In 1969, the manager of the newly formed Holden Dealer Team, Harry Firth, gave Peter Brock his break with an offer to drive at Bathurst, Australia’s most prestigious endurance road race, in a Holden HT Monaro GTS 350.
Des West and co-driver Brock, began the race weekend in 10th position on the starting grid with a qualifying lap time of 2:55.4, 6.5s behind pole sitter Pete Geoghegan in a XW Falcon. The Falcons were much quicker around the Bathurst track when compared to the Monaros, but a incorrect tyre choice ruined their chances of a win.

After 130 laps the race was won by the newly formed Holden Dealer Team with Colin Bond and Tony Roberts. Team mates Peter Brock and Des West finished third in their Holden HT Monaro GTS 350’s. In second position was defending race winners Bruce McPhee and his single-lap co-driver Barry Mulholland driving a Phase 1 Ford Falcon GTHO.

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