1976 Australian Touring Car Championship

1976 Australian Touring Car Championship
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The 1976 Australian Touring Car Championship was a CAMS sanctioned Australian motor racing title for Group C Touring Cars.[1] It was the 17th running of the Australian Touring Car Championship.[2] The championship began at Symmons Plains Raceway on 29 February and ended at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit on 28 November in the longest season in the history of the series. 1976 saw a substantial change to the ATCC calendar which was expanded to eleven rounds, incorporating the end-of-season long distance Australian Championship of Makes races for the first time. These races included Sandown’s Hang Ten 400 and the Phillip Island 500K, although notably not the Bathurst 1000.[3]

After contesting only selected rounds of the 1975 championship, Allan Moffat won his second Australian Touring Car Championship in 1976. He won the Calder, Oran Park and Adelaide rounds, building up a mid-season points lead that his rivals could not bridge. At the Hang Ten 400 at Sandown in September, Moffat re-launched his team as the Moffat Ford Dealers team with a new Ford XB Falcon GT, built after Moffat’s original car and transporter were destroyed by fire on the way to the Adelaide round in June. Moffat borrowed the Ford Falcon of John Goss for the Adelaide and Lakeside rounds to stay in the series until the new car was built.

Barry Seton, driving a Ford Capri in the Up to 3000 cc class, was Moffat's main title threat for most of the year, winning his class four times, with a best finish of sixth outright at Sandown. Seton lost second place in the championship to Colin Bond when the Holden Torana driver won the final race of the season at Phillip Island. Bond had previously won at Sandown and Lakeside, but had mechanical failures that Moffat, even in his borrowed machinery, did not.

Drivers

The following drivers competed in the 1976 Australian Touring Car Championship.

Driver No Car
Australia Colin Bond 1 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34
Canada Allan Moffat 2
9		 Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop
Australia Jim Keogh 4 Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop
Australia Charlie O'Brien 4
8		 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34
Australia Peter Brock 5 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34
Australia Jack Brabham 7 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34
Australia Bob Morris 7 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34
37 Triumph Dolomite Sprint
Australia Allan Grice 12 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34
25 Mazda RX-3
Australia Bob Holden 13 Ford Escort Mk.I RS2000
Australia Graeme Blanchard 16 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34
Australia Murray Carter 18 Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop
New Zealand Peter Janson 20 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34
Australia Graham Parsons 25 Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34
Australia Barry Seton 25 Ford Capri
Australia Lyndon Arnel Ford Escort Mk.I RS2000
Australia Roger Bonhomme Honda Civic
Australia Craig Bradtke Mazda RX-3
Australia Jeremy Braithwaite Ford Escort Mk.I RS2000
Australia Frank Brewster Civic
Australia Phil Brock Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34
Australia Alan Cant Ford Capri
Australia Pat Crea Ford Escort Mk.I RS2000
Australia David Crowther Alfa Romeo GT1300 Junior
Australia Warren Cullen Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34
Australia Ron Dickson Triumph Dolomite Sprint
Australia Robin Dudfield Alfa Romeo GT1300 Junior
Australia John Duggan Mazda RX-3
Australia Bill Evans Datsun 1200
Australia Ray Farrar Ford Escort Mk.I 1300
Australia Bob Forbes Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34
Australia Frank Gardner Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34
Australia Christine Gibson Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV
Australia Peter Granger BMW 2002tii
Australia Paul Gulson Triumph Dolomite Sprint
Australia Graham Harrison Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV
Australia John Harvey Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34
Australia Warwick Henderson Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV
Australia Chris Heyer Volkswagen Golf GTi
Australia Bruce Hindhaugh Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34
Australia Don Holland Mazda RX-3
Australia Graeme Ibbotson Ford Capri
Australia Dick Johnson Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1
Australia Ray Kaleda Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34
Australia Kevin Kennedy Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 [4]
Australia Jim Laing-Peach Triumph Dolomite Sprint
Australia David Langman Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34
Australia Lakis Manticas Ford Capri
Australia Bernie McClure Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34
Australia Max McGinley Honda Civic
Australia John Millyard Ford Escort Mk.I 1300
Australia Wayne Mitchell Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34
Australia Ray Molloy Morris Clubman GT
Australia Graham Moore Ford Capri Mk.I RS3100
Australia Geoff Moran Ford Capri
Australia Jim Murcott Ford Escort Mk.I RS2000
Australia Wayne Negus Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34
Australia Lawrie Nelson Ford Capri
Australia Geoff Newton Ford Capri
Australia Tony Niovanni Holden Gemini [4]
Australia Bob Nissen Ford Capri
Australia Paul Older BMW 3.0Si
Australia Geoff Perry Ford Escort Mk.I 1300
Australia John Pollard Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34
Australia Frank Porter Alfa Romeo Alfetta GT
Australia Martin Power Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1
New Zealand Jim Richards Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop
Mazda RX-3
Australia David Seldon Triumph Dolomite Sprint
Australia Barry Sharp Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop
Australia Russell Skaife Ford Capri
Australia Jim Stewart Morris Clubman GT
Australia John Stoopman Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1
Australia Bronwyn Taylor Honda Civic
Australia Geoff Wade Ford Escort Mk.I 1300
Australia Terry Wade Triumph Dolomite Sprint
Australia Johnnie Walker Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34
Australia John Wharton Mazda RX-3
Australia Brian Wheeler Mazda RX-3
Australia Garth Wigston Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34
Australia Tony Wilkinson Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34
Australia Garry Willmington Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop
Australia Russell Worthington Mazda RX-3
Australia Barry Wraith Ford Escort Mk.I RS2000
  Up to 3000cc class competitors

