1997 Australian Touring Car Championship

Last updated

1997 Australian Touring Car Championship
Previous: 1996 Next: 1998

The 1997 Australian Touring Car Championship was a CAMS sanctioned Australian motor racing title open to 5.0 Litre Touring Cars [1] complying with Group 3A [2] regulations. The championship, which was the 38th Australian Touring Car Championship, [3] began on 15 March at Calder Park Raceway and ended on 3 August at Oran Park Raceway after 10 rounds. [4]

Contents

Promoted as the Shell Australian Touring Car Championship, [5] the series was won by Glenn Seton driving a Ford EL Falcon. [4]

Teams and drivers

The Ford EL Falcon in which Glenn Seton won the 1997 Australian Touring Car Championship. The car is pictured above in 2011 - in its 1997 ATCC colours. Glenn Seton 1997 EL Falcon Muscle Car Masters 2011.JPG
The Ford EL Falcon in which Glenn Seton won the 1997 Australian Touring Car Championship. The car is pictured above in 2011 – in its 1997 ATCC colours.

The following teams and drivers competed in the 1997 Australian Touring Car Championship.

TeamCarNoDrivers
Gibson Motorsport Holden VS Commodore 2 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mark Skaife
45 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Darren Hossack
Lansvale Racing Team Holden VS Commodore 3 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Trevor Ashby
6 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Steve Reed
Holden Racing Team Holden VS Commodore 05 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Peter Brock
15 Flag of New Zealand.svg Greg Murphy
97 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Stephen White
Wayne Gardner Racing Holden VS Commodore 7 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Wayne Gardner
Perkins Engineering Holden VS Commodore 8 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Russell Ingall
11 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Larry Perkins
16 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Melinda Price
19 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Kerryn Brewer
Alan Jones Racing Ford EL Falcon 9 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Alan Jones
Larkham Motor Sport Ford EL Falcon 10 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mark Larkham
Malcolm Stenniken Holden VR Commodore 14 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Malcolm Stenniken
Dick Johnson Racing Ford EL Falcon 17 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Dick Johnson
18 Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Bowe
Palmer Promotions Holden VS Commodore 20 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ian Palmer
Colourscan Motorsport Ford EF Falcon
Ford EL Falcon
22 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Danny Osborne
Ray Hislop Ford EF Falcon 23 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ray Hislop
Romano Racing Holden VS Commodore 24 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Paul Romano
Longhurst Racing Ford EL Falcon 25 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tony Longhurst
52 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Steven Ellery
M3 Motorsport Holden VP Commodore 26 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Peter Doulman
Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Cotter
Terry Finnigan Holden VS Commodore 27 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Terry Finnigan
Glenn Seton Racing Ford EL Falcon 30 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Glenn Seton
Phil Johnson Holden VS Commodore 31 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Grant Johnson
West Coast Racing Ford EL Falcon 32 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Allan McCarthy
35 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Claude Giorgi
Pro-Duct Motorsport Holden VS Commodore 33 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Pearson
Garry Rogers Motorsport Holden VS Commodore 34 Flag of New Zealand.svg Steven Richards
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jason Bright
Gearbox Motorsport Holden VR Commodore
Holden VS Commodore
36 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Neil Schembri
James Rosenberg Racing Holden VS Commodore 38 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mark Poole
Challenge Motorsport Holden VS Commodore 39 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Chris Smerdon
Michael Hart Holden VR Commodore 40 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Michael Hart
42 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Peter Lawrence
Garry Willmington Performance Ford EB Falcon 41 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Garry Willmington
Wynn's Racing Holden VR Commodore 45 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Darren Hossack
John Faulkner Racing Holden VS Commodore 46 Flag of New Zealand.svg John Faulkner
Daily Planet Racing Holden VS Commodore 47 Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Trimbole
Alcair Racing Holden VS Commodore 49 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Greg Crick
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Steven Johnson
Truckie Parsons Holden VS Commodore 55 Flag of Australia (converted).svg David Parsons
Novocastrian Motorsport Holden VS Commodore 62 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Wayne Russell
Briggs Motor Sport Ford EF Falcon 70 Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Briggs
PACE Racing Holden VS Commodore 74 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Kevin Heffernan
V8 Racing Holden VP Commodore 77 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Richard Mork
Cadillac Productions Holden VP Commodore
Ford EB Falcon
79 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mike Conway
Don Pulver Holden VP Commodore 88 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Don Pulver
Geoff Kendrick Holden VS Commodore 92 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Geoff Kendrick
Shaun Walker Holden VS Commodore 99 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Shaun Walker

