1979 Australian Touring Car Championship
The 1979 Australian Touring Car Championship was a CAMS sanctioned Australian motor racing title open to Group C Touring Cars.[1] It began at Symmons Plains and ended at Adelaide International Raceway after eight rounds.[2] The title, which was the 20th Australian Touring Car Championship,[3] was won by Bob Morris driving a Holden Torana.[2]
Calendar
![](../I/m/Toranamorris.jpg)
The
Holden Torana of 1979 Australian Touring Car Champion Bob Morris
The 1979 Australian Touring Car Championship was contested over an eight round series.[4]
Rd.[2] |
Race Title |
Circuit [2] |
City / State |
Date [2] |
Winning driver [2] |
Car |
Team |
1 |
|
Symmons Plains |
Launceston, Tasmania |
4 March |
John Harvey |
Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X |
Marlboro Holden Dealer Team |
2 |
|
Calder Raceway |
Melbourne, Victoria |
18 March |
Peter Brock |
Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X |
Marlboro Holden Dealer Team |
3 |
|
Oran Park |
Sydney, New South Wales |
25 March |
Bob Morris |
Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X |
Ron Hodgson Channel 7 Racing |
4 |
|
Sandown Park |
Melbourne, Victoria |
7 April |
Bob Morris |
Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X |
Ron Hodgson Channel 7 Racing |
5 |
|
Wanneroo Park |
Perth, Western Australia |
6 May |
Peter Brock |
Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X |
Marlboro Holden Dealer Team |
6 |
|
Surfers Paradise |
Surfers Paradise, Queensland |
20 May |
Peter Brock |
Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X |
Marlboro Holden Dealer Team |
7 |
|
Lakeside |
Brisbane, Queensland |
22 June |
Bob Morris |
Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X |
Ron Hodgson Channel 7 Racing |
8 |
The Breville Trophy [5] |
Adelaide International Raceway |
Adelaide, South Australia |
28 July |
Bob Morris |
Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X |
Ron Hodgson Channel 7 Racing |
- Round 3 of the championship at Oran Park featured two separate races, the first for Under 3 litre cars and the second for Over 3 litre cars.[6]
Teams and drivers
The following teams and drivers competed in the 1979 Australian Touring Car Championship.
Team |
Car |
No |
Driver |
King George Tavern |
Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X |
2 |
Fred Gibson |
Marlboro Holden Dealer Team |
Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X |
05 |
Peter Brock |
76 |
John Harvey |
|
Wayne Negus |
Craven Mild Racing |
Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X |
6 |
Allan Grice |
Ron Hodgson Channel 7 Racing |
Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X |
7 |
Bob Morris |
Citizen Watches |
Holden LX Torana SL/R 5000 A9X [7] |
11 |
Gary Cooke |
Pioneer Car Stereo |
Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop |
12 |
Ron Dickson |
|
Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 [6] |
13 |
Colin Hall |
Peter Janson |
Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X |
15 |
Peter Janson |
Bryan Byrt Ford |
Ford XC Falcon Cobra [8] |
17 |
Dick Johnson |
Brian Wood Ford Pty Ltd |
Ford XC Falcon |
18 |
Murray Carter |
Ford XC Falcon Ford Escort RS2000 |
66 |
Rod Stevens |
Gown-Hindaugh Roadways Racing |
Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X |
20 |
Garth Wigston |
Holden LX Torana SL/R 5000 A9X [9] |
21 |
Charlie O'Brien |
|
Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X |
22 |
Tim Slako |
|
Holden LX Torana SL/R 5000 A9X |
24 |
Allan Browne |
Allan Moffat Racing |
Ford XC Falcon Cobra [10] |
25 |
Allan Moffat |
|
Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X |
27 |
Marshall Brewer |
|
Ford XC Falcon Cobra [11] |
27 |
Ron Wanless |
|
Ford XC Falcon |
29 |
Garry Willmington |
|
Ford XC Falcon |
30 |
Bill O'Brien |
Greater Pacific Finance |
Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X |
33 |
Garry Rogers |
|
Ford Escort |
36 |
Bill Evans |
|
Mazda RX-3 |
39 |
Terry Shiel |
|
Mazda RX-3 |
40 |
Ross Burbidge |
|
Ford Capri V6 |
43 |
Geoff Leeds |
|
Mazda RX-3 |
47 |
Barry Jones |
|
Ford Capri Mk I [12] |
50 |
Lawrie Nelson |
|
Ford Capri V6 |
52 |
Steve Masterton |
|
Ford Capri Mk I [13] |
53 |
Ray Cutchie |
|
Ford Escort RS2000 Mk 1 [13] |
54 |
Roger Cartwright |
|
Triumph Dolomite Sprint |
56 |
Martin Power |
|
Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV |
62 |
Peter Kuebler |
|
Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV |
64 |
Ray Gulson |
Peter Williamson P/L |
Toyota Celica |
66 |
Peter Williamson |
|
Ford Escort RS2000 |
|
David Bail |
|
Ford Escort RS2000 |
|
David Cannon |
|
Mazda RX-3 |
|
Ian Chilman |
|
Ford Capri Mk I [14] |
|
Ray Farrar |
|
Toyota Celica |
|
Brian Hall |
|
Mazda RX-3 |
|
Larry Kogge |
|
Holden LX Torana SS 5000 A9X |
|
Allan Taylor |
|
Ford Capri V6 |
|
Craig Volkers |
Classes
For championship points allocation purposes, cars competed in two displacement classes:[1]
- Up to and including 3000 cc [1]
- 3001 to 6000 cc [1]
Points system
Championship points were awarded on a 9,6,4,3,2,1 basis to the first six placegetters in each class and on a 4,3,2,1 basis to the first four placegtters irrespetive of class [1] (at each round). Only the best seven results counted towards the total [6] (for each driver).