Calendar

The 1976 Australian Touring Car Championship was contested over eleven rounds.[5]

Rd. Name Circuit Location / State Date Format Winner Team Report
1 Symmons Plains Launceston, Tasmania 29 February John Harvey B&D Autos
2 Calder Melbourne, Victoria 17 March Allan Moffat Moffat Ford Dealers
3 Oran Park Sydney, New South Wales 28 March Allan Moffat Moffat Ford Dealers
4 Sandown Melbourne, Victoria 11 April Colin Bond Marlboro Holden Dealer Team
5 Amaroo Park Sydney, New South Wales 18 April Charlie O'Brien
6 Datsun Trophy Adelaide International Raceway Adelaide, South Australia 6 June Two heats Allan Moffat Moffat Ford Dealers
7 Lakeside Brisbane, Queensland 27 June Colin Bond Marlboro Holden Dealer Team
8 Hang Ten 400 Sandown Melbourne, Victoria 12 September One race (400 km) Peter Brock Bill Patterson Holden report
9 Rothmans 250 Adelaide International Raceway Adelaide, South Australia 24 October One race (250 km) Allan Grice Craven Mild Racing
10 Rothmans 300 [6] Surfers Paradise International Raceway Surfers Paradise, Queensland 30 October One race (300 km) Peter Brock Bill Patterson Holden
11 Rover 500K Phillip Island Phillip Island, Victoria 28 November One race (500 km) Colin Bond Marlboro Holden Dealer Team report

Class system

Cars competed in two classes,[1] based on engine capacity:

Points system

Championship points were awarded to drivers on the following basis:

Pos.[1] 1st [1] 2nd [1] 3rd [1] 4th [1] 5th [1] 6th [1]
All Rounds
Outright		 4 3 2 1
Rounds 1-7
each class		 9 6 4 3 2 1
Round 8-11
each class		 12 8 6 4 2 1

Points were only awarded to a driver where the car had completed 75% of race distance and was running at the completion of the final lap.

Only the best two results from the four long distance races could be counted by each driver.[1]

