1987 Australian Touring Car Championship

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The 1987 Australian Touring Car Championship was a motor racing competition which was open to Touring Cars complying with regulations as defined by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport and based on FIA Group A rules. The championship, which was the 28th Australian Touring Car Championship, began on 1 March 1987 at Calder Park Raceway and ended on 5 July at Oran Park Raceway after nine rounds. The Calder round saw the world debut of the racing versions of the BMW M3, the Ford Sierra RS Cosworth and the Alfa Romeo 75 Turbo.

After years of racing for very little in prize money which brought numerous complaints from the leading competitors (in 1984, Dick Johnson Racing (DJR) had travelled an estimated 20,000 km to races around the country from their Brisbane base, often for as little as A$1,200 in prize money, far less money that was on offer at the time for the lower ranked Group E Series Production "Super Series" which offered a total prize pool of $200,000 thanks to series sponsor Bob Jane T-Marts), CAMS signed a AU$275,000 sponsorship package with Shell which brought the championship an overall sponsor for the first time and saw the series promoted as the Shell Ultra Australian Touring Car Championship. [1]

Shell would also become the major sponsor of DJR which saw the team expand to running two cars for the first time. The team ran a pair of the new Ford Sierra RS Cosworths for team boss Dick Johnson and his 1986 James Hardie 1000 co-driver Gregg Hansford. Dick Johnson's win in Round 5 at the Adelaide International Raceway was the world's first race victory for the Sierra RS Cosworth and was also Dick's first ATCC win since Round 4 of the 1984 ATCC at Surfers Paradise.

The 1987 ATCC was the first time since 1975 that Peter Brock failed to win a round of the championship, his best finish being a 3rd at Symmons Plains in Tasmania in Round 2 where his 4.9L V8 Holden VK Commodore SS Group A was simply out-gunned on a noted power circuit by the Roadways Racing Commodore of Allan Grice (before his race ended), the factory Nissan Skyline turbo of race winner George Fury, while his heavy Commodore was no match on tyres and brakes for the 4 cyl, 2.3L BMW M3 of Jim Richards. Brock did manage to hold second behind runaway early leader Grice for a number of laps, but once Fury was through the Skyline drove away from Brock and he then had no answer to the challenge of Richards.

The 1987 championship was also the first time since 1972 that a Holden car failed to win a round of the ATCC, the best result being a second by Larry Perkins in the opening round at Calder.

The 1987 ATCC was also the first time in championship history that rolling starts were used. Rolling starts were used at Calder for Round 1 and at Adelaide for Round 5.

Jim Richards victory in the final round of the series at Oran Park would be the last time a car powered by a naturally aspirated engine would win an ATCC race until Tony Longhurst won Round 6 of the 1991 Australian Touring Car Championship driving a BMW M3 Evolution. Between 1988 and Round 6 in 1991, turbo powered cars would win 30 straight ATCC races, 21 of them by the Sierra Cosworth's evolution replacement which appeared after the 1987 ATCC, the Ford Sierra RS500.

1987 was a year of lasts in Australian touring car racing. It was the last time Peter Brock would drive a Holden until 1991 as he would switch first to BMW in 1988 and then Fords in 1989 and 1990. Consequently, it was the last time the Holden Dealer Team name, which started under Harry Firth in 1969, would be used, though the team officially ran as "HDT Racing Pty Ltd" as it was no longer the factory backed team following Holden's well publicised split with Brock in February only one week before the opening round at Calder. Prior to Calder, Holden had formed the Holden Motorsport Group and immediately signed Larry Perkins and his team as well as Allan Grice and Roadways Racing to be the 'factory backed' teams in the championship, though Grice would later say that it was more about moral support and an easier supply of parts rather than any financial support. It would also be Colin Bond's last year of racing Alfa Romeo's before switching back to Ford to run a Sierra RS500 from 1988 (largely due to Alfa stopping its development program of the Alfa 75 touring car and because Bond felt that he needed an outright car to do justice to his sponsor Caltex). It was also the last time the JPS Team BMW (who won their second title) would be seen with team boss Frank Gardner unexpectedly closing the team down at the end of the year.

Teams and drivers

The following teams and drivers competed in the 1987 Australian Touring Car Championship.

