Holden is the first car company to officially throw its support behind the new SuperUtes racing category.

The Australian brand has announced its Colorado will compete with its blessing in the new-for-2018 SuperUtes series, which will see turbo-diesel dual-cab utes racing in support of the Supercars Championship Series (formerly known as V8 Supercars).

SuperUtes has already attracted private entries using the Ford Ranger, Mitsubishi Triton and Mazda BT-50, but Holden has given the series its support and released this rendering of the Colorado SuperUte, which was created by its in-house design team.

The racing Colorado will be built to the new regulations that require a number of common components between the various utes in order to promote close racing.

Holden’s decision to support SuperUtes follows confirmation of its continuing involvement in Supercars racing in 2018 and beyond with the next generation Commodore, run by the factory-supported Red Bull Holden Racing Team.

At least three of the new Commodores are expected to race in 2018 with Shane van Gisbergen, Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes driving with a wildcard entry for the new twin-turbo V6-powered machine at a select number of events.

Holden's continued support of racing goes against the policy of arch-rival Ford, which withdrew its support from Supercars alongside the shuttering of its local manufacturing.

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