Team 18 to run retro livery at Newcastle

Team 18 will run its NASCAR inspired retro livery at the Coates Hire Newcastle 500.

The Melbourne squad unveiled a design for last weekend’s Sandown 500 retro round that paid tribute to the colours raced by Kurt Busch for half of his title-winning NASCAR Cup Series campaign in 2004.

Such has been its popularity on social media, the team will keep the livery on its ZB Commodore for Mark Winterbottom at the Newcastle season finale from November 22-24.

Winterbottom and co-driver Seven Richards finished 12th in Sunday’s Sandown 500 despite power steering issues.

“A tough race, 108 laps is pretty hard work around here,” said Winterbottom.

“We salvaged something out of that with a P12 finish.

“We had few niggling dramas with power steering through most of the race.

“The car has reasonable pace but we came from a bit behind but we finished the weekend with a straight car. Hopefully we cap the year off with a good result in Newcastle.”

Winterbottom will head to Newcastle lying 14th in the championship standings.