Australian Motorsport Mourns the Sudden Loss of Beloved ‘Titan’ Garry Rogers, 80, as Tributes Pour in from the Racing Community
- Supercars Hall of Famer Garry Rogers passes away at 80, leaving the Australian motorsport community in shock
- Rogers’ eponymous team won the Bathurst 1000 in 2000 with Garth Tander and Jason Bargwanna behind the wheel
- Champion drivers, including Scott McLaughlin and Will Davison, pay tribute to Rogers, remembering him as a ‘true character’ and ‘titan’ of the sport
- A minute’s silence will be held before Saturday’s Gold Coast 500 to honour Rogers’ memory
Australian motorsport is in mourning after the sudden loss of Garry Rogers, a Supercars Hall of Famer and beloved ‘titan’ of the sport. Rogers, 80, passed away on Thursday morning, leaving behind a legacy that will be remembered for generations to come.
Rogers’ eponymous team, Garry Rogers Motorsport, won the Bathurst 1000 in 2000 with Garth Tander and Jason Bargwanna behind the wheel. The team has since become a staple of the Supercars paddock, with Rogers’ son Barry at the helm.
Champion drivers, including Scott McLaughlin and Will Davison, have paid tribute to Rogers, remembering him as a ‘true character’ and ‘titan’ of the sport. McLaughlin, who made his full-time debut with Rogers, said: “Gaz, you were a tough bugger but you taught me how to be myself, to be comfortable with the media and the fans, to drive a race car without getting distracted by little things out of my control, to never give up.”
Davison, a Supercars veteran, described Rogers as “a true character of our sport — the likes of whom we’ll never see again”. “Someone who achieved so much both in motorsport and beyond. A proper old-school, tough old bugger with a unique way of getting the best out of people. Loved or hated, it worked,” he said.
Rogers’ impact on the sport extends far beyond his own team, with many drivers and teams paying tribute to his legacy. A minute’s silence will be held before Saturday’s Gold Coast 500 to honour Rogers’ memory.
In a statement, Garry Rogers Motorsport said: “Today we’re mourning the passing of our founder and leader Garry Rogers. But more than that we’re celebrating his incredible life… He lived a fast life, but always had time for his family, his kids and his grandchildren. He put others first and was generous with his time and in so many other ways.”
The Supercars community has rallied around Rogers’ family, with many taking to social media to pay their respects. Rogers is survived by his wife Kaye, son Barry, and daughters Michelle and Krissie.