1972 Australian Grand Prix

Last updated

1972 Australian Grand Prix
Race 7 of 8 in 1972 Tasman Series
Race details
Date20 February 1972
Official name XXXVII Australian Grand Prix
Location Sandown Raceway, Melbourne, Victoria
Course Permanent racing facility
Course length 3.1 km (1.92 miles)
Distance 52 laps, 161.2 km (99.84 miles)
Weather Sunny
Pole position
Driver Matich-Repco Holden
Time 1'01.3
Fastest lap
Driver Flag of New Zealand.svg Graham McRae Leda-Chevrolet
Time 1'02.4
Podium
First Leda-Chevrolet
Second Lola-Chevrolet
Third McLaren-Chevrolet

The 1972 Australian Grand Prix was a motor race for cars complying with the Tasman Formula, which admitted both Formula 5000 and 2-litre racing cars. It was held at Sandown International Raceway, Victoria, Australia on 20 February 1972.

Contents

The race was the thirty seventh Australian Grand Prix and it was held only 3 months after the 1971 race. It was also round seven of the 1972 Tasman Series. The race had 19 starters.

Defending winner Frank Matich started the race on pole in his Repco Holden powered Matich A50 which had won the 1971 race on debut. New Zealand's Graham McRae started alongside Matich on the front row in his Leda GM1-Chevrolet.

Matich led from the start but was out after just 5 laps with a failed scavenge pump. McRae recorded the first of three AGP wins (all won at Sandown) by 3 seconds from the Lola T300-Chevrolet of Frank Gardner who had qualified 3rd. British International driver David Hobbs finished 3rd in his McLaren M18/M22-Chevrolet after starting from 4th on the grid.

McRae's win gave him an unassailable points lead in the 1972 Tasman Series with one round remaining.

Classification

Graham McRae won the race driving a Leda GM1, later to be known as the McRae GM1 (pictured above in 2008) McRae-Chevrolet GM1 - Flickr - exfordy.jpg
Graham McRae won the race driving a Leda GM1, later to be known as the McRae GM1 (pictured above in 2008)

Results as follows: [1] [2]

Qualifying

PosNo [3] DriverCarEntrant [3] QualGap
13 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Frank Matich Matich A50 / Repco Holden 5.0L V8 Frank Matich Pty. Ltd.1:01.3
222 Flag of New Zealand.svg Graham McRae Leda GM1 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 Grid International (N.Z.) Ltd.1:01.8+0.5
31 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Frank Gardner Lola T300 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 Lola Cars Ltd. 1:01.8+0.5
410 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg David Hobbs McLaren M22 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 Hobbs Racing London1:02.3+1.0
54 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Muir Lola T300 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 Robert Muir Motors P/L1:02.7+1.4
69 Flag of Australia (converted).svg John McCormack Elfin MR5 / Repco Holden 5.0L V8 Team Elfin 1:02.8+1.5
72 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mike Hailwood Surtees TS8A / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 Team Surtees 1:03.0+1.7
834 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Teddy Pilette McLaren M10B / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 Racing Team V.D.S.1:03.2+1.9
95 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Kevin Bartlett McLaren M10B / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 Kevin Bartlett Shell Racing1:03.5+2.2
1012 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Warwick Brown McLaren M10B / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 Pat Burke Racing1:03.9+2.6
116 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Max Stewart Elfin MR5 / Repco Holden 5.0L V8 Max Stewart Motors - Seiko Service Centre1:04.4+3.1
1276 Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Harvey Brabham BT36 / Waggott 2.0L I4 Bob Jane Racing 1:05.2+3.9
138 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Garrie Cooper Elfin MR5 / Repco Holden 5.0L V8 Team Elfin 1:05.3+4.0
1450 Flag of New Zealand.svg Frank Radisich McLaren M10B / Repco Holden 5.0L V8 Henderson Central Motors1:06.5+5.2
1530 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Dave McConnell GRD 272 / Hart 2.0L I4 D.W.M. Racing Ltd.1:07.1+5.8
1611 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Colin Hyams Lola T192 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 Colin Hyams1:08.2+6.9
1717 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Gary Campbell Elfin 600B / Waggott 2.0L I4 Provincial Motors P/L1:08.3+7.0
1860 Flag of New Zealand.svg Robbie Francevic McLaren M10A / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 Wright Machinery Ltd.1:10.2+8.9
1915 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tony Stewart Mildren (Rennmax) / Waggott 1.9L I4 Max Stewart Motors - Seiko Service Centre1:11.5+10.2

