2007 champion Tander joins HRT

Tander, who clinched his first series title by two points last Sunday at Phillip Island, will leave the Toll HSV Dealer Team where he has raced for the last three seasons to join the factory Holden outfit next season.

"Having driven with HRT at Sandown and Bathurst last year I know how professional an outfit they are. Hopefully Mark and I can push each other to greater heights next year," Tander said.

"I'll certainly miss the guys who helped me win the championship at the Dealer Team and of course, Rick Kelly, who has been so consistently strong on the track over the last two years."

Team owner and Tander's teammate in 2008, Mark Skaife, welcomed him to the team: "He's a great driver and showed what he is capable of achieving on the track this year.

"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."

It will not be the first time Tander has driven for Holden Racing Team in a championship round, having teamed up with Mark Skaife in 2006 at the endurance events at Sandown and Bathurst, in a swap that saw Todd Kelly take Tander's place at Toll HSV.

While both events promised much for the Tander/Skaife pairing, neither ended in success. After taking a comfortable pole position at Sandown, a mechanical failure while leading resulted in a 26th place finish.

A similar scenario played out a month later at Bathurst. On pole again, a slipping clutch off the start line saw the Holden Racing Team fall back through the order as the car was unable to reach racing speed. An unsighted Jack Perkins hit the slow Holden Racing Team car, with both cars out of the race on lap one.

Tander's place at the Toll HSV Dealer Team next year will be taken by 2002 V8 Supercar Development series champion Paul Dumbrell.