1987 Australian Drivers' Championship

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The 1987 Australian Drivers' Championship was a CAMS sanctioned national motor racing title contested over a single race for Australian Formula 2 racing cars. [1] The race, billed as the "Australia Cup for the 1987 CAMS Gold Star", was staged at the Adelaide Street Circuit in South Australia on Friday, 13 November 1987. [2] This was the first year that the championship had been restricted to Australian Formula 2 cars [3] and is the only year to date in which the title has been awarded on the results of a single race rather than a series of races. [4]

David Brabham won the race after a remarkable drive from grid position 38 after poor qualifying caused by missing almost all of practice with carburettor and electrical problems.

While Brabham picked his way through the field the battle for the race saw Rohan Onslow and Mark McLaughlin take the lead after polesitter Arthur Abrahams was left on the grid with a failed ignition ballast restrictor. McLaughlin led for much of the race but his Elfin slowed near the end of the race and was swamped by Onslow then Brabham. With two laps remaining Brabham caught and passed Onlow and pulled away for a 1.7-second victory.

Ian Richards and John Wise fought over fourth for much of the event but Wise slowed near the end of the race with Shane Flynn taking fifth ahead of Chris Hocking.

Classification

Results as follows. [5]

PosNo.DriverTeamCarLaps
18 David Brabham Australian Motor Racing Ralt RT30 Volkswagen 15
271Rohan OnslowMichael Borland Cheetah Mk. 8 Volkswagen 15
39Mark McLaughlin Elfin Sports Cars Pty Ltd Elfin 852 Volkswagen 15
422Ian RichardsIan RichardsRichards 201C Volkswagen 15
570Shane FlynnAvanti Spares Kaditcha Volkswagen 15
674Chris HockingChris Hocking Cheetah Mk. 6 Volkswagen 15
712Sam AstutiSalvatore Astuti Cheetah Mk. 6 Ford 15
844Neil IsraelMagnum Racing AustraliaMagnum 863 Volkswagen 15
929Wayne WalkerWayne Walker Chevron B42 Ford 15
1027Graeme SmithGraeme Smith Cheetah Mk. 8 Volkswagen 15
117Vince McLaughlanKevin McLaughlan Cheetah Mk. 8 Volkswagen 15
1234Carl GibsonCarl Gibson Elfin 792 Volkswagen 15
1337Richard DavisonRichard Davison Cheetah Mk. 8 Volkswagen 15
1478Tony ReesAG Rees Ralt RT3 Volkswagen 15
1532John WiseJohn Wise Cheetah Mk. 7 Volkswagen 15
1618Rodney MoodyRodney Moody Cheetah Mk. 6 Toyota 15
1728David GoodeDavid Goode Elfin 630 Ford 15
182Grahame BleeBill Slattery's Bus & Truck Sales Cheetah Mk. 6GE Volkswagen 15
1973Adrian MartinAdrian Martin Ralt RT1 Ford 15
2031Wayne FordWayne Ford Ralt RT3 Ford 15
26Ron BarnacleRon BarnacleWren
25Rob NewmanRob Newman Cheetah Mk. 7 Toyota
Ret45Mike DrewerMike Drewer Cheetah Mk. 7 Toyota 6
Ret33Mike HolmesMike HolmesME1 Volkswagen 3
Ret46Stephen NobleJohn SilmanRichards 201 Volkswagen 3
Ret14Peter BeehagPeter BeehagPBS 852 Nissan2
Ret24Tom CoullTom Coull Elfin 620 Ford 1
Ret1 Arthur Abrahams Arthur AbrahamsRansberg-Cheetah Volkswagen 0
DNSDerek Pingel Cheetah Mk.8 Volkswagen
DNSMichael LockRichards 201 Volkswagen

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References

  1. 1 2 Catford, Barry (1987–88). Wilson, Stewart (ed.). "Formula 2 Australia Cup". Australian Motor Racing Year. 17. Killara: Berghouse Publishing Group Pty. Ltd.: 240–243 & 318. ISSN   0158-4138.
  2. Official Souvenir Program, Adelaide, 12–15 November 1987
  3. Gold Star History Retrieved from Formula 3 Australia on 19 August 2008
  4. Australian Drivers’ Championship / CAMS Gold Star Retrieved from CAMS Online Manual of Motor Sport on 19 August 2008
  5. Howard, Graham (1986). "1950". In Howard, Graham (ed.). The Official 50-race history of the Australian Grand Prix. Gordon, NSW: R & T Publishing. pp. 148–157. ISBN   0-9588464-0-5.