In motorsport, the word “legend” is usually reserved for those who’ve achieved greatness behind the wheel. But in the case of Garry Rogers, it’s just as deserved for what he accomplished outside the car. Through his tireless support of young drivers and his one-of-a-kind personality, Garry made a lasting impact on Australian motorsport.
He brought colour and humour to a pit lane that could often be too serious — from his fancy dress antics to his sharp one-liners and the sheer joy he showed when his team succeeded. And succeed they did. Garry Rogers Motorsport (GRM) famously won the 2000 Bathurst 1000 with Garth Tander and Jason Bargwanna, though Garry himself called the 2003 Bathurst 24 Hour win his most satisfying achievement.
Beyond Bathurst, there was the Volvo program, the revival of Formula 5000, and the promotion of TCR Australia through ARG — all providing young drivers with a platform to showcase their talent. Without Garry Rogers, the career paths — and perhaps even the success — of drivers like Garth Tander, Jamie Whincup, and Scott McLaughlin might have looked very different. Together, those three went on to claim 11 drivers’ championships and 11 Bathurst 1000 victories.
At this year’s Bathurst 1000, every step of the podium featured an ex-GRM driver — a perfect snapshot of his legacy in developing talent.
Garry will be sorely missed. Thanks for the memories and the laughs.
Let’s take a look at some of the most memorable Garry Rogers Motorsport models in 1:18 scale.
The Bathurst Victory
The year 2000 delivered a rain-soaked Bathurst 1000 and a surprise victory for Garth Tander and Jason Bargwanna, after Tony Longhurst, who had been leading within sight of the finish, struck a backmarker and handed the lead to the GRM Commodore with just nine laps remaining. It would be GRM’s and Bargwanna’s first and only Bathurst win — and the first of six for Tander, whose career came full circle with another triumph in this year’s race, 25 years later.
.png)
The Bathurst 24 Hour Winning Monaros
The Bathurst 24 Hour endurance race for GT and production cars was held only twice — in 2002 and 2003 — before the management group PROCAR collapsed. Garry Rogers Motorsport entered one car in the inaugural race, which duly won, and two cars the following year, finishing 1–2 in what became the crowning achievement of Garry’s motorsport career.
Classic Carlectables commemorated the event by releasing models of both the 2002 and 2003 winners, as well as the second-placed car from 2003 — which, interestingly, was the very same car that had taken victory the year before.
2003 Bathurst 24 Hour Winner (Classic Carlectables)
AUTOart also released a version of the 2003 Bathurst 24 Hour winner, produced in a smaller run than its Classic Carlectables counterpart (3,000 vs 5,000 units). The AUTOart release has become the second most valuable GRM model, likely due to its certificate of authenticity signed by all four drivers — including Peter Brock.
2003 Bathurst 24 Hour Winner (AUTOart)
.png)
The Car That Launched an International Career
At the final round of the 2012 V8 Supercars season at the Sydney Telstra 500, Scott McLaughlin clinched the Dunlop Series championship, then signed with Garry Rogers Motorsport (GRM) as a full-time driver for 2013. He made his solo 'main-game' debut at the event, replacing future Bathurst-winning co-driver and close friend Alex Prémat.
McLaughlin wasted no time making his mark — winning his first V8 Supercar race in 2013 and beginning a meteoric rise that would deliver over 50 race wins, three Supercars championships, and ultimately a move to the United States to race IndyCar for Roger Penske.
To commemorate his GRM debut, APEX Replicas released a 1:18 scale model (AD80405) for the 2015 Diecast Model Expo.
The Most Valuable GRM Model
An unforgettable on-track moment, matched only by an even more iconic celebration. At the 2014 Adelaide 500, Scott McLaughlin, in the Volvo S60, went door-to-door with Jamie Whincup in a thrilling battle for second place — pulling off a miraculous pass at the final corner.
In the post-race interview, Scott famously said he’d given it “some jandal” — a phrase unfamiliar to most Aussies at the time, but one that instantly became part of Supercars folklore and forever tied to this incredible moment in racing.
In what could only be described as the perfect visual summary of Garry Rogers’ larrikin spirit, the following event — the Australian Grand Prix — saw Scott McLaughlin’s Volvo sporting a cartoon of him wearing a jandal on the roof.
To commemorate the moment, APEX Replicas released 1:18 (AD80903) and 1:43 (AD40903) scale models of the car for the 2015 Diecast Model Expo. The 1:18 version remains the most valuable GRM model, holding the highest Diecast Detective Price for both new and used examples, and achieving a peak sale price of $999.
The Final GRM Cars
With two exciting young guns once again filling the seats of the now Peter Adderton-backed, Boost Mobile-sponsored cars, the future should have been bright for GRM. But it wasn’t to be. The team chose not to renew its RECs for 2020, instead bowing out of Supercars at the conclusion of the Newcastle 500.
With the pandemic looming just around the corner, unbeknownst to anyone at the time, GRM’s decision to step away from Supercars ultimately proved to be a wise one. From there, Garry redirected his team’s focus toward other categories — TCR Australia, S5000, and Trans Am — continuing his legacy of developing cars, talent, and opportunities for Australian motorsport well beyond the Supercars paddock.