Race calendar

The championship was contested over ten rounds with three races per round. [6]

Rd. [4] Circuit [4] Location / stateDateRound winner [4] Car [4] Team
1 Calder Park Raceway Melbourne, Victoria 13–15 Mar Wayne Gardner Holden VS Commodore Wayne Gardner Racing
2 Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit Phillip Island, Victoria 11–13 Apr Russell Ingall Holden VS Commodore Perkins Engineering
3 Sandown International Raceway Melbourne, Victoria 25–27 Apr Glenn Seton Ford EF Falcon Glenn Seton Racing
4 Symmons Plains Raceway Launceston, Tasmania 2–4 May Greg Murphy Holden VS Commodore Holden Racing Team
5 Winton Motor Raceway Benalla, Victoria 16–18 May Russell Ingall Holden VS Commodore Perkins Engineering
6 Eastern Creek Raceway Sydney, New South Wales 23–25 May Glenn Seton Ford EF Falcon Glenn Seton Racing
7 Lakeside International Raceway Brisbane, Queensland 13–15 Jun John Bowe Ford EF Falcon Dick Johnson Racing
8 Barbagallo Raceway Perth, Western Australia 4–6 Jul Peter Brock Holden VS Commodore Holden Racing Team
9 Mallala Motor Sport Park Mallala, South Australia 11–13 Jul Greg Murphy Holden VS Commodore Holden Racing Team
10 Oran Park Raceway Sydney, New South Wales 1–3 Aug Greg Murphy Holden VS Commodore Holden Racing Team

Race winners

RoundRaceCircuitWinnerTeam
11 Calder Park Raceway Greg Murphy Holden Racing Team
2 Wayne Gardner Wayne Gardner Racing
3 Glenn Seton Glenn Seton Racing
24 Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit Glenn Seton Glenn Seton Racing
5 Russell Ingall Perkins Engineering
6 Larry Perkins Perkins Engineering
37 Sandown International Raceway Glenn Seton Glenn Seton Racing
8 Glenn Seton Glenn Seton Racing
9 Glenn Seton Glenn Seton Racing
410 Symmons Plains Raceway Peter Brock Holden Racing Team
11 Greg Murphy Holden Racing Team
12 Greg Murphy Holden Racing Team
513 Winton Motor Raceway Larry Perkins Perkins Engineering
14 Russell Ingall Perkins Engineering
15 Russell Ingall Perkins Engineering
616 Eastern Creek Raceway Glenn Seton Glenn Seton Racing
17 Glenn Seton Glenn Seton Racing
18 Glenn Seton Glenn Seton Racing
719 Lakeside International Raceway Glenn Seton Glenn Seton Racing
20 John Bowe Dick Johnson Racing
21 Russell Ingall Perkins Engineering
822 Barbagallo Raceway Larry Perkins Perkins Engineering
23 John Bowe Dick Johnson Racing
24 Greg Murphy Holden Racing Team
925 Mallala Motor Sport Park Greg Murphy Holden Racing Team
26 Greg Murphy Holden Racing Team
27 Larry Perkins Perkins Engineering
1028 Oran Park Raceway Peter Brock Holden Racing Team
29 Alan Jones Alan Jones Racing
30 Glenn Seton Glenn Seton Racing

