Chevrolet Racing, the motorsport arm of General Motors Australia and New Zealand, is partnering with GMSV and taking on this year’s Tatts Finke Desert Race.
Three-time Supercars Champion Craig Lowndes will drive the new Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 Off-Road Racer.
Partnering Lowndes will be navigator Dale Moscatt, who is highly experienced in off-road racing, including multiple visits to Dakar and other signature events.
“This is Chevrolet Racing’s first foray into the world of Off-Road Racing and builds on other motorsport categories we compete in, including Supercars and Drag Racing,” Chevrolet Racing Australia and New Zealand general manager Chris Payne.
“It’s a natural fit for a vehicle such as the Chevrolet Silverado ZR2, which is already an accomplished all-terrain performer in its own right, as this provides an opportunity to showcase all-round capability and demonstrate multi-purpose off road prowess.”
The Off-Road Racer concept was built at the company’s Port Melbourne workshop by an enthusiastic group of GM employee volunteers. It was taken to the next level with the involvement of Chevrolet Racing and competition partner Rampex, who will support the race effort at Finke.
Preparations included the exchange of learnings with the GM Motorsports Division in the USA and tapping into the knowledge of Hall Racing, especially related to suspension development.
From small beginnings, the project has grown into a fully-fledged team that has come together to take on the Tatts Finke Desert Race.
“Extensive testing has proven this off-road racer is no slouch, but at the same time, we’re under no illusions that this race is one of the toughest in the world and will be a real challenge for team and machine,” Payne says.
Lowndes says is looking forward to swapping his ‘daily driver’ Silverado for something even more exciting.
“I’m thrilled to be taking the Silverado to Finke. It’s been a while since I won the Australian Safari, which was way back in 2010; this will be a great test.
“I drive a Silverado ZR2 every day and regularly put it through its paces off-road on weekends, as well as towing our caravan yearly to the Bathurst 1000. It covers impressive distances and handles Australian conditions so easily; now we’re out to prove its off-road capability.”
The Tatts Finke Desert Race is June 7-10, with teams racing from Alice Springs to the settlement of Aputula (Finke) and back.
