Johnnie Walker (racing driver)

Johnnie Walker is a former Australian racing driver. Born in Adelaide, he first raced Holden FE's in the 1960s. After competing in the Australian Formula 2 Championship he graduated to Formula 5000 where he drove an Elfin and a Matich A50 before switching to the Lola marque in late 1973.

Walker finished second in the 1973 and 1975 Australian Drivers' Championships before breaking through to win the title in 1979 in his Lola T332 Chevrolet. He also won the 1979 Australian Grand Prix at Wanneroo Park.

In 1975 he was highly competitive in the famous Tasman Series going into the final round at Sandown as equal series leader with Warwick Brown and Graeme Lawrence. However he crashed his Lola on the first lap demolishing 50 metres of the horse racetrack's running rails.

Walker drove several touring car races for the Holden Dealer Team in 1975-1976 including co-driving with Colin Bond in the 1975 Bathurst 1000 where they placed third in a Holden Torana SLR5000 L34.

Career results

Season Series Position Car Team
1967 Australian Drivers' Championship 18th Elfin Mono
1967 Australian 1½ Litre Championship 9th Elfin Mono
1968 Australian Drivers' Championship 9th Elfin Mono 2B Ford
1968 Australian 1½ Litre Championship 4th Elfin Mono 2B Ford
1970 Australian Formula 2 Championship 2nd Elfin Gilbert Motor Bodies
1971 Australian Drivers' Championship 13th Elfin 600B City State Racing Team
1971 Australian Formula 2 Championship 4th Elfin 600B Ford
1972 Tasman Series 12th Elfin MR5 Repco-Holden
1972 Australian Drivers' Championship 4th Matich A50 Repco-Holden
1973 Tasman Series 9th Matich A50 Repco-Holden
1973 Australian Drivers' Championship 2nd Lola T330 Repco-Holden John Walker Motor Racing
1973 US L&M Formula 5000 Series 21st Matich A50 Repco-Holden
1974 Tasman Series 4th Lola T330 Repco-Holden
1974 Australian Formula 2 Championship 7th Elfin 622
1975 Tasman Series 2nd Lola T332 Repco-Holden
1975 Australian Drivers' Championship 2nd Lola T332 Repco-Holden John Walker
1979 Rothmans International Series 11th Lola T332 Magnum Wheels
1979 Australian Drivers' Championship 1st Lola T332 Chevrolet Magnum Wheels
1981 Australian Sports Car Championship 4th Porsche Turbo

References