Points system

Championship points were awarded on a 30–26–24–22–20–18–16–14–12–10–8–6–4–2–1 basis to the top 15 finishers in each race. [7]

Championship results

Pos. [6] Driver [6] Car [6] PenaltyCalPhiSanSymWinEasLakBarMalOraTotal [6]
1 Glenn Seton Ford EL Falcon 080549070689030447072668
2 John Bowe Ford EL Falcon 050627850627682646816608
3 Russell Ingall Holden VS Commodore 0628262508664684850Ret572
4 Greg Murphy Holden VS Commodore 062463086361642708676550
5 Larry Perkins Holden VS Commodore 038784250824254488232548
6 Peter Brock Holden VS Commodore 042322882605858742462520
7 Dick Johnson Ford EL Falcon 01450422240726805036384
8 Tony Longhurst Ford EL Falcon 01830483243662382664358
9 Wayne Gardner Holden VS Commodore 082202866542854332
10 John Faulkner Holden VS Commodore 014423842283442201846324
11 Alan Jones Ford EL Falcon 060602221626621654318
12 Steven Richards Holden VS Commodore 012242692224425252263
13 Mark Skaife Holden VS Commodore 05068142014166
14 Mark Poole Holden VS Commodore 0202424162034138
15 Mark Larkham Ford EL Falcon 06Ret422346Ret321218134
16 Terry Finnigan Holden VS Commodore 027020181820109122
17 Darren Hossack Holden VS Commodore 0060Ret8712226667
18 Steve Ellery Ford EL Falcon 0261022058
19 Trevor Ashby Holden VS Commodore 0331026850
20 Stephen White Holden VS Commodore 0161834
21 Jason Bright Holden VS Commodore 02424
22 Kevin Heffernan Holden VS Commodore 00811221
23 Allan McCarthy Ford EL Falcon 002020
24 Chris Smerdon Holden VS Commodore 0141419
25 Paul Romano Holden VS Commodore 0Ret8DNS210
26 Steve Reed Holden VS Commodore 00189
27 Danny Osborne Ford EL Falcon 0Ret1Ret70Ret8
28 John Trimbole Holden VS Commodore 0RetRet7Ret7
Kerryn Brewer Holden VS Commodore 061
Melinda Price Holden VS Commodore 025
31 Grant Johnson Holden VS Commodore 066
32Bob Pearson Holden VS Commodore 033
33 Steven Johnson Holden VS Commodore 022
David "Truckie" Parsons Holden VS Commodore 02
Mike Conway Holden VS Commodore
Ford EB Falcon
01Ret1Ret
Greg Crick Holden VS Commodore 02
Neil Schembri Holden VR Commodore 002
John Briggs Ford EF Falcon 02
39 Ray Hislop Ford EF Falcon 010Ret1
Claude Giorgi Ford EL Falcon 01
PosDriverCarPenaltyCalPhiSanSymWinEasLakBarMalOraTotal
ColourResult
GoldWinner
Silver2nd place
Bronze3rd 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)

Privateers' Cup

The Privateers' Cup was open to Category 2 and Category 3 entries only. [8] Points were awarded on a 30–26–24–22–20–18–16–14–12–10–8–6–4–2–1 basis to the top 15 eligible finishers in each race. [8]

Pos. [9] Driver [9] Car
1 John Faulkner Holden VS Commodore
2Mark Poole Holden VS Commodore
3Terry Finnigan Holden VS Commodore
4 Darren Hossack Holden VS Commodore
5Trevor Ashby Holden VS Commodore

Note: Only the top five positions are shown.

See also

1997 Australian Touring Car season

Related Research Articles

The 1988 Australian Manufacturers' Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title open to cars complying with CAMS "Group A" Touring Car regulations. It was the 18th circuit racing manufacturers championship to be awarded by CAMS and the ninth to be contested under the Australian Manufacturers' Championship name.