Race

PosNo. [3] DriverCarEntrant [3] LapsTime
122 Flag of New Zealand.svg Graham McRae Leda GM1 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8Grid International (N.Z.) Ltd.5254m 59.4s
21 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Frank Gardner Lola T300 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 Lola Cars Ltd. 5255m 02.1s
310 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg David Hobbs McLaren M18/M22 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8Hobbs Racing London5255m 11.8s
42 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mike Hailwood Surtees TS8A / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 Team Surtees 51
512 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Warwick Brown McLaren M10B / Chevrolet 5.0L V8Pat Burke Racing50
634 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Teddy Pilette McLaren M10B / Chevrolet 5.0L V8Racing Team V.D.S.50
776 Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Harvey Brabham BT36 / Waggott 2.0L 4cyl Bob Jane Racing 50
860 Flag of New Zealand.svg Robbie Francevic McLaren M10A / Chevrolet 5.0L V8Wright Machinery Ltd.49
98 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Garrie Cooper Elfin MR5 / Repco Holden 5.0L V8 Team Elfin 49
1030 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Dave McConnell GRD 272 / Hart 2.0L 4cylD.W.M. Racing Ltd.49
1117 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Gary Campbell Elfin 600B / Waggott 2.0L 4cylProvincial Motors P/L47
1215 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tony Stewart Mildren (Rennmax) / Waggott 1.9L 4cylMax Stewart Motors - Seiko Service Centre44
1350 Flag of New Zealand.svg Frank Radisich McLaren M10B / Repco Holden 5.0L V8Henderson Central Motors26
Ret11 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Colin Hyams Lola T192 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8Colin Hyams30
Ret4 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Muir Lola T300 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8Robert Muir Motors P/L19engine
Ret6 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Max Stewart Elfin MR5 / Repco Holden 5.0L V8Max Stewart Motors - Seiko Service Centre16engine
Ret5 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Kevin Bartlett McLaren M10B / Chevrolet 5.0L V8Kevin Bartlett Shell Racing6transmission
Ret3 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Frank Matich Matich A50 / Repco Holden 5.0L V8Frank Matich Pty. Ltd.5scavenge pump
Ret9 Flag of Australia (converted).svg John McCormack Elfin MR5 / Repco Holden 5.0L V8 Team Elfin 4gearbox

Notes

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian Grand Prix</span> Motor race held in Australia

The Australian Grand Prix is an annual motor racing event which is under contract to host Formula One until 2035. One of the oldest surviving motorsport competitions held in Australia, the Grand Prix has moved frequently with 23 different venues having been used since it was first run at Phillip Island in 1928. The race became part of the Formula One World Championship in 1985. Since 1996, it has been held at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne, with the exceptions of 2020 and 2021, when the races were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Before that, it was held in Adelaide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Repco</span> Australian automotive engineering/retailer company

Repco is an Australian automotive engineering/retailer company. Its name is an abbreviation of Replacement Parts Company and it is best known for spare parts and motor accessories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vern Schuppan</span> Australian racing driver

Vernon John Schuppan is a retired Australian motor racing driver. Schuppan drove in various categories, participating in Formula One, the Indianapolis 500 and most successfully in sports car racing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Formula 5000</span> Former Single-Seater Racing class

Formula 5000 was an open wheel, single seater auto-racing formula that ran in different series in various regions around the world from 1968 to 1982. It was originally intended as a low-cost series aimed at open-wheel racing cars that no longer fit into any particular formula. The '5000' denomination comes from the maximum 5.0 litre engine capacity allowed in the cars, although many cars ran with smaller engines. Manufacturers included McLaren, Eagle, March, Lola, Lotus, Elfin, Matich and Chevron.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Walker (racing driver)</span> Australian former racing driver (born 1941)

David Walker is an Australian former racing driver who drove for Lotus in the 1971 and 1972 Formula One World Championships.

The 1964 Tasman Series was an international motor racing series contested in New Zealand and Australia over eight races beginning on 4 January and ending on 2 March. It was the first Tasman Series. The series, which was officially known as the Tasman Championship for Drivers, was organised jointly by the Association of New Zealand Car Clubs Inc. and the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport with the winning driver awarded the Tasman Cup. The championship was open to racing cars using unsupercharged engines of up to 2,500 c.c. capacity.

