Dane: ZB debut success validates T8 hard graft

A double victory on debut for the Holden ZB Commodore validates months of hard work put into delivering the car, according to Triple Eight boss Roland Dane.

The latest generation Holden Supercar burst on the scene at Adelaide scoring two pole positions, two victories and five of the six podium places in the pair of races that kicked off the new Supercars season.

It marked a highly successful competitive debut for the car which has been more than 18 months in the making.

Shane van Gisbergen christened the car by scoring both poles and wins for the Triple Eight outfit, which has been charged to deliver the ZB Commodore.

Dane highlighted the victories as a special moment for the homologation team after what has been a challenging project from conception to the delivery of 14 new aero packages and spares to Holden teams.

The team would have scored a likely one-two on Sunday had Jamie Whincup not suffered a terminal gearbox issue in Race 2.

“It was special on a number of levels,” Dane told Speedcafe.com of the first win for the car.

“It just proves that the amount of effort we have put in has been validated, so anytime that happens it is very satisfying.

“I think what is most satisfying to me is that we have won the season opener 11 years in a row.

“I think the car is good. I think everyone is still learning it and it should be good. It is new and we have still got a lot to learn.”

Those sentiments are echoed by team manager Mark Dutton who believes the team has only scratched the surface of the ZB Commodore’s potential.

“It is a good car and I’m not going to take anything away from it, it is not the difference at this stage, we hope it is. It is just good teams doing a good job,” said Dutton.

“I’m hoping we are just scratching the surface.

“We do still feel there is more potential with it just because we have not had the time to look for the half percenters or even the two percenters yet. We know we have to.

“We are 100 percent not getting ahead of ourselves because this is what we did last year and then we had a pretty tough season for the rest of the year.”

The car proved to be a major talking point over the weekend sparking a weight parity debate regarding the Holden’s use of lightweight composite panels, led by Ford teams Shell V-Power Racing and Tickford Racing.

Triple Eight responded to the calls from its rivals by stating that teams have the option to employ the use of composite parts with approval from Supercars.

The squad also argues that there isn’t a noticeable difference in the centre of gravity figures between the Holden, Ford and Nissan chassis which have been signed off by Supercars.