Mal Rose is bringing V8 thunder back to the Ring

Mal Rose Racing at Spa 12 hour

Mal Rose has competed in the Nürburgring 24 Hour so many times now he’s almost part of the beer-sodden furniture that is found trackside during the event. But last year his trusty V8 Supercar didn’t make the trip. In 2011, though, the big pink V8 Commodore is back.

It will be a hectic trip for Mal who will be racing in a 12-hour race at Spa on 17–19 June. As soon as the race in Belgium is over preparations for the Nürburgring 24 Hour race will commence. The former Garry Rogers Motorsport machine will be packed back into its container for the short journey to the Eifel mountains.

Adding to the occasion, Mal will celebrate his 49th birthday just before the race at Spa. “It is enjoyable when you can involve your family and friends in these events, and it is a great thrill to race at some of the best racetracks in the world and to have my wife and kids with me for my birthday is fantastic,” Mal Rose said.

As if that wasn’t enough, Mal also has plans to race his Commodore at the Barcelona 24 Hour race in September, before making a return to the Dubai 24 Hour in January 2012.

Mal is looking forward to the action after a relatively quiet 2011 to date, “So far this year, we have only raced in the Bathurst 12 Hour in a Nissan GTR R35 so to add Spa Francorchamps, Nurburgring and Barcelona in 2011 will be a great thrill.

“The car is very different from all the local cars in Germany, Belgium and Spain, so we have a great support following.”

On past performances the V8 handles itself very well against some of the more exotic machines and Rose has his sights set on some pretty respectable placings.

“With over 220 cars entered at Nurburgring this year, we aim to finish in the top-20. The Belgium 12 Hour is part of the Belgium Touring Car Championship with about 80 cars so a top-10 is possible. The inaugural Barcelona 24 Hour will only have 70 cars so again a top-10 would be great,” he said.

We wish Mal and his co-drivers Peter Leemhuis and Damien Flack the very best.

Mal Rose Racing - 2009 Nurburgring 24 hour race

Mal Rose Racing returns to V8 Power for European Enduro Assault

May 16, 2011 – After racing with a European Subaru team in the 2010 Nurburgring 24 Hour, experienced Australian racer Mal Rose is returning to the famous German circuit with his own Commodore V8 Supercar, for the 2011 event.

As well as the classic Nurburgring endurance event, Rose and his team will also contest the Spa Francorchamps 12 Hour race at the prestigious Belgian circuit. It will be the first time a Holden Commodore has raced at Spa Francorchamps since Peter Brock and Allan Moffat in the mid-1980s.

It will be Rose’s eighth consecutive start in the Nurburgring 24 Hour and second attempt at the Spa 12 Hour – he also contested both events in 2009.

Rose’s ex-Garry Rogers Motorsport Holden Commodore VY V8 Supercar is best known for Jason Bargwanna’s spectacular start-line crash at Phillip Island in 2002. Following the incident, the car was rebuilt before being upgraded to VY specifications (including the double-wishbone front end).

Rose is looking forward to returning to some of the world’s best circuits with the V8 Supercar.

“The car is very different from all the local cars in Germany, Belgium and Spain, so we have a great support following,” he said.

While Rose is yet to finalise sponsors and co-drivers for the races, the car has already left Australia in a 40’container for the six-week voyage overseas. The Spa 12 Hour race is from June 17-19; following the race, the team will pack the car back into the container for transport directly to the Nurburgring in time for the 24 Hour, June 23-26. After this event, the car will either be transported back to Australia or remain in Europe (with preparation in a Netherlands workshop) for the Barcelona 24 Hour in September. Rose also hopes to compete in the Dubai 24 Hour in January 2012.

“We are fully prepared with two engines, two sequential gearboxes and every panel and parts should something go wrong,” said Rose.

If Rose’s schedule was not already busy enough, he will also celebrate his 49th birthday just before the Spa 12 Hour.

“It is enjoyable when you can involve your family and friends in these events, and it is a great thrill to race at some of the best racetracks in the world and to have my wife & kids with me for my birthday is fantastic,” Mal Rose said.