TeamCarNoDriverRounds
Roadways Racing Holden VK Commodore SS Group A
Holden VL Commodore SS Group A
2 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Allan Grice 1-5, 7-9
8 Flag of New Zealand.svg Graeme Crosby 1-2
JPS Team BMW BMW E30 M3 3 Flag of New Zealand.svg Jim Richards All
4 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tony Longhurst All
12 Flag of Germany.svg Ludwig Finauer 8-9
HDT Racing Pty Ltd Holden VK Commodore SS Group A
Holden VL Commodore SS Group A
05 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Peter Brock 1-2, 6-9
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Gary Scott 3
6 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Gary Scott 1-2, 6, 8
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Peter Brock 3-5
Flag of Australia (converted).svg David Parsons 7
Flag of New Zealand.svg Jon Crooke 9
John Andrew Motorsport Ford Sierra XR4Ti 10 Flag of New Zealand.svg Neville Crichton
1, 6
Flag of New Zealand.svg Denny Hulme 3, 5
Enzed Team Perkins Holden VK Commodore SS Group A11 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Larry Perkins All
Bob Holden Motors Toyota Sprinter Trueno AE86 13 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Holden 7
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Garry Willmington 9
41 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mike Hall 7
Flag of New Zealand.svg John Sax 9
Netcomm Nissan Skyline DR30 RS 14 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Murray Carter 1, 5, 7-9
Peter Jackson Nissan Racing Nissan Skyline DR30 RS15 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Glenn Seton All
30 Flag of Australia (converted).svg George Fury All
60 Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Bowe 9
Nissan Gazelle 60 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mark Skaife 7
Ralliart Australia Mitsubishi Starion 16 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brad Jones 6
Shell Ultra Hi-Tech Racing Team Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 17 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Dick Johnson All
18 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Gregg Hansford All
Terry FinniganHolden VL Commodore SS Group A20 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Terry Finnigan 9
Lusty EngineeringHolden VK Commodore SS Group A21 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Graham Lusty 1, 5, 7, 9
Alf Grant RacingHolden VK Commodore SS Group A23 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Alf Grant 3, 6, 8-9
Team Nissan Racing NZNissan Skyline DR30 RS24 Flag of New Zealand.svg Kent Baigent 6-9
25 Flag of New Zealand.svg Graeme Bowkett 6-9
Kalari TransportHolden VK Commodore SS Group A26 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tony Noske 1, 5-7
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Gary Rush 8-9
Ray Gulson BMW 635CSi 27 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Graham Gulson 1, 6, 9
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ray Gulson 2-3, 7-8
Capri Components Ford Mustang GT 28 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lawrie Nelson 1, 7
Wayne CliftHolden VK Commodore SS Group A28 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Wayne Clift 3
Simon EmmerlingBMW 635CSi29 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Simon Emmerling 4
Ian LoveFord Mustang GT31 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ian Love 4
Toyota Team Australia Toyota Corolla GT AE86 31 Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Smith1, 7
Toyota Corolla FX-GT AE82 32 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Drew Price1, 3, 5, 7
33 Flag of New Zealand.svg John Faulkner 5, 7
Oxo Motorsport Ford Sierra RS Cosworth34 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Don Smith 1, 3, 5
Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Giddings 6-9
35 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Andrew Miedecke 1-3, 5-9
36 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Don Smith 2
Grellis MarketingHolden VK Commodore SS Group A38 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ray Ellis 1, 6-7
Lansvale Racing Team Holden VK Commodore SS Group A39 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Trevor Ashby 8-9
Steve WilliamsHolden VK Commodore SS Group A40 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Steve Williams 9
JagpartsHolden VK Commodore SS Group A42 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Gerald Kay 7
Sutherland MitsubishiMitsubishi Starion42 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Kevin Bartlett 9
Lester SmerdonHolden VK Commodore SS Group A45 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lester Smerdon 3, 6
Mobile Concrete PumpingHolden VK Commodore SS Group A47 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brian Callaghan 8-9
Wayne ParkHolden VK Commodore SS Group A48 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Wayne Park 3, 6
John Donnelly Rover Vitesse 50 Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Donnelly 3, 6
John Farrell Holden VL Commodore SS Group A 52 Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Farrell 4
Mike Freeman Toyota Celica RA40 57 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mike Freeman 1, 7
David Ratcliff Toyota Corolla Levin AE86 58 Flag of Australia (converted).svg David Ratcliff 7-9
Jon MitchellHolden VK Commodore SS Group A69 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jon Mitchell 7-8
Graeme HooleyHolden VK Commodore SS Group A71 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Graeme Hooley 4-5, 8
Caltex CXT Racing Alfa Romeo 75 Turbo 75 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Colin Bond All
Liverpool Toyota Toyota Celica Supra MA61 77 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Peter Williamson 9
Peter McLeodHolden VK Commodore SS Group A84 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Peter McLeod 9
Daryl Hendrick Isuzu Gemini ZZ [2] 86 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Daryl Hendrick 1, 5, 7, 9
Brian Bolwell BMW E30 323i 87 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brian Bolwell 5, 7
David Sala Isuzu Gemini PF60 88 Flag of Australia (converted).svg David Sala 1, 7, 9
Alf Barbagallo Rover Vitesse96 Flag of New Zealand.svg Tim Slako 4