Frank GardnerOAM was a racing driver from Australia. Born in Sydney, he was best known for touring car racing, winning the British Saloon Car Championship three times, and sports car racing driver but he was also a top flight open wheeler driver. He was European Formula 5000 champion, and participated in nine World Championship Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on 11 July 1964. He scored no championship points. Gardner also participated in numerous non-Championship Formula One races and his results included a third placing at the 1965 Mediterranean Grand Prix at the Autodromo di Pergusa in Sicily, fourth in the 1965 Race of Champions at Brands Hatch and third in the 1971 International Gold Cup at Oulton Park. He participated each year in the open wheeler Tasman Series held in New Zealand and Australia during the European winter, and shared the grids with the likes of Jim Clark, Graham Hill and Jochen Rindt and won the New Zealand Grand Prix.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warwick Farm Raceway</span>

Warwick Farm Raceway was a motor racing facility which was in operation from 1960 to 1973. Warwick Farm Raceway hosted numerous major events during its life such as the Australian Grand Prix and rounds of both the Australian Touring Car Championship and the Tasman Series.

The 1978 Australian Grand Prix was a motor race open to cars complying with Australian Formula 1,. It was held on 10 September 1978 at the Sandown International Motor Racing Circuit, in Victoria, Australia.

The 1964 Australian Grand Prix was a motor race held at the Sandown Park circuit in suburban Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 9 February 1964. It was the twenty ninth Australian Grand Prix and was also Round 5 of the 1964 Tasman Series and Round 1 of the 1964 Australian Drivers' Championship. The race was open to Racing Cars complying with the Australian National Formula or the Australian 1½ Litre Formula.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1968 Australian Grand Prix</span> Motor car race

The 1968 Australian Grand Prix was a motor race held at Sandown Park in Victoria, Australia on 25 February 1968. The race was open to Racing Cars complying with the Australian National Formula or the Australian 1½ Litre Formula. It was the thirty third Australian Grand Prix and was also round seven of the 1968 Tasman Series. The race was staged by the Light Car Club of Australia and was sponsored by the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria.

The 1973 Sandown Park Cup was the seventh round of the 1973 Tasman Series. It was a Formula 5000 race held at Sandown International Raceway. It was held on 18 February on the same circuit that would in November be used for the 1973 Australian Grand Prix. New Zealander Graham McRae won the race and went on to win the Grand Prix as well.

The 1973 Australian Grand Prix was a race for Australian Formula 1 and Australian Formula 2 racing cars, the former class incorporating Formula 5000 cars. It was held on 4 November at Sandown and was the second AGP in a row to be held at that circuit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1970 Australian Grand Prix</span> Motor car race

The 1970 Australian Grand Prix was a motor race held at Warwick Farm Raceway in New South Wales, Australia on 22 November 1970. The race, which was the thirty fifth Australian Grand Prix, was open to Formula 5000 cars, 2.5-litre Australian Formula 1 cars and Australian Formula 2 cars. For the first time since 1956, the race was not a round of either the Australian Drivers' Championship or the Tasman Series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1971 Australian Grand Prix</span> Motor car race

The 1971 Australian Grand Prix was a motor race held at Warwick Farm Raceway in New South Wales, Australia on 21 November 1971. It was open to Racing Cars complying with either Australian Formula 1 or Australian Formula 2 regulations.

The 1976 Australian Grand Prix was a motor race held at the Sandown International Motor Racing Circuit in Victoria, Australia on 12 September 1976. It was open to racing cars complying with either Australian Formula 1 or Australian Formula 2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnnie Walker (racing driver)</span>

Johnnie Walker is a former Australian racing driver, born in Adelaide, South Australia. He first raced in the early 1960s at Mallala in his Holden FE road car. After competing in the Australian Formula 2 Championship he graduated to Formula 5000 in 1972, driving an Elfin MR5 and a Matich A50 before switching to the Lola marque in late 1973.

The Matich name was applied to a series of sports racing cars and open wheel racing cars produced in Australia between 1967 and 1974 under the direction of Sydney-based racing driver and engineer Frank Matich.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lola T332</span>

The Lola T332 was a race car designed and built by Lola Cars for use in Formula 5000 racing and made its racing debut in 1973. The T332 was successful around the globe with race victories in places such as Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and the United States. The Lola commonly used the 5.0-litre Chevrolet V8 engine, though some competitors in Australia and New Zealand used the slightly cheaper and less powerful Australian made 5.0-litre Repco Holden V8.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1971 New Zealand Grand Prix</span> Motor car race

The 1971 New Zealand Grand Prix was a race held at the Pukekohe Park Raceway on 9 January 1971. The race had 20 starters.

References

  1. Sergent, Bruce. "1972 Rounds 5–8 Australia". Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 7 October 2008.
  2. Wilson, Stewart (1986). "1972". In Howard, Graham (ed.). The Official 50-race history of the Australian Grand Prix. Gordon, NSW: R & T Publishing. pp. 362–368. ISBN   0-9588464-0-5.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Official Programme, 37th Australian Grand Prix, Sandown
Preceded by Australian Grand Prix
1972
Succeeded by