Thumbs Up from Fans for Garry Rogers Motorsport Open Day

From : Dandenong, Victoria: 21st March, 2015

This year's Open Day on Saturday 21 March at Garry Rogers Motorsport's Victorian race headquarters in Dandenong saw V8 Supercar fans turn up in force.

Motor sport fans eager to get a look at the Garry Rogers Motorsport team's behind-the-scenes operation turned on the enthusiasm this year, keen to take part in the fun day out at the Garry Rogers Motorsport race headquarters in Victoria.

Billed as 'Bigger and Better' than last year, the GRM Open Day did not disappoint as fans had a great time wandering around the GRM displays, checking out the blue #33 and #34 race cars and joining in the entertainment. There were competitions and lucky door prizes with framed photos and merchandise packs for the winners.

PAYCE open the doors on the Wilson Security Racing GRM team

As one of the major sponsors of the Wilson Security Racing GRM team, PAYCE had a strong presence with its red corporate arch spanning the forecourt entrance, helping to add to a colourful day.

The Volvo Car Club brought along to the show the two race-going Volvo S60 Polestars, as well as displaying a fantastic collection of immaculate vintage and not-so-old Volvos.

Volvo Car Australia brought along some of the sensational road versions of the S60 Polestar as well as the latest models. Volvo Trucks added to the brand flavour with two of the biggest trucks in its range.

GRM opened up the doors to its massive B-double transporter so fans could take a close look at all the equipment and facilities needed to support the race cars at the tracks around Australia.

Kids were also able to challenge Scott on the workshop race simulator with the drivers prepared to take on all comers from the crowd. Popular with everyone were the pit stop challenges, while the little ones had a ball on the "Cars' jumping castle.

Team drivers, Scott McLaughlin, David Wall and Chris Pither were kept busy all day chatting and posing for photographs with fans and signing autographs and team posters.

Garry Rogers with pressure off at the GRM open Day

"It was great to see so many families, along with their young ones, decked out in the team's apparel. Definitely the youngsters are the next generation of motor sport enthusiasts and hopefully some will be future competitors."

"When we are at the track we have to focus on getting the job done, so the time we have available to spend with our many supporters is limited," he said.

"But at the Open Day with the pressure off, we can relax and indulge ourselves with the fans and have a bit of fun, before getting back to the business side of racing.

GRM team owner, Garry Rogers said he totally enjoyed the day and was pleased to be able to give something back to the many fans who support the team throughout the season.

Brian Boyd keen Motorsport enthusiast congratulates GRM

PAYCE Managing Director and avid motor sports supporter, Brian Boyd congratulated Garry and his team for putting on a great show for the fans.

"Garry is a legend in a sport he has excelled in for more than 50 years, both as a driver and team owner and his followers are a loyal band," Brian Boyd said.

"The Open Day was an opportunity to repay that loyalty and the team unselfishly gave up their time at this busy point in the season to acknowledge how important their fans are to them and to the sport," Mr Boyd continued.

"Garry's decision to partner with Volvo and Polestar Racing last year brought on board a whole new group of supporters who would no doubt have appreciated the opportunity to see the hard work and dedication that goes into transforming the popular Volvo S60 Polestar into competitive race cars," Brian Boyd commented on the manufacturer partnership between GRM and Volvo.

Brian Boyd said PAYCE was excited to be part of the Wilson Security Racing GRM team and he was looking forward to the team enjoying many successes during the 2015 season.

The V8 Supercar Championship season so far for GRM

Earlier in March, the 2015 V8 Supercar season began in Adelaide with the Clipsal 500, which proved to be a tough and competitive start for the Wilson Security Racing GRM (Volvo Polestar Racing) team in their S60 Volvo`s.

Young Scott McLaughlin qualified in the top for all three races and was all set for the race lead, but technical issues and penalties overshadowed the final results.

Scott McLaughlin's qualifying results read fourth, third and second which was very good, but he just missed out in the first race due to a broken oil pump, two penalties incurred during the second race due to a jump-start, dropping him from third to ninth position. The third and final race saw McLaughlin fighting for the lead, just before the alternator failed, dropping him four laps behind the leaders.

Two weeks later with the non-championship V8 Supercar round at Albert Park in Melbourne the Wilson Security Racing GRM (Volvo Polestar Racing) had a chaotic weekend with Scott McLaughlin climbing 14 positions to crack the top ten from the very back of the grid.

"It was a pretty good end to what has been one of the toughest race weekends of my career," said McLaughlin.

The V8 Supercar Championship continues in two weeks at Symmons Plains in Tasmania with the Tasmanian SuperSprint, points then being awarded to the championship.

Garry Rogers' thanks go out to all the GRM staff and the V8 Supercar fans who made the 2015 GRM Open Day special saying "As many will know I have been at this for more than 50 years, but days like Saturday give me real satisfaction and reinforce why I keep doing what I do."