Peter Brock drove both the #05 and #6 HDT VK Commodore during the season

Race calendar

The 1987 Australian Touring Car Championship was contested over a nine-round series with one race per round.

Rd.Race titleCircuitLocation / stateDateWinnerCarTeamReport
1 Calder Park Calder Park Raceway Melbourne, Victoria 28 Feb - 1 Mar Flag of Australia (converted).svg Glenn Seton Nissan Skyline RS DR30 Nissan Motorsport Australia [3] [4] [5]
2 Launceston Symmons Plains Raceway Launceston, Tasmania 7 - 8 Mar Flag of Australia (converted).svg George Fury Nissan Skyline RS DR30Nissan Motorsport Australia [6]
3 Lakeside Lakeside International Raceway Brisbane, Queensland 4 - 5 Apr Flag of New Zealand.svg Jim Richards BMW M3 JPS Team BMW [7]
4 Perth Wanneroo Raceway Perth, Western Australia 25 - 26 Apr Flag of Australia (converted).svg Glenn SetonNissan Skyline RS DR30Nissan Motorsport Australia [8]
5 Adelaide Adelaide International Raceway Adelaide, South Australia 4–5 May Flag of Australia (converted).svg Dick Johnson Ford Sierra RS Cosworth Shell Ultra Hi-Tech Racing Team [9]
6 Surfers Paradise Surfers Paradise Raceway Surfers Paradise, Queensland 30–31 May Flag of New Zealand.svg Jim RichardsBMW M3JPS Team BMW [10] [11] [12]
7 Sandown Sandown International Raceway Melbourne, Victoria 6 - 7 Jun Flag of Australia (converted).svg Glenn SetonNissan Skyline RS DR30Nissan Motorsport Australia
8 Amaroo Park Amaroo Park Sydney, New South Wales 20 - 21 Jun Flag of New Zealand.svg Jim RichardsBMW M3JPS Team BMW [13]
9 Grand Final [14] Oran Park Raceway Sydney, New South Wales 4 - 5 Jul Flag of New Zealand.svg Jim RichardsBMW M3JPS Team BMW [15]

Classes

Cars competed in two classes based on engine capacity.

The Over 2500cc class was contested by Ford Mustang, Ford Sierra, Holden Commodore, Nissan Skyline, Rover Vitesse and Toyota Supra.

The Under 2500cc class consisted of Alfa Romeo 75, BMW 323i, BMW M3, Isuzu Gemini, Nissan Gazelle, Toyota Celica and Toyota Corolla.

Points system

Championship points were awarded at each round on a 20–15–12–10–8–6–4–3–2–1 basis for the top ten positions outright and on a 9-6-4-3-2-1 basis for the top six positions in each of the two classes. [2] Only the best eight round results could be retained by each driver. [2]

