1970 Australian Rally Championship

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1970 Australian Rally Championship
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Series winners Bob Watson and Jim McCauliffe in the Renault R8 Gordini at the start of the final round for 1970, the Warana Rally. Bob Watson Renault R8 Gordini - Photo by Graham Ruckert.jpg
Series winners Bob Watson and Jim McCauliffe in the Renault R8 Gordini at the start of the final round for 1970, the Warana Rally.

The 1970 Australian Rally Championship was a series of five rallying events held across Australia. It was the third season in the history of the competition.

Contents

Bob Watson and navigator Jim McCauliffe in the Renault R8 Gordini were the winners of the 1970 Championship.

Season review

The third Australian Rally Championship was decided over five events, with two in Victoria and one each in Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia. [1] The series was dominated by the Renault R8 Gordinis, with Watson and McCauliffe winning four of the five rounds and coming second in the other. Their closest challenge was from Colin Bond and Brian Hope in the new Holden Monaro GTS 350.

The Rallies

The five events of the 1970 season were as follows.

RoundRallyDate
1Eureka Rally (VIC)28 February 1970
2Blue Ribbon Rally (VIC)
3 Snowy Mountains Rally (NSW)
4Cambridge Toyota Rally (SA)
5Warana Rally (QLD)19/20 September 1970

Round One – Eureka Rally

PositionDriverNavigatorCarPoints
1Bob WatsonJim McCauliffe Renault R8 Gordini
2Rex LunnJohn Hall Toyota Corona MKII Hardtop
3Mal McPhersonRobin Sharpley Renault R8 Gordini
4Tony RobertsHaas Holden Torana GTR

[2] [3]

Round Three – Cibie Snowy Rally

PositionDriverNavigatorCarPoints
1Bob WatsonJim McCauliffe Renault R8 Gordini 16
2 Colin Bond Brian Hope Holden Monaro 350 17
3Max WinklessPeter Meyer Volvo 142S 21
4Bruce CollierPeter Haas Renault R8 Gordini 31
5Peter HoughtonMick Nielson Peugeot 404 36
6Mal McPhersonRoger Bonhomme Renault R8 Gordini 38

Round Five – Warana Rally

PositionDriverNavigatorCarPoints
1Bob WatsonJim McCauliffe Renault R8 Gordini 51
2 Colin Bond George Shepheard Holden Monaro 350 72
3Mal McPhersonRobin Sharpley Renault R8 Gordini 77
4Roger BrameldGerry Brameld Isuzu Bellett 145
5Brian MichelmoreGreg Sked Ford Cortina MKI 147
6Ron DanielsRoy Spillane Renault R8 155

1970 Drivers and Navigators Championships

Final pointscore for 1970 is as follows. [1]

Bob Watson – Champion Driver 1970

PositionDriverCarPoints
1Bob Watson Renault R8 Gordini
2 Colin Bond Holden Monaro 350
3Mal McPherson Renault R8 Gordini
4 Tony Roberts
5Stewart McLeod
6Peter Robertson

Jim McAuliffe – Champion Navigator 1970

PositionNavigatorCarPoints
1Jim McAuliffe Renault R8 Gordini
2Brian Hope Holden Monaro 350
3Robin Sharpley
4Mike Osborne
5John Lock
6Roger Bonhomme Renault R8 Gordini

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References

  1. 1 2 "Bega Valley Rally website". Archived from the original on 2 March 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
  2. Motor Manual May 1970
  3. Wheels June 1970