1998 Australian Touring Car Championship

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The 1998 Australian Touring Car Championship was an Australian motor racing competition open to 5.0 Litre Touring Cars, [1] (also known as V8 Supercars). [2] The championship, which was sanctioned by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport as an Australian title, [3] 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". [4] The title, which was the 39th Australian Touring Car Championship, was won by Craig Lowndes. [5]

Teams and drivers

The following teams and drivers competed in the championship. Entries listed as "L1" competed for the overall championship, whereas those denoted "L2" also competed for the Privateers' Teams Cup.

Team [6] CarClassNoDriversEvents
Glenn Seton Racing Ford Falcon EL L11 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Glenn Seton All
L128 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rodney Forbes 3
111 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Neil Crompton 6, 8, 10
Holden Young Lions Holden Commodore VS L12 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Steve Ellery All
Gibson Motorsport Holden Commodore VS L17 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Darren Hossack 1–7
32 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tomas Mezera 8–10
L131 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Darren PateAll
Lansvale Smash Repairs Holden Commodore VS L23 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Trevor Ashby 1, 3, 7–8, 10
6 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Steve Reed 2, 4–6, 9
Stone Brothers Racing Ford Falcon EL L14 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jason Bright All
Perkins Engineering Holden Commodore VS
Holden Commodore VT
L18 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Russell Ingall All
L111 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Larry Perkins All
Holden Commodore VS L216 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Melinda Price1, 4–5
19 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Kerryn Brewer2–3
Longhurst Racing Ford Falcon EL L19 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Alan Jones 3–10
L125 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tony Longhurst All
Larkham Motor Sport Ford Falcon EL L110 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mark Larkham All
Cadillac Productions Ford Falcon EL L213 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ryan McLeod2–4, 6
79 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mike Conway1, 5, 10
Imrie Motor Sport Holden Commodore VS L214 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mike Imrie4–5, 8–10
Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VS
Holden Commodore VT
L115 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Craig Lowndes All
Holden Commodore VS L150 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mark Skaife All
Holden Commodore VT L198 Flag of New Zealand.svg Greg Murphy 8
Dick Johnson Racing Ford Falcon EL L117 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Dick Johnson All
L118 Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Bowe All
L195 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Steven Johnson 4–8, 10
Colourscan Motorsport Ford Falcon EL L222 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Danny Osborne1, 3–7, 9–10
47 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brett Peters9
Ray Hislop Ford Falcon EF L223 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ray Hislop1–2, 8
Romano Racing Holden Commodore VS L124 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Paul Romano All
Doulman Automotive Holden Commodore VS L226 Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Cotter 10
29 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Peter Doulman 2, 5
Terry Finnigan Holden Commodore VS L127 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Terry Finnigan1–3, 5–7, 9–10
Challenge Motorsport Holden Commodore VS L232 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tomas Mezera 3–4
39 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Chris Smerdon1, 5–6, 8–10
Garry Rogers Motorsport Holden Commodore VS L134 Flag of New Zealand.svg Steven Richards 1–3
134 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Garth Tander 4–10
L135 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jason Bargwanna All
Schembri Motorsport Holden Commodore VS L236 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Neil Schembri10
71 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Gary Quartly5, 8
James Rosenberg Racing Holden Commodore VS L138 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mark Poole1, 4, 6, 8–10
Simon Emerzidis Holden Commodore VR L241 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Garry Willmington1
Holden Commodore VS 54 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Simon Emerzidis4–5, 8, 10
Paul Weel Racing Ford Falcon EL L243 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Paul Weel 1–6, 9–10
Mal Rose Racing Holden Commodore VS L244 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mal Rose1–2, 4–9
Novocastrian Motorsport Holden Commodore VS L245 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Wayne Russell4, 6
John Faulkner Racing Holden Commodore VS L146 Flag of New Zealand.svg John Faulkner All
Rod Smith Racing Holden Commodore VS L248 Flag of Australia (converted).svg D'Arcy Russell2, 4–9
Greg Crick Motorsport Holden Commodore VS L249 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Greg Crick1–3, 5, 7, 9–10
149 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Dean Crosswell6, 8
Charles Ryman Ford Falcon EL L251 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Charles Ryman3, 5–6, 9
Barry Morcom Holden Commodore VP L252 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Barry Morcom5–6
Rod Nash Racing Holden Commodore VS L255 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rod Nash 3–10
Briggs Motor Sport Ford Falcon EL L270 Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Briggs 1, 3, 6–7, 9–10
Robert Smith Racing Holden Commodore VS L272 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Robert Smith8–10
PACE Racing Holden Commodore VS L274 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Kevin Heffernan3–5, 9
Paul Little Racing Ford Falcon EL L275 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Anthony Tratt 4–6, 8, 10
V8 Racing Holden Commodore VP L277 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Richard Mork1, 3, 5, 10
Clive Wiseman Racing Holden Commodore VS L280 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mick Donaher1, 3, 5, 8, 10
Don Pulver Holden Commodore VP L288 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Don Pulver1
Geoff Kendrick Holden Commodore VS L292 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Geoff Kendrick7, 9

