In 2013, Holden put a VF SS Ute on the Nürburgring to take on the record for a commercial or utility vehicle. There was one problem – the record didn’t exist.

Yet.

Holden dynamics engineer and test driver Rob Trubiani says the pressure of beating a time was gone, but that didn’t make the team any less determined.

“We came up with a plan to tackle the Nürburgring and break the world record for a commercial or utility vehicle but when we did our research it seemed one didn’t exist, so we decided to set a record instead!” Trubiani said.

“The Nordschleife section of the ‘Ring is the ultimate test of man and machine.

“If a vehicle can handle The Green Hell it can handle anything and proves yet again that Holden’s testing and development processes produce world-class cars with world-class handling.”

The only things that needed to be changed during the laps were tyres and brakes.

“Without a lap record to break, we sat down and calculated what we thought the Ute could do and targeted around 8min 30sec.

“Initial practice sessions at the track confirmed that was a stretch target so that’s what we aimed for.

“To slash 11 seconds from that time with an 8m 19.47sec lap was incredible. There may not have been a utility-vehicle record before but I’m proud to say the VF SS V Redline Ute is now the Nürburgring benchmark!”

We hope to see Holden back at The ‘Ring soon for one last hurrah.