1994 Australian Touring Car Championship

The 1994 Australian Touring Car Championship was an Australian motor racing competition for Touring Cars. The championship, which was sanctioned by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport as an Australian Title, was the 35th Australian Touring Car Championship. Promoted as the Shell Australian Touring Car Championship, it was contested over 10 rounds between February and July 1994.

The 1990 Australian Touring Car Championship was a CAMS sanctioned Australian motor racing title open to Group 3A Touring Cars. The championship, which was the 31st Australian Touring Car Championship, was promoted as the Shell Ultra Australian Touring Car Championship. It began on 25 February 1990 at Amaroo Park and ended on 15 July at Oran Park Raceway after eight rounds.

The 1981 Australian Touring Car Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title for drivers of Group C Touring Cars. The championship, which was the 22nd running of the Australian Touring Car Championship, began at Symmons Plains Raceway and ended at Lakeside International Raceway after 8 rounds.

The 1995 Australian Super Touring Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing championship for 2 Litre Super Touring Cars. It was the third series for 2 litre Super Touring Cars to be contested in Australia, but the first to use the Australian Super Touring Championship name. It began on 5 March 1995 at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit and ended on 26 August at Eastern Creek Raceway after eight rounds.

The 1991 Australian Touring Car Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title open to Group 3A Touring Cars. The title, which was the 32nd Australian Touring Car Championship, was contested over a nine-round series which began on 24 February 1991 at Sandown Raceway and ended on 11 August at Oran Park Raceway, The series was promoted as the Shell Australian Touring Car Championship and was won by Jim Richards driving a Nissan Skyline GT-R.

The 1993 Australian Touring Car Championship was a CAMS sanctioned Australian motor racing title for Group 3A Touring Cars. The championship, which was the 34th Australian Touring Car Championship, was contested over a nine-round series which began on 28 February 1993 at Amaroo Park and ended on 8 August at Oran Park Raceway. Promoted as the Shell Australian Touring Car Championship, it was won by Glenn Seton, driving a Ford EB Falcon, with teammate Alan Jones completing a one-two championship result for Glenn Seton Racing. It was Seton's first championship victory and the first major victory for the team he had started in 1989.

The 1999 Shell Championship Series was a motor racing series for V8 Supercars which began on 28 March 1999 at Eastern Creek Raceway and ended on 14 November at the Mount Panorama Circuit after 13 rounds. The Australian Touring Car Championship was renamed for 1999 in what was essentially a marketing decision, however the winner of the newly named series was also awarded the 1999 Australian Touring Car Championship title by CAMS. 1999 was the first season since 1977 in which the longer distance, endurance race events were included in the championship. For the first time in the championship's history, tyres supplied by Bridgestone specified for all cars.

The 1990 Australian Endurance Championship was the seventh running of the Australian Endurance Championship. It began on 9 September 1990 at Sandown Raceway and ended on 3 November at the Eastern Creek Raceway after three rounds. The championship was a CAMS sanctioned national motor racing title for drivers of Group 3A Touring Cars.

The 1998 Australian Touring Car Championship was an Australian motor racing competition open to 5.0 Litre Touring Cars,. The championship, which was sanctioned by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport as an Australian title, was contested over a ten-round series which began on 1 February 1998 at Sandown International Motor Raceway and ended on 2 August at Oran Park International Raceway. The series was promoted as the "Shell Australian Touring Car Championship". The title, which was the 39th Australian Touring Car Championship, was won by Craig Lowndes.

The 1983 Australian Drivers' Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title open to drivers of Australian Formula 1 racing cars. The winner of the title, which was the 27th Australian Drivers' Championship, was awarded the 1983 CAMS Gold Star.

1996 Australian Touring Car Championship

The 1996 Australian Touring Car Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title for drivers of 5.0 Litre Touring Cars complying with Australian Group 3A regulations. The championship, which was the 37th Australian Touring Car Championship, was promoted as the Shell Australian Touring Car Championship. It was contested over ten rounds between January 1996 and June 1996. The championship was contested earlier in the year than usual as much of telecaster Channel 7's broadcast equipment was required for its 1996 Summer Olympics coverage. 1996 was the last year in which Channel 7 would broadcast the championship until 2007, with Network Ten taking over the broadcast rights from the 1997 season onwards.

