1977 Australian Touring Car Championship
The 1977 Australian Touring Car Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing championship open to Group C Touring Cars. It was the 18th running of the Australian Touring Car Championship and it began at Symmons Plains Raceway on 7 March and ended at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit on 20 November after eleven rounds. 1977 was the second and final time that the series incorporated the longer distance races which made up the Australian Championship of Makes. These races included the Sandown 400 and the Phillip Island 500K, although notably not the Bathurst 1000.[1]
Reigning champion Allan Moffat dominated the 1977 season. In addition to the memorable 1977 Bathurst 1000 victory, Moffat won his third Australian Touring Car Championship, leading home new Moffat Ford Dealers team mate Colin Bond for a series 1-2 result. Moffat won the first five races of the championship, taking victory at seven out of the eleven rounds and winning by 32 points. Bond's Ford Falcon picked up a win at Adelaide International Raceway but was put under pressure near the end of the season from Peter Brock after consecutive wins by the Holden Torana driver at Lakeside International Raceway and Sandown Raceway in the Hang Ten 400. In the end Bond finished nine points clear of Brock.
The only other win of the season was claimed by Allan Grice (Holden Torana) at the finale at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit. In previous years the class pointscore system saw a consistent performer threaten the top of the points table. In 1977 though the best performer from the smaller cars was Ford Capri racer Lawrie Nelson who finished fourth in the points, 19 behind Brock. Holden Torana racer Bob Morris took points away from the small class cars by racing his Triumph Dolomite early in the series, as well as racing Lakis Manticas' Ford Capri on occasion, effectively spoiling the chances of other under three litre class drivers.
Teams and drivers
Drivers that competed in the 1977 Australian Touring Car Championship included the following:
Three litre class competitors
Calendar
The 1977 Australian Touring Car Championship was contested over an eleven rounds.[2]
| Rd.[2] |
Race / Circuit [2] |
City / State |
Date [2] |
Winner [2] |
Car |
Team |
Report |
| 1 |
Symmons Plains Raceway |
Launceston, Tasmania |
7 March |
Allan Moffat |
Ford XB Falcon GT |
Moffat Ford Dealers |
|
| 2 |
Calder Park Raceway |
Melbourne, Victoria |
20 March |
Allan Moffat |
Ford XB Falcon GT |
Moffat Ford Dealers |
|
| 3 |
Oran Park Raceway |
Sydney, New South Wales |
27 March |
Allan Moffat |
Ford XB Falcon GT |
Moffat Ford Dealers |
|
| 4 |
Amaroo Park |
Sydney, New South Wales |
10 April |
Allan Moffat |
Ford XB Falcon GT |
Moffat Ford Dealers |
|
| 5 |
Sandown International Raceway |
Melbourne, Victoria |
17 April |
Allan Moffat |
Ford XB Falcon GT |
Moffat Ford Dealers |
|
| 6 |
Adelaide International Raceway |
Adelaide, South Australia |
5 June |
Colin Bond |
Ford XB Falcon GT |
Moffat Ford Dealers |
|
| 7 |
Lakeside International Raceway |
Brisbane, Queensland |
26 June |
Peter Brock |
Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 |
Bill Patterson Motors |
|
| 8 |
Hang Ten 400, Sandown International Raceway |
Melbourne, Victoria |
11 September |
Peter Brock |
Holden LX Torana SS A9X |
Bill Patterson Motors |
report |
| 9 |
Rothmans 250 [3] / Adelaide International Raceway |
Adelaide, South Australia |
23 October |
Allan Moffat |
Ford XC Falcon GS |
Moffat Ford Dealers |
|
| 10 |
Rothmans 300 [4] / Surfers Paradise International Raceway |
Surfers Paradise, Queensland |
6 November |
Allan Moffat |
Ford XC Falcon GS |
Moffat Ford Dealers |
|
| 11 |
Ready Plan Insurance 500K, Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit |
Phillip Island, Victoria |
28 November |
Allan Grice |
Holden LX Torana SS A9X |
Craven Mild Racing |
report |
Classes
Cars competed in two classes defined by engine capacity.[5]
- Up to and including 3000cc [5]
- 3001 to 6000 cc [5]
Points system
| Pos |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
5th |
6th |
All Rounds
Outright [5] |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
|
|
Rounds 1-7
each class [5] |
9 |
6 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
Round 8-11
each class [5] |
12 |
8 |
6 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
Only the best six scores from the first seven rounds and the best two scores from the last four rounds counted towards the championship totals.[5]
Points were awarded only where a driver completed 75% of race distance and was running at the completion of the final lap.
