SVG’s 2019 Bathurst suit was worn during one of the Great Race’s most dramatic events. Partnering with Garth Tander for the first time, the pair raced in a one-off retro Holden livery celebrating 50 years of factory motorsport before finishing just 0.68 seconds from victory. The race was later overshadowed by DJR Team Penske’s controversial Safety Car strategy, cementing the event as one of Bathurst’s most talked-about finishes.

The 2019 Bathurst 1000 marked one of the most memorable weekends of Shane van Gisbergen’s career, with the #97 Red Bull Holden Racing Team Commodore carrying a spectacular one-off livery celebrating 50 years of Holden factory motorsport.

Replacing the team’s iconic blue colours with a striking red-and-white design inspired by the legendary 1971 Holden Dealer Team LC Torana GTR XU-1 of Peter Brock and Colin Bond, the tribute honoured five decades of Holden’s racing heritage on Australian motorsport’s biggest stage. While created as a celebration of the past, the livery would ultimately become one of the final great tributes to Holden before the brand’s departure from Australia, giving it even greater significance in hindsight.

Paired with two-time Bathurst winner Garth Tander, van Gisbergen immediately proved the car had the pace to match its appearance, qualifying on the front row and remaining in contention throughout the 1,000-kilometre endurance classic.

The closing stages of the race would become one of the most controversial in Bathurst history. During a late Safety Car period, rival team DJR Team Penske instructed Fabian Coulthard to dramatically slow the field, creating a strategic advantage for championship leader Scott McLaughlin during the final round of pit stops. The tactic sparked widespread debate and ultimately resulted in the team receiving a $250,000 penalty for breaching team orders, although McLaughlin’s victory stood.

Despite the controversy, van Gisbergen and Tander mounted a determined charge to the finish, crossing the line just 0.68 seconds behind the winning car after more than six hours of racing. The dramatic runner-up finish cemented the event as one of the most talked-about Bathurst races of the modern era.

Worn throughout this unforgettable campaign, Shane van Gisbergen’s race suit represents far more than a single race. It embodies a unique chapter in Australian motorsport history—celebrating Holden’s remarkable legacy, showcasing one of Bathurst’s most iconic modern liveries, and preserving a tangible connection to one of the Great Race’s most dramatic and controversial finishes.