Championship results
Pos.[6] |
Driver [6] |
Rd 1 |
Rd 2 |
Rd 3 |
Rd 4 |
Rd 5 |
Rd 6 |
Rd 7 |
Rd 8 |
Pts.[6] |
1 |
Bob Morris |
4th(4) |
2nd(9) |
|
1st(13) |
1st(13) |
4th(4) |
4th((4)) |
1st(13) |
1st(13) |
69 (73) |
2 |
Peter Brock |
5th(2) |
1st(13) |
|
3rd(6) |
3rd(6) |
1st(13) |
1st(13) |
5th((2)) |
2nd(9) |
62 (64) |
3 |
John Harvey |
1st{13) |
3rd(6) |
|
4th(4) |
6th((1)) |
2nd(9) |
3rd(6) |
2nd(9) |
3rd(6) |
53 (54) |
4 |
Peter Williamson* |
8th(6) |
|
DNS |
|
(9) |
6th(9) |
|
8th(9) |
|
33 |
5 |
Charlie O'Brien |
|
|
|
5th(2) |
2nd(9) |
|
2nd(9) |
3rd(6) |
|
26 |
5 |
Roger Cartwright* |
9th(4) |
(1) |
5th(2) |
|
(4) |
|
|
(6) |
(9) |
26 |
7 |
Allan Grice |
3rd(6) |
Ret |
|
2nd(9) |
Ret |
3rd(6) |
DNS |
|
|
21 |
8 |
Garth Wigston |
2nd(9) |
6th(1) |
|
|
4th(4) |
|
|
|
4th(4) |
18 |
8 |
Lawrie Nelson* |
7th(9) |
Ret |
1st{9) |
|
DSQ |
|
|
|
|
18 |
10 |
Brian Hall* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(9) |
(3) |
|
12 |
10 |
Steve Masterton* |
|
(6) |
2nd(6) |
|
DNS |
|
DSQ |
|
|
12 |
12 |
John Faulkner* |
|
(4) |
|
|
(6) |
|
|
|
|
10 |
12 |
Craig Volkers* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(6) |
(4) |
|
10 |
14 |
Bill Evans* |
|
(9) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 |
15 |
Ray Cutchie* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(6) |
6 |
16 |
Peter Janson |
|
4th(4) |
|
|
|
|
6th(1) |
|
|
5 |
17 |
Bill O'Brien |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4th(4) |
|
4 |
17 |
Geoff Leeds |
|
|
3rd(4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
4 |
17 |
David Bail |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4 |
4 |
17 |
Ross Burbidge* |
|
4th(3) |
6th(1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
21 |
Gary Cooke |
|
|
|
6th(1) |
|
|
|
|
(2) |
3 |
21 |
Ray Gulson* |
10th(3) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
21 |
Barry Jones* |
|
|
4th(3) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
21 |
Larry Kogge* |
|
|
|
|
(3) |
|
|
|
|
3 |
21 |
Peter Kuebler* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(3) |
3 |
21 |
Martin Power* |
(2) |
|
|
|
(1) |
|
|
|
|
3 |
27 |
Garry Rogers |
|
5th(2) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
27 |
Allan Moffat |
|
Ret |
|
Ret |
5th(2) |
|
|
|
|
2 |
27 |
Tim Slako |
|
|
|
|
|
5th(2) |
|
|
|
2 |
27 |
Dick Johnson |
|
|
|
|
|
|
5th(2) |
7th |
|
2 |
27 |
Ray Farrar* |
|
(2) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
27 |
Ian Chilman* |
|
|
|
|
(2) |
|
|
|
|
2 |
33 |
Rod Stevens |
(1) |
|
Ret |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
33 |
Colin Hall |
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
|
|
1 |
33 |
Garry Willmington |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6th(1) |
|
1 |
33 |
Murray Carter |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6th(1) |
1 |
33 |
David Cannon* |
(1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
Pos |
Driver |
Rd 1 |
Rd 2 |
Rd 3 |
Rd 4 |
Rd 5 |
Rd 6 |
Rd 7 |
Rd 8 |
Total |
|
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) |
|
- Drivers marked with a * competed in the under 3000 cc class.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Conditions for Australian Titles, 1979 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, pages 96 to 97
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Australian Touring Car Championship, Australian Motor Racing Yearbook 1979/80, pages 68 to 87
- ↑ Records, Titles & Awards, 2002 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, page 14-7
- ↑ 2005 V8 Supercars TV Guide, page 73
- ↑ The Breville Trophy, Official Souvenir Programme, Adelaide International Raceway, 29 July 1979 , pages 44 to 45
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Graham Howard, Stewart Wilson, David Greenhalgh, Privateer pips them, The official history - Australian Touring Car Championship - 50 Years, pages 190 to 199
- ↑ Australian Motor Racing Yearbook 1979/80, page 74
- ↑ Australian Motor Racing Yearbook 1979/80, page 81
- ↑ Australian Motor Racing Yearbook 1979/80, page 80
- ↑ Australian Motor Racing Yearbook 1979/80, page 68
- ↑ Australian Motor Racing Yearbook 1979/80, page 83
- ↑ Australian Motor Racing Yearbook 1979/80, page 75
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Australian Motor Racing Yearbook 1979/80, page 85
- ↑ Australian Motor Racing Yearbook 1979/80, page 73