In other changes at HRT, Rob Crawford becomes team manager and Mathew Nilsson joins to engineer Tander’s Holden Commodore VE.
Tander says he’s delighted to be joining the Holden Racing Team and is looking forward to driving with Skaife in 2008.
“Having driven with HRT at Sandown and Bathurst (in 2006) I know how professional an outfit they are,” he said. “Hopefully Mark and I can push each other to greater heights next year.
“It will also be great to have Rob Crawford as team manager and Mathew Nilsson as my car engineer, given the success we’ve had.
“I’ll certainly miss the guys who helped me win the championship at the Dealer Team (Toll HSV) and of course, (driver) Rick Kelly, who has been so consistently strong on the track over the last two years.”
Skaife said he welcomed the announcement that Tander is joining HRT.
“He’s a great driver and showed what he is capable of achieving on the track this year,” Skaife said.
“I personally can t wait to get back on the track early next year knowing the Holden Racing Team line-up, on the track and off it, is going to be stronger than ever”.
Crawford has spent eight years managing Clayton based V8 Supercar teams including the Holden Young Lions, Kmart Racing, the HSV Dealer Team and latterly the Toll HSV Dealer Team, where he oversaw back-to-back team and driver championship results in 2006 and 2007.
He was also involved with HRT in the 1990s.
“I’m thrilled with the opportunity to manage the Holden Racing Team,” he said.
Current HRT team manager, Rob Starr, will assume an important role within Walkinshaw Racing in 2008. Exactly what that job is will be announced later.
