN R11 Ret |
CAN R12 Ret |
BAR R13 5 |
BAR R14 4 |
BAR R15 3 |
CAL R16 17 |
CAL R17 14 |
CAL R18 8 |
ORA R19 Ret |
ORA R20 11 |
QLD R21 3 |
WIN R22 1 |
4th place |
2724 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2002 |
2nd place |
1569 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003 |
2nd place 1983 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004 |
4th place 1913 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005 | Garth Tander | 16 |
6th place 1734 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006 |
4th place 2965 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007 |
1st place 625 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008 | Paul Dumbrell |
21st place 1398 |
V8 Supercar drivers
Below is a list of drivers who have represented the team in V8 Supercars, organized by their first appearance. Drivers participating on a part-time basis are shown in italics.
- Greg Murphy (2001–04)
- Todd Kelly (2001–02, 2006)
- Rick Kelly (2001, 2003–08)
- Nathan Pretty (2001)
- Yvan Muller (2002)
- Andy Priaulx (2002–03)
- Cameron McLean (2003)
- Tim Leahey (2004–05)
- Steve Owen (2004)
- Garth Tander (2005–07)
- Mark Noske (2005)
- Anthony Tratt (2006)
- Tony D'Alberto (2006)
- Craig Baird (2007)
- Paul Radisich (2007–08)
- Paul Dumbrell (2008)
- David Reynolds (2008)