Race calendar

The championship was contested over a ten-round series with three races per round. [4]

Rd.Race titleCircuitLocation / stateDateWinnerCarTeamReport
1 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Sandown Sandown International Motor Raceway Melbourne, Victoria 30 Jan – 1 Feb Craig Lowndes Holden VS Commodore Holden Racing Team
2 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Launceston Symmons Plains International Raceway Launceston, Tasmania 6–8 FebCraig Lowndes Holden VS Commodore Holden Racing Team
3 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lakeside Lakeside International Raceway Brisbane, Queensland 27–29 Mar Russell Ingall Holden VS Commodore Perkins Engineering
4 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Phillip Island Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit Phillip Island, Victoria 17–19 AprCraig Lowndes Holden VS Commodore Holden Racing Team
5 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Winton Winton Motor Raceway Benalla, Victoria 1–3 May John Bowe Ford EL Falcon Dick Johnson Racing
6 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mallala Mallala Motor Sport Park Mallala, South Australia 22–24 MayRussell Ingall Holden VS Commodore Perkins Engineering
7 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Barbagallo Barbagallo Raceway Perth, Western Australia 29–31 MayCraig Lowndes Holden VS Commodore Holden Racing Team
8 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Calder Calder Park Raceway Melbourne, Victoria 19–21 JunCraig Lowndes Holden VS Commodore Holden Racing Team
9 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Hidden Valley Hidden Valley Raceway Darwin, Northern Territory 17–19 JulRussell Ingall Holden VT Commodore Perkins Engineering
10 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Oran Park Oran Park International Raceway Sydney, New South Wales 31 Jul – 2 AugCraig Lowndes Holden VT Commodore Holden Racing Team

Championship standings

Points system

Points were awarded to the first twenty classified finishers in each race as follows:

Race Position 1st  2nd  3rd  4th  5th  6th  7th  8th  9th  10th  11th  12th  13th  14th  15th  16th  17th  18th  19th  20th 
Points40363432302826242220181614121086421

