Holden will field two Astras in this year's WPS Bathurst 12-Hour Showroom Showdown, an Astra SRi Turbo Coupe and an Astra CDTi Diesel

Holden will field a two-car Astra factory team in this year’s WPS 12-Hour Showroom Enduro at the Bathurst International Motor Festival this Easter.

Holden V8 Supercar drivers, Jason Richards, Shane Price, Jack Perkins and endurance specialist Nathan Pretty will contest the two wheel drive Hot Hatch Class 5 in an Astra SRi Turbo Coupe.

The Bendon Lingerie Astra CDTi Diesel all-girl Bathurst 12 Hour line-up, from left-right - Lauren Gray, Samantha Reid, Leanne Tander, Christina Orr

The second Astra – a pink Astra CDTi Diesel – will be driven by some of Australia and New Zealand’s leading female drivers, Leanne Tander, Lauren Gray, Samantha Reid and Christina Orr and compete in the Alternative Energy Diesel/Hybrid Eco Class 9 for vehicles under 3.5 litres.

The Astra SRi Turbo Coupe will carry Firepower branding, while the all-girl Astra is backed by Bendon Lingerie. Both cars have been prepared by leading V8 Supercar team, Paul Morris Motorsport at its headquarters at Norwell, on the Gold Coast.

Holden Motorsport Manager, Simon McNamara said Holden is synonymous with Mount Panorama.

“Holden has always looked to participate in Bathurst enduros and the Easter 12 Hour is no exception,” said McNamara.

“Rather than run V8 Commodores, we saw this as a chance to do something different. It’s an excellent opportunity to showcase our strong selling Astra range, following up on our great Monaro Bathurst 24 Hour success of a few years back.

“Astra has been a proven race winner in Europe on numerous occasions and here is a chance to promote the diesel package, complete with pink livery, Bendon Lingerie sponsorship and four of the best female drivers available.

“The hot hatch Turbo Astra coupe gives some of our younger V8 drivers in Price and Perkins a chance to get more Bathurst experience under their belts, while Richards and Pretty add experience to the line-up.

“This is a toe-in-the-water exercise for Holden Motorsport, but we’re hoping for strong results.”

At 26 years old, Tander is the most experienced of the girls; Tander and Reid having with limited experience at Mount Panorama, while Gray has never raced on the spectacular circuit, while New Zealander Orr has never been to Bathurst.

Tander and Gray, who race in the Australian Formula 3 Championship, have previous tin top experience, while Reid and Orr have only driven open wheelers in the past – Reid in Formula Ford and Orr in FF and Formula Toyota.

“Holden has been able to assemble a very good group of girl drivers; all are very good in their own categories,” Tander said.

“The first rule of motor racing is to beat your team-mates and, of course, we want to beat the boys in their Astra.

“Our main goal is to finish the race. If we can do that we will surprise a lot of people as the Astra CDTi Diesel has the advantage of not needing to stop as often.”

Perkins said he was delighted with the opportunity to again race at Bathurst, having last October made his debut on the track his father won at six times.

“I’m looking forward to making two Bathurst trips in one year,” Perkins said.

“It will also be good to last 12 hours rather than two minutes, which is what happened to me in the 1000 last year!

“Both Shane and I have never driven Astras before, so this will be an experience. It will also be great to share driving with two experienced V8 guys from other teams which you rarely get the chance to do.”

Practice for the WPS 12-Hour Showroom Enduro begins at Mount Panorama on Friday morning, with the race starting at 5.45am Easter Sunday (8 April).