![]() ![]() Skaife became #2 in 19 before he and Richards swapped numbers for the debut of their new V8 Commodores in 1993 after Skaife claimed the '92 crown. ![]() In fact, Mark Skaife used #2 once for the debut of the 'Godzilla' Nissan GT-R at Mallala that season. New signing Jim Richards became #2 in 1989 and then again in 1990, the year he won the championship. When the factory Nissan team parted ways with cigarette sponsorship at the end of 1988, it also changed its numbers that had been references to products of their previous sponsor. Prior to its time at HRT, the #2 had been in the domain of Skaife's former home at Gibson Motorsport with the two teams both achieving amazing success as the power teams of their respective eras. Skaife ran #2 for the remainder of his time at HRT (save for when he drove #200 at Phillip Island in 2007 and the 2008 enduros where he teamed with Garth Tander in #1) before it became Garth Tander's number from 2009 onwards. As champion he took over #1 and that left #2 for the use of teammates Jason Bright (2001-2002) and Todd Kelly (2003) before Skaife took it back for 2004 after Marcos Ambrose toppled him for the title. ![]() Skaife used it for two seasons, including winning the championship (his first with HRT) in 2000. In the case of the #2, it's been the sold domain of the Holden Racing Team since 1999. In the old days where there wasn't a company involving the competitors running the sport (as AVESCO was, now known as V8 Supercars), numbers were more of a random element with drivers having different numbers at different events. In today's modern era, racing numbers are connected to the Racing Entitlements Contracts. We've decided to delve deep into the files and come up with the stories behind the digits that today's star drivers and teams carry on their cars.įirst up we've elected to focus in on the #2 and it's two big teams, Gibson Motorsport and the Holden Racing Team, and one driver - Mark Skaife - that have effectively had the lion's share of use of that racing number for over the last 25 years. If a driver carries '1' it generally signifies they are the best in their category or field as champion.īut how and why is it that today's V8 Supercars Championship teams and drivers have the numbers they have? Mention the number '17' and you can bet 'Dick Johnson' will be the response. Just as numbers separate the winner from the runner-up in terms of seconds and positions, they also give identities to teams and drivers in all levels of the sport.įor example, mention the number '05' to any racing fan in Australia and they'll instantly think of one driver - Peter Brock. Motorsport is all about numbers, no matter what their combination or use. ![]()
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