Championship results

Pos [16] Driver [16] Car [16] CalSymLakWanAdeSurSanAmaOraPts [16]
1 Jim Richards BMW M3 5th2nd1st4th5th1stRet1st1st193
2 Glenn Seton Nissan Skyline DR30 1st4th2nd1stRet3rd1st3rdRet167
3 George Fury Nissan Skyline DR30 3rd1stRetRet2nd4th2nd4th2nd143
4 Tony Longhurst BMW M3 6th5th3rd8th8th2ndRet2nd5th116
5 Larry Perkins Holden VK Commodore 2nd(7th)4th3rd6th5th3rd5th4th115 (121)
6 Dick Johnson Ford Sierra Cosworth 9th9thDSQ2nd1stRetRetRet3rd72
7 Peter Brock Holden VK Commodore
Holden VL Commodore
Ret3rd5th7th4th9th9th7th7th65
8 Allan Grice Holden VK Commodore
Holden VL Commodore
4thRet6th6th3rd4th9thRet62
9 Colin Bond Alfa Romeo 75 12th11th7th9th7thRet21stRet10th36
10 Gregg Hansford Ford Sierra Cosworth Ret6thDSQ5thRetRetRet8thRet25
11 Kent Baigent Nissan Skyline DR30 7th5thRet8th20
12 Murray Carter Nissan Skyline DR30 8thRet7th13th6th17
13 Ludwig Finauer BMW M3 6th9th16
13 Graeme Bowkett Nissan Skyline DR30 6th6thDNS11th16
15 Andrew Miedecke Ford Sierra Cosworth 7th8thRet12thDSQDSQDSQRet10
15 Drew Price Toyota Corolla Ret11th14th16th10
17 Mark Skaife Nissan Gazelle 12th9
18 John Smith Toyota Corolla Ret13th6
18 Daryl Hendrick Isuzu Gemini ZZ [17] 15th15th20th20th6
20 Lester Smerdon Holden VK Commodore 8th11th5
20 David Ratcliff Toyota Corolla 18th15th5
22Gary Scott Holden VK Commodore RetRetDNS8th11th4
22 Don Smith Ford Sierra Cosworth 11th10thRet9th4
24 Wayne Clift Holden VK Commodore 9thRet3
24 David 'Skippy' Parsons Holden VK Commodore 8th3
24 John Faulkner Toyota Corolla 17th3
27 David Sala Isuzu Gemini ZZ [17] 16th2
27 John Sax Toyota Corolla 19th2
27 Brian Bolwell BMW 323i 16th19th2
27 Tony Noske Holden VK Commodore 13th11th10th10th2
31 Neville Crichton Ford Sierra XR4Ti 10thRet1
31 Mike Freeman Toyota Celica 17thRet1
31 Wayne Park Holden VK Commodore 10th14th1
31 Graeme Hooley Holden VK Commodore 10th13th16th1
31 Peter Williamson Toyota Supra 10th15th1
31 Brian Callaghan Holden VK Commodore 10th16th1
32 John Giddings Ford Sierra Cosworth DSQDSQDSQRet0
PosDriverCarCalSymLakWanAdeSurSanAmaOraPts
ColourResult
GoldWinner
SilverSecond place
BronzeThird place
GreenPoints finish
BlueNon-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
PurpleRetired (Ret)
RedDid not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
BlackDisqualified (DSQ)
WhiteDid not start (DNS)
Withdrew (WD)
Race cancelled (C)
BlankDid not practice (DNP)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Excluded (EX)

See also

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References

  1. Graham Howard & Stewart Wilson, Australian Touring Car Championship, 30 fabulous years, 1989, page 290
  2. 1 2 3 4 Graham Howard & Stewart Wilson, Australian Touring Car Championship, 30 fabulous years, 1989, page 298
  3. 1987 ATCC Round 1 - Pt.1
  4. 1987 ATCC Round 1 - Pt.2
  5. 1987 ATCC Round 1 - Pt.3
  6. 1987 ATCC Round 2
  7. 1987 ATCC Round 3
  8. 1987 ATCC Round 4
  9. 1987 ATCC Round 5
  10. 1987 ATCC Round 6 - Pt.1
  11. 1987 ATCC Round 6 - Pt.2
  12. 1987 ATCC Round 6 - Pt.3
  13. 1987 ATCC Round 8
  14. "1987 Australian Touring Car Championship Programmes". The Programme Covers Project. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  15. 1987 ATCC Round 9
  16. 1 2 3 4 The official history - Australian Touring Car Championship - 50 Years
  17. 1 2 touringcarracing.net Retrieved 16 March 2018