Results
Results sourced in part from:[1]
| Pos |
Driver |
Rd 1 |
Rd 2 |
Rd 3 |
Rd 4 |
Rd 5 |
Rd 6 |
Rd 7 |
Rd 8 |
Rd 9 |
Rd 10 |
Rd 11 |
Pts |
| 1 |
Allan Moffat |
1st(13) |
1st(13) |
1st(13) |
1st(13) |
1st(13) |
2nd(9) |
Ret |
3rd(8) |
1st(16) |
1st(16) |
|
106(114) |
| 2 |
Colin Bond |
2nd(9) |
2nd(9) |
8th |
2nd(9) |
2nd(9) |
1st(13) |
2nd(9) |
5th(5) |
2nd(11) |
Ret |
5th(2) |
74(76) |
| 3 |
Peter Brock |
3rd(6) |
3rd(6) |
3rd(6) |
7th |
4th(4) |
3rd(6) |
1st(13) |
1st(16) |
9th |
3rd(8) |
Ret |
65 |
| 4 |
Lawrie Nelson |
(9) |
(4) |
|
|
(9) |
10th(6) |
|
6th(12) |
|
|
(6) |
46 |
| 5 |
Bob Morris |
(6) |
Ret |
(9) |
10th(9) |
Ret |
|
(9) |
Ret |
|
2nd(11) |
|
42(44) |
| 6 |
John Harvey |
8th |
4th(4) |
2nd(9) |
Ret |
3rd(6) |
5th(2) |
3rd(6) |
Ret |
3rd(8) |
|
4th(5) |
40 |
| 7 |
Allan Grice |
Ret |
Ret |
5th(2) |
3rd(6) |
|
4th(4) |
|
2nd(11) |
|
|
1st(16) |
39 |
| 8 |
Rod Stevens |
|
10th(9) |
|
|
(6) |
|
|
Ret |
10th(12) |
|
|
27 |
| 9 |
Frank Porter |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9th(6) |
|
|
9th(12) |
18 |
| Ray Gulson |
(4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(6) |
10th(8) |
18 |
| 11 |
Peter Janson |
|
Ret |
10th |
|
|
|
|
Ret |
5th(2) |
|
2nd(11) |
13 |
| 12 |
Barry Seton |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7th(12) |
|
12 |
| 13 |
Jim Richards |
|
|
Ret |
|
|
|
|
Ret |
6th(1) |
5th(2) |
3rd(8) |
11 |
| 14 |
Murray Carter |
4th(4) |
|
6th(1) |
8th |
8th |
6th(1) |
4th(4) |
Ret |
7th |
10th |
|
10 |
| Charlie O'Brien |
6th(1) |
5th(2) |
4th(4) |
5th(2) |
6th(1) |
|
|
Ret |
|
|
8th |
10 |
| Nick Louis |
|
|
|
|
|
9th(9) |
|
Ret |
(1) |
|
|
10 |
| Russell Worthington |
|
|
|
|
|
|
8th(6) |
|
|
(4) |
|
10 |
| Ray Farrar |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
18th |
(6) |
|
(4) |
10 |
| 19 |
Jim Duggan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7th(8) |
|
|
|
8 |
| Paul Gulson |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(8) |
|
|
8 |
| Lyndon Arnel |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ret |
|
(8) |
|
8 |
| 22 |
Dick Johnson |
|
|
Ret |
|
5th(2) |
|
Ret |
Ret |
|
4th(5) |
|
7 |
| Warren Cullen |
|
8th |
9th |
6th(1) |
|
|
|
6th(1) |
4th(5) |
|
|
7 |
| Arthur Hardwick |
|
|
(3) |
(4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 |
| 25 |
John Millyard |
|
(6) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
| Alan Cant |
|
|
(6) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
| Russell Skaife |
|
|
|
(6) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
| 28 |
John Goss |
|
|
|
4th(4) |
|
|
|
Ret |
8th |
6th(1) |
|
5 |
| Roger Cartwright |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(4) |
|
(1) |
5 |
| Peter Granger |
(3) |
|
(2) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 |
| 31 |
George Adams |
|
|
(4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4 |
| Ray Cutchie |
|
|
|
|
(4) |
|
|
Ret |
|
|
|
4 |
| Dean Hill |
|
|
|
|
|
(4) |
|
|
|
|
|
4 |
| Ralph Radburn |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10th(4) |
|
|
|
4 |
| 35 |
Jim Laing-Peach |
|
|
|
(3) |
|
|
|
Ret |
|
|
|
3 |
| David Clement |
|
|
|
|
(3) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
| 37 |