Championship standings

Pos.[7] Driver [7] Car [7] Rd 1 Rd 2 Rd 3 Rd 4 Rd 5 Rd 6 Rd 7 Rd 8 Rd 9 Rd 10 Rd 11 Pts.[7]
1 Allan Moffat Ford XB Falcon GT 6th(1) 1st(13) 1st(13) Ret 2nd(9) 1st(13) 2nd(9) 2nd(11) 4th((5)) 2nd(11) 80
2 Colin Bond Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 2nd(9) 2nd(9) 4th(4) 1st(13) Ret 3rd(6) 1st(13) Ret 5th(2) Ret 1st(16) 72
3 Barry Seton Ford Capri V6 9th(9) (4) 8th(9) (4) 8th(9) 7th(9) 6th(12) 9th((6)) 7th(8) 64
4 Allan Grice Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34
Mazda RX-3		 13th 3rd(6) 2nd(9) 5th(2) 2nd(9) Ret 1st(16) 5th(12) 54
5 Peter Brock Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 4th(4) 2nd(9) 1st(16) 1st(16) Ret 45
6 Charlie O'Brien Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 11th 6th(1) 5th(2) 1st(13) 5th(2) 3rd(6) 4th((5)) 3rd(8) 5th((2)) 2nd(11) 43
7 Murray Carter ford XB Falcon GT 14th 3rd(6) 5th(2) 4th(4) 5th(2) 5th((2)) 2nd(11) 3rd(8) Ret 35
8 Don Holland Mazda RX-3 9th(6) (4) (3) (9) (2) 10th(4) (2) 31
9 Bob Morris Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34
Triumph Dolomite Sprint		 3rd(6) Ret Ret 7th(12) 6th(12) Ret 30
10 Lyndon Arnel Ford Escort RS2000 8th(9) Ret (9) (6) (4) 28
11 John Harvey Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 1st(13) 4th(4) 3rd(6) Ret 23
12 Lawrie Nelson Ford Capri V6 Ret 10th(6) (6) 8th(6) Ret 18
13 Paul Older BMW 3.0Si 10th(4) (3) (1) (3) 9th(6) 17
14 Peter Janson Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 5th(2) 10th 10th 3rd(8) 10
Alan Cant Ford Capri V6 (6) (4) 10
16 Graeme Blanchard Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 6th(1) 3rd(8) 9
Garth Wigston Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 4th(4) 7th Ret Ret 4th(5) 9
Russell Skaife Ford Capri V6 10th(6) (3) 9
Bob Holden Ford Escort RS2000 12th(3) Ret (2) (1) (2) (1) 9
20 Lakis Manticas Ford Capri V6 7th(8) 8
Paul Gulson Triumph Dolomite Sprint 8th(8) Ret 8
Frank Porter Alfa Romeo Alfetta GT 9th(8) 8
Graham Moore Ford Capri V6 9th(4) 9th(4) 8
24 Frank Gardner Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 3rd(6) 6
Barry Wheeler Mazda RX-3 8th(6) 6
Bob Nissen Ford Capri V6 10th(6) 6
27 Jack Brabham Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 4th(5) 5
28 Dick Johnson Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 4th(4) 4
Bob Forbes Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 6th(1) 4th(3) 4
Pat Crea Ford Escort RS2000 10th(4) 4
Geoff Newton Ford Capri V6 (4) 4
32 John Wharton Mazda RX-3 (3) 3
Bruce Hindhaugh Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 5th(2) 6th(1) 3
34 John Stoopman Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 6th(2) 2
Martin Power Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 6th(2) 2
Craig Bradtke Mazda RX-3 (2) 2
Barry Wraith Ford Escort RS2000 (2) 2
David Seldon Triumph Dolomite Sprint (2) 2
Peter Granger BMW 2002 (2) 2
Roger Bonhomme Honda Civic (2) 2
40 Ray Kaleda Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 9th 6th(1) 1
Phil Brock Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 6th(1) 1
Wayne Negus Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 10th(1) 1
Warren Cullen Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 Ret 6th(1) 1
Kevin Kennedy Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 10th(1) 1
John Pollard Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 7th(1) 1
Jeremy Braithwaite ford Escort RS2000 (1) 1
Russell Worthington Mazda RX-3 (1) 1
Ron Dickson Triumph Dolomite Sprint (1) 1
Graeme Ibbotson Ford Capri V6 (1) 1
John Duggan Mazda RX-3 (1) 1
Chris Heyer Volkswagen Golf (1) 1
Pos. Driver Car 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 Points finish
Blue Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (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)
  Up to 3000 cc class competitors

Points scored in the long distance races which were not retained for championship totals are shown in the above table within double brackets.

Australian Championship of Makes

The 1976 Australian Championship of Makes was contested over a four round series, staged concurrently with the final four rounds of the Australian Touring Car Championship.[5] It was the sixth championship for manufacturers to be awarded by CAMS, and the first to be contested under the Australian Championship of Makes name.[2] The title was won by General Motors-Holden's.[2]

Class system

Cars competed in four classes [1] based on engine capacity.

Points system

Championship points were awarded in each class on a 9, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1 basis, with the results of all four races counting towards the championship.[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 Australian Title Conditions, 1976 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, pages 81 to 85
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Australian Titles, docs.cams.com.au As archived at www.webcitation.org on 31 October 2013
  3. ↑ Howard, Graham; Wilson, Stewart (1986). "1976: Moffat bounces back". Australian Touring Car Championship 25 fabulous years. R&T Publishing. pp. 168–176. ISBN 0-9590378-2-9.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Stewart Wilson, 1976 Australian Touring Car Championship, Holden - The official racing history, 1988, pages 342 to 343
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Australian Touring Car Championship, Australian Competition Yearbook, 1977 Edition, pages 48 to 73
  6. ↑ Brock Torana races away in record 300, The Courier Mail, Monday, November 8, 1976, page 18
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Graham Howard, Stewart Wilson & David Greenhalgh, 1976 ATCC, The Official History of Australian Touring Car Championship – 50 Years, page 169