SUPERCARS TRUCK FANS WANT TO SEE WESTERN STAR RETURN TO THE PADDOCK
The votes are rolling in, and it’s the American brand leading the way
Tekno Autosports’ Western Star 4800 in 2019
Last Saturday afternoon, we asked which truck brand you most want to see return to the Repco Supercars Championship paddock.
The poll on our Facebook group has been open for two days, and it’s a clear lead for Western Star so far. The iconic Daimler-owned American brand, distributed by Penske in Australia, has attracted just under 48% of the total votes.
Western Star left the Supercars paddock in mid-2019, after TEKNO Autosports ran a 4800-model big banger for much of the twenty-tens. We also saw Western Star associated with Ford Performance Racing, Dick Johnson Racing, Kelly Racing, Brad Jones Racing and others at various points over the past 15 years.
A Western Star-led FPR rig at Bathurst in 2011
Photo: Mike Cornwall
DJR’s B-Double transporter led by a Western Star prime mover in 2010
Photo: Mike Cornwall
Western Star power for Jonathon Webb’s Ford Falcon in 2011
Photo: Mike Cornwall
Brad Jones Racing’s B-Double at Bathurst in 2011
Photo: Mike Cornwall
Western Star power for Kelly Racing in 2009
Photo: Mike Cornwall
Volvo was the second most popular choice, with around 29% of the votes. The Swedish brand builds its trucks for the local market Down Under, and there are clearly plenty of fans of the Volvo badge following Australian motorsport.
That could be because of the brand’s long history hauling big-name Supercars race teams including Garry Rogers Motorsport, Kelly Racing, Dick Johnson Racing, Brad Jones Racing, and even the Holden Racing Team in its heyday.
GRM’s Volvo FH pair crossing the Nullarbor in 2018
Photo: Andrew Pearson
Kelly Racing’s Volvo FH-led B-Double transporter in 2011
Photo: Mike Cornwall
Scania was third, with just under 14% of the vote. Scania is the only brand on the list that offers a bent-eight engine, and as the brand’s Australian resurgence continues, the brand has plenty of support in the local transport and motorsport communities.
Walkinshaw Andretti United’s Scania R650 at Sandown in 2019
Triple Eight Race Engineering’s Scania-led transporter in 2005
Photo: Mike Cornwall
You can read the list of potential Supercars truck brand returnees and their recent histories in the sport here.
Thanks for all your votes so far. And if you love talking about race transporters, make sure you join our Facebook group.