“It is also amazing that several other Australian teams are also now competing in international endurance races since we started back in 2004.

“So far this year, we have only raced in the Bathurst 12 Hour in a Nissan GTR R35 so to add Spa Francorchamps, Nurburgring and Barcelona in 2011 will be a great thrill.

“With over 220 cars entered at Nurburgring this year, we aim to finish in the top-20. The Belgium 12 Hour is part of the Belgium Touring Car Championship with about 80 cars so a top-10 is possible. The inaugural Barcelona 24 Hour will only have 70 cars so again a top-10 would be great.

“This type of racing is very enjoyable, because you can spend over eight hours behind the wheel and race on the world’s best circuits with many other enthusiast race drivers all trying to win the Class Trophy.”

“My goal is to continue to race at ALL the world’s great international racetracks before I turn 60, and take my unique Holden V8 with me,” Rose concluded

Fans can follow Mal Rose’s progress for the Belgium 12 Hour at www.speedworld.be and the Nurburgring 24 Hour at www.24hrennen.de.

About Mal Rose

Mal Rose is one of Australia’s most versatile drivers. Since 1983, he has raced in various one-make series, sports sedans, V8 Supercars, production cars, trucks and Formula Ford. He has competed in the Bathurst 1000, Bathurst 24 Hour and Bathurst 12 Hour, and has raced at international circuits including Sepang, Dubai, Spa-Francorchamps and the Nurburgring.

Mal Rose currently runs the successful V8 Supercar Experience business, through which enthusiasts can experience, from the passenger’s seat, what it feels like to be involved in a V8 Supercar race. For more information, please visit www.v8experience.com.au.

  • 1983 / 84 Sports Sedans
  • 1985 Goodyear Ford Laser Series (against David Brabham and Mark Skaife)
  • 1986 Debut in Group A Touring Cars at Sandown & Bathurst
  • 1987 Commodore Classic series & Production Car Championship
  • 1988 / 89 AUSCAR at the Calder NASCAR track (against Jim Richards and Brad Jones)
  • 1990 Full Australian Production Car Championship
  • 1991 / 1992 NSW Production Car Champion
  • 1993 Australian Production Car Champion
  • 1994 Australian Truck Racing Champion
  • 1995 Australian Formula Ford Rookie of the year and 6th overall (against Mark Webber and Jason Bright)
  • 1996 Shell Australian Touring Car Championship
  • 1997 AMSCAR Champion (at Amaroo Park & Eastern Creek)
  • 1998 Bathurst 1000 1st Privateer (10th outright)
  • 1999 Started V8 Supercar Experience business
  • 2000 Bathurst 1000
  • 2001 KONICA V8 Supercar development series
  • 2002 Bathurst 24hr race (both cars in top 15)
  • 2003 Bathurst 24hr
  • 2004 Debut at Nurburgring 24hr (2nd in class SP2)
  • 2005 Nurburgring 24hr (2nd in class SP2) / Sepang 12hr (2nd in class)
  • 2006 Nurburgring 24hr in V8 Holden Supercar / Sepang 12hr (4th in class) / Dubai 24hr (1st, 2nd and 4th in class)
  • 2007 Nurburgring 24hr (4th in class SP8) / Sepang 12hr in V8 Holden / Dubai 24hr (1st, 2nd & 3rd in class)
  • 2008 Nurburgring 24hr (4th in class SP8 / Sepang 12hr in V8 Holden (7th outright)
  • 2009 Bathurst 12hr (11th outright in HSV Coupe)
  • 2009 Nurburgring 24hr / Spa 12hr in V8 Holden also 1st & 2nd in Class Mitsubishis/ Dubai 24hr (5th in class)
  • 2010 Dubai 24hr (5th in class in V8 Holden)
  • 2010 Nurburgring 24hr (38th outright in Subaru STI)
  • 2011 Bathurst 12hr (pole in Class C in Nissan GTR R35)