Standings

Pos.Driver SAN SYM LAK PHI WIN MAL PER CAL DAR OPK Points
R1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3
1 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Craig Lowndes 21131164421243Ret33111112C1DNS6111992
2 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Russell Ingall 1442437311331123212332114C1211697942
3 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mark Skaife 76822219971221652EXCEXC822325C2DNS9222768
4 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Larry Perkins 5558664337943417414115441011C1664Ret138722
5 Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Bowe 124Ret7111Ret8653211111916Ret1277C7DSQ716109684
6 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Glenn Seton 3331Ret516Ret1844811149743671956C95355Ret676
7 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jason Bargwanna 6RetDNS54310231388117Ret11209627Ret641C8221033603
8 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tony Longhurst 8Ret1011221555597556411814RetDNS101526C4314445586
9 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jason Bright 10RetRet754761256789795586Ret33CDSQRetRet3Ret13584
10 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Dick Johnson 15966109222Ret1413107552Ret451317RetC15712241817550
11 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mark Larkham 1677Ret1113Ret14111211161515Ret15101312118128C31259710474
12 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Paul Romano 9RetDNS98Ret18129141215188612Ret16715EXC2110C54Ret1284418
13 Flag of New Zealand.svg John Faulkner 11RetDNS22Ret108RetRet1010101210Ret86711105RetRetC6RetDNS111512376
14 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Garth Tander 20151219131614221298969C21DSQ8866301
15 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Steve Ellery 12Ret1118Ret171210Ret2916301412813182414141414RetC11RetDNS141114266
16 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Alan Jones 97201313613Ret131015Ret1312241616C10Ret102314Ret261
17 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Steven Johnson 112899Ret106741097RetDNSC13Ret15260
18 Flag of New Zealand.svg Steven Richards 411917981486188
19 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Terry Finnigan231412Ret132011111016RetRetRet1917151315DNSDNSDNSRet1619159
20 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Darren Hossack Ret12Ret1415161316Ret191914211112172919181611156
21 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tomas Mezera 1513Ret161717Ret15C14911151216140
22 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Darren Pate18RetDNS1919192218141729Ret17Ret141616181720161813C1710RetRet1718139
23 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mark Poole138Ret15Ret25Ret131513RetC138RetDNQDNQDNQ124
24 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Neil Crompton Ret1210814C7Ret11116
25 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Greg Crick17RetDNS101212RetDNSDNS261921231721191113RetDNSDNS100
26 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Trevor Ashby 1910151715151918182021C17192078
27 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Steve Reed 122014231826251818RetRetDNS18151663
= Flag of Australia (converted).svg Chris Smerdon2213132416221823Ret1918C22161818202163
29 Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Briggs 251514Ret19Ret192125251917281315DNSDNSDNS58
30 Flag of New Zealand.svg Greg Murphy 912C38
31 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Paul Weel 20RetRet20Ret2223201628201827Ret152428RetRetDNS17Ret222632
32 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Peter Doulman 15141828232326
= Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mal Rose2416162318212221232320192124DNS2021232219CRetDNSDNS26
34 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Anthony Tratt 18RetRet2017Ret2217Ret2617C2527Ret23
35 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ray Hislop21Ret1713RetRet2423C20
36 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Kerryn Brewer161724Ret222114
37 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Danny Osborne2617RetRet251730RetDNS30RetRet262622242520DNSDNSDNSRet28Ret13
= Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brett Peters2014Ret13
39 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rod Nash 21242224Ret19222120Ret25212124RetRet20C2317Ret19212212
40 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ryan McLeodRet16Ret2021Ret21Ret20DNQDNQDNQ10
41 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Kevin HeffernanRet1719Ret232229RetRetRetRetRet8
= Flag of Australia (converted).svg Melinda Price271818262224Ret22268
43 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Geoff Kendrick2222Ret2418205
44 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Richard MorkRet1919DNQDNQDNQDNQDNQDNQDNQDNQ244
45 Flag of Australia (converted).svg D'Arcy Russell212123252527DNSDNSDNS2527232623222322C2520193
46 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Robert SmithDNQ25C261921DNQDNQDNQ2
= Flag of Australia (converted).svg Dean Crosswell232020RetDNSC2
48 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Neil Schembri20DNSDNS1
NC Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Cotter 2123270
= Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mike Imrie272631DNSDNSDNSDNQ27C27DNS22DNQDNQDNQ0
= Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mike ConwayDNQDNQDNQDNSDNSDNS2226250
= Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mick DonaherDNQDNQDNQWDWDWD312624DNQDNQCRet24230
= Flag of Australia (converted).svg Simon EmerzidisRet24283225RetRetDNSCDNQ25Ret0
= Flag of Australia (converted).svg Gary Quartly3324252524C0
= Flag of Australia (converted).svg Wayne RussellRet27292830Ret0
= Flag of Australia (converted).svg Charles RymanDNQRetRetRetRetRet2731WDDNSDNSRet0
= Flag of Australia (converted).svg Garry Willmington28RetDNS0
= Flag of Australia (converted).svg Don PulverDNQDNQDNQ0
= Flag of Australia (converted).svg Barry MorcomDNQDNQDNQDNQDNQDNQ0
= Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rodney Forbes WDWDWD0
Source: [7]

Race three at the Calder round was abandoned before the start due to water lying on the track after a late afternoon storm. [8]

Privateers' Team Cup

The Privateers' Team Cup was open to Level 2 teams competing with control tyres. [9] Points were awarded on the same basis as for the actual Championship however competitors were required to nominate eight rounds at which they would compete and only their best six results from those rounds would be retained towards the Cup award. [9] Two-driver teams were permitted to pool their points into a combined score. [9]

The Cup was won by Lansvale Smash Repairs with the team's Holden Commodore VS driven by Trevor Ashby and Steve Reed. [10]

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References

  1. Specific Conditions, 1998 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, page 7-10
  2. Racing - Table of Contents, 1998 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, page 7-1
  3. 1998 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, pages 7-9 & 7-10
  4. 1 2 The Rounds, V8 Supercars, Shell Australian Touring Car Championship, '98 Series Review, pages 18 to 79
  5. Records, Titles and Awards, 2002 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, page 14-7
  6. Official Programme, Mallala, 24th May 1998
  7. "Australian Touring Car Championship standings for 1998". Racing-Reference.info. 16 January 2020.
  8. V8 Supercars, Shell Australian Touring Car Championship, '98 Series Review, page 65
  9. 1 2 3 The cup runneth over, Official Programme, Mallala, 24 May 1998, page 98
  10. Jason Parker, Lansvale take control, V8 Supercars, Shell Australian Touring Car Championship, '98 Series Review, pages 80–84