The Holden Racing Team’s James Courtney and Garth Tander are confident of victory at New Zealand this weekend, with ANZAC Day honours and the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy to play for.

Tander, who has won three times at Pukekohe, has double the motivation given his link to the late, great Jason Richards who sadly passed away in 2011 after a brave battle with Adreno Cortical Carcinoma.

“Jason was a great mate of mine, and the way that he fought his battle with cancer was very much in keeping with the Spirit of ANZAC,” Tander said.

“It was a fitting result last year, given Jason Bright won it in JR’s car and for his old team, too.

“However, there are a number of us in the V8 Supercars pit-lane who were close to JR, and who would like to win it as well.”

The award, now in its second year, will go to the driver with the best combined-results over the four races at Pukekohe this weekend.

On-track, both HRT Commodores will feature a new-look ANZAC Appeal livery – the second one-off tribute for the New Zealand round.

Holden’s famous lion and driver logo has made way for the RSL’s ANZAC Appeal Rising Sun logo, and is now on the front door and roof of the car.

The front-quarter panel has a silhouette of ANZAC diggers, along with the words of remembrance ‘Lest We Forget’. The ANZAC Appeal logo will also feature on both HRT drivers’ race suits, which will be auctioned off after the event.

“It’s a great honour to have the ANZAC Appeal livery on the car,” Tander said.

“We had a great weekend in New Zealand last year with the ANZAC livery on the car so hopefully we can have a strong one this year as well.”

Tander’s team-mate James Courtney is hoping his results at the past three events can translate into victory at Pukekohe.

“Momentum in the team has been really strong,” Courtney said.

“We started the year with a win at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide.

“We followed that up with a second and a third place in Tasmania, and another second at the last round in Winton.

“Garth took two top-three results at Pukekohe last year, so the cars are going to be pretty strong in New Zealand.

“We have a lot of momentum behind us. We have a lot of new stuff coming onto the car, and we’re just getting stronger and stronger.

“I’m looking forward to Pukekohe, racing the ANZAC Appeal car, and standing on top of the podium. It’s what we’re there for.”

HRT will be on-track at New Zealand’s Pukekohe Park from April 25-27.