The 1995 Australian Touring Car Championship was a CAMS sanctioned Australian motor racing title for 5.0 Litre Touring Cars complying with Group 3A regulations. The championship, which was the 36th Australian Touring Car Championship, was contested over a ten rounds between February and August 1995. The series was won by John Bowe driving a Dick Johnson Racing Ford EF Falcon.

The 1989 Australian Touring Car Championship was a CAMS sanctioned Australian motor racing title open to Group 3A Touring Cars. The championship, which was the 30th Australian Touring Car Championship, began on 5 March at Amaroo Park and ended on 9 July at Oran Park Raceway after eight rounds. The 1989 Australian Manufacturers' Championship was contested over the same eight round series.

The 1988 Australian Touring Car Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title for drivers of Group 3A Touring Cars. It was the 29th running of the Australian Touring Car Championship. The championship began on 6 March at Calder Park Raceway and ended on 17 July at Oran Park Raceway after nine rounds.

The 1989 Australian Drivers' Championship was an Australian motor racing competition open to racing cars complying with CAMS Formula Holden regulations. The championship winner was awarded the 1989 CAMS Gold Star as the Australian Drivers' Champion. It was the 33rd running of the Australian Drivers' Championship and the first to feature the Formula Holden class which had been developed during 1988, originally named Formula Australia.

The 1979 Australian Touring Car Championship was a CAMS sanctioned Australian motor racing title open to Group C Touring Cars. It began at Symmons Plains and ended at Adelaide International Raceway after eight rounds. The title, which was the 20th Australian Touring Car Championship, was won by Bob Morris driving a Holden Torana.

The 1982 Australian Touring Car Championship was a CAMS sanctioned Australian motor racing title open to Group C Touring Cars. It began on 18 February 1982 at Sandown Raceway and ended on 16 May at Oran Park Raceway after eight rounds. The title, which was the 23rd Australian Touring Car Championship, was won by defending champion Dick Johnson, driving a Ford XD Falcon.

The 1997 Australian Drivers' Championship was a motor racing competition open to drivers of racing cars complying with CAMS Formula Holden regulations. The championship winner was awarded the 1997 CAMS Gold Star as the Australian Drivers' Champion. It was the 41st running of the Australian Drivers' Championship, and the ninth to feature the Formula Holden category which had been developed during 1988. The championship began on 15 March 1997 at the Calder Park Raceway and ended on 3 August at Oran Park Raceway after seven rounds of a series which was promoted as the "Holden Australian Drivers Championship".

The 1998 Australian Drivers' Championship was a CAMS sanctioned Australian motor racing title for drivers of cars conforming to Formula Holden regulations. The title was contested over a six-round, twelve race series with the winner awarded the CAMS Gold Star. Officially the "Holden Australian Drivers' Championship for the CAMS Gold Star", it was the 42nd Australian Drivers' Championship.

References

  1. Australian Title Conditions, 1997 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, pages 7–9 to 7–10
  2. Racing, 1997 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, page 7-1
  3. Records, Titles and Awards, 2002 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, page 14-7
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 V8 Supercars – 1997 Review, Chevron Publishing Group, 1997
  5. Official Programme, Shell Australian Touring Car Championship, Round 9, 13 July 1997
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Graham Howard, 1997 ATCC, Stewart Wilson & David Greenhalgh, The official history – Australian Touring Car Championship – 50 Years, 2011, page 371
  7. Motor Racing Australia, Jan/Feb 1998, page 63
  8. 1 2 Points to make, Official Programme, Shell Australian Touring Car Championship, Round 9, Mallala, 13 July 1997
  9. 1 2 Jason Parker, Private Faulkner – Privateers' Cup, V8 Supercars – 1997 Review, Chevron Publishing Group, 1997, pages 80 to 83