Ian Diffen |
5th(2) |
7th |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
| Ron Dickson |
|
9th |
|
|
9th |
7th |
5th(2) |
|
|
|
|
2 |
| Graeme Blanchard |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5th(2) |
|
|
|
2 |
| Ron Gillard |
|
|
|
(2) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
| Ben Penhall |
|
|
|
|
(2) |
|
|
Ret |
|
|
|
2 |
| Warwick Henderson |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2) |
|
|
|
2 |
| Peter Williamson |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ret |
(2) |
|
|
2 |
| Ross Burbidge |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2) |
|
2 |
| John Faulkner |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2) |
2 |
| 46 |
Garth Wigston |
7th |
6th(1) |
7th |
|
7th |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
| Neville Bridges |
|
|
|
|
|
|
6th(1) |
|
|
|
|
1 |
| Wayne Negus |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ret |
|
|
6th(1) |
1 |
| Gordon Rich |
|
|
(1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
| Chris Heyer |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
|
13th |
|
|
|
1 |
| Brian Potts |
9th |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
|
|
1 |
| Alf Grant |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
1 |
| Pos |
Driver |
Rd 1 |
Rd 2 |
Rd 3 |
Rd 4 |
Rd 5 |
Rd 6 |
Rd 7 |
Rd 8 |
Rd 9 |
Rd 10 |
Rd 11 |
Pts |
|
| Colour |
Result |
| Gold |
Winner |
| Silver |
2nd place |
| Bronze |
3rd place |
| Green |
Finished, in points |
| Blue |
Finished, no points |
| Not classified (NC) |
| Purple |
Did not finish (Ret) |
| Red |
Did not qualify (DNQ) |
| Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ) |
| Black |
Disqualified (DSQ) |
| White |
Did not start (DNS) |
| Withdrew (WD) |
| Race cancelled (C) |
| Blank |
Did not participate |
| Excluded (EX) |
|
Three litre class competitors
Australian Championship of Makes
The 1977 Australian Championship of Makes was awarded on the results of the final four rounds of the 1977 Australian Touring Car Championship.[5] It was the seventh circuit racing championship for manufacturers to be awarded by CAMS and the second to carry the Australian Championship of Makes name.
Classes
Car competed in four classes defined by engine capacity [5]
- Class A: Up to 1300cc [5]
- Class B: 1301 to 2000cc [5]
- Class C: 2001 to 3000cc [5]
- Class D: 3001 to 6000cc [5]
Points
Points were awarded for the six best placed cars in class in each of the four rounds on a 9-6-4-3-2-1 basis with only the highest scoring car of each make attracting points.[5]
Results
References
- ^ a b "1977: Falcons' clean-sweep". Australian Touring Car Championship 25 fabulous years. R&T Publishing. 1986. pp. 178–186. ISBN 0-9590378-2-9.
- ^ a b c d e Australian Competition Yearbook, 1978 edition
- ^ Bob Jennings, Moffat leads Falcons home, The Advertiser, Monday 24 October 1977
- ^ Touring Title to Moffat, The Courier Mail, Monday, 7 November 1977, page 19
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Conditions for Australian Titles, 1977 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, pages 86-91
- ^ a b "Championship of Makes" Final Pointscore, Racing Car News, January 1978, page 29