1986 Australian Touring Car Championship

Motor racing competition

1986 Australian Touring Car Championship

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The 1986 Australian Touring Car Championship was an Australian motor racing competition for Touring Cars. It began on 2 March 1986 at Amaroo Park and ended on 13 July at Oran Park Raceway after ten rounds. The championship was authorised by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) as an Australian National Title. It was the 27th Australian Touring Car Championship and the second to be contested by cars conforming with CAMS regulations based on the FIA's international Group A Touring Car regulations.

The championship was won by Robbie Francevic driving a Volvo 240.

## Season summary

[edit]

The championship was won by Auckland (New Zealand) resident Robbie Francevic driving a Volvo Dealer Team Volvo 240T, the first time the championship had been won by a non-Australian resident and the first ATCC won by a turbocharged car. Francevic, who won Rounds 1, 2 and 4, defeated George Fury driving a Nissan Skyline DR30 RS who won Rounds 3, 5, 7, 8 and 10 of the series. Francevic's wins in the opening two rounds at Amaroo Park and Symmons Plains were when the Volvo team was still run by MPM, Mark Petch Motorsport. Following Francevic's Amaroo win, Petch and Bob Atkins, head of the Australian Volvo Dealer Council, announced the formation of the AVDT, Australian Volvo Dealer Team, and hired former HDT team manager John Sheppard to run the team on a day-to-day basis from Sheppard's Calder workshop.

Contrary to what has been written in the past, Petch stayed involved as "Team Principal" until 10 July 1986, when he then resigned over a disagreement with how Sheppard was managing the Team. The AVDT purchased the original MPM 240T GpA car, and spares, which included a bare 240 body shell that later became the basis for a new Australian-built car, with new parts and technical assistance sourced from VMS. Francevic's 1985 endurance co-driver and dual Australian Drivers' Champion John Bowe joining the team full-time for his first ATCC campaign, in the team's new second car, a RHD car ex RAS in Belgium, which arrived just in time for the 4th round of the ATCC at Adelaide International Raceway, where Bowe qualified on pole, and led the race before engine issues forced his retirement. Bowe repeated his first Championship Pole position performance at the 5th round of the Champion at Barbagallo Raceway, only to have to retire again from a substantial lead with more engine issues. Peter Brock won round 6 at Surfers Paradise in his new for 1986 Holden VK Commodore SS Group A (his last ATCC win until 1989 and the last race win by a Holden Commodore until his win in Round 1, Heat 1 of the 1992 ATCC) while defending champion Jim Richards could only manage one win in his JPS Team BMW 635 CSi, winning Round 9 at Winton. Richards had finished the race in second place behind Nissan team driver Gary Scott, but the Nissan was later disqualified for having oversize brakes. Although the paperwork for the Nissan's new brakes had been put through, they had not yet been homologated which led to Scott's DQ.

Series regular Allan Grice missed the 1986 ATCC (he had also missed the inaugural Group A 1985 championship) as he was racing a Les Small prepared Holden Commodore in the 1986 FIA Touring Car Championship (ETCC). Peter Brock also missed some early rounds of the ATCC due to his racing an HDT Commodore in Europe in company with Allan Moffat.

With the ATCC consisting of 10 rounds, many of the top level teams including the Holden Dealer Team, Dick Johnson Racing, JPS Team BMW and the Peter Jackson Nissan team all made loud noises during the year about the lack of prize money on offer for their efforts as the top drawing motorsport category in the country, especially as Group A racing had proven far more expensive than the old Group C regulations (Peter Brock estimated that his Bathurst winning Group C Commodore of 1984 had cost around AU$36,000 to build while his 1986 Group A Commodore had cost around $200,000, a cost increase of around 550%), with teams and drivers often racing for as little as $1,500 for a round win. Part of the problem for the teams was that due to Australia's size and the vast distance between the major cities where the race tracks were located, the prize money on offer usually did not even cover their transportation costs, let alone the cost of building, maintaining and racing the cars. Pressure was being put on the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) to come up with a series sponsor for future championships or they would risk smaller and smaller grids. CAMS rectified this from 1987 by signing a multi-year sponsorship deal with Shell who would provide some $275,000 in prize money.

## Entrants and drivers

[edit]

Lawrie Nelson's Ford Mustang

The following entrants and drivers competed in the championship.

Entrant  | Car model  | No  | Driver

|
|
|

JPS Team BMW | BMW 635CSi | 1  |  Jim Richards
BMW 325i | 23  |  Garry Rogers
25  |  Tony Longhurst
Chickadee Racing  | Holden VK Commodore SS Group A | 2  |  Graeme Bailey
Graeme Crosby  | Holden VK Commodore SS Group A  | 2

20  |  Graeme Crosby
Mobil Holden Dealer Team | Holden VK Commodore SS Group A  | 3  |  John Harvey
05  |  Peter Brock
Neal Lowe
Peter McLeod  | Holden VK Commodore SS Group A  | 4  |  Peter McLeod
Volvo Dealer Team | Volvo 240T | 4
44  |  John Bowe
10  |  Robbie Francevic
Charlie O'Brien  | BMW 635CSi  | 7  |  Charlie O'Brien
22  |  Gregg Hansford
Terry Finnigan  | Holden VK Commodore SS Group A  | 8  |  Terry Finnigan
Kevin Bartlett  | Mitsubishi Starion | 9  |  Kevin Bartlett
Mark Petch Motorsport | Volvo 240T | 10  |  Robbie Francevic
Toyota Team Australia | Toyota Corolla GT AE86 | 11  |  Drew Price
Toyota Corolla FX-GT AE82 | 16  |  John Smith
Garry Willmington Performance  | Jaguar XJS | 12  |  Garry Willmington
Simon Emmerling  | BMW 635CSi  | 12  |  Simon Emmerling
Bob Holden Motors | Toyota Sprinter | 13  |  Bob Holden
Peter Jackson Nissan Racing | Nissan Skyline DR30 RS | 15  |  Glenn Seton
Gary Scott
30  |  George Fury
Palmer Tube Mills  | Ford Mustang  | 17  |  Dick Johnson
Ken Mathews Prestige Cars  | Holden VK Commodore SS Group A  | 19  |  Ken Mathews
Jim Keogh Automotive  | BMW 635CSi  | 20  |  Jim Keogh
Lusty Engineering  | Holden VK Commodore SS Group A  | 23  |  Graham Lusty
Jagparts Racing  | Holden VK Commodore SS Group A  | 24  |  Gerald Kay
Alf Grant Racing  | Holden VK Commodore SS Group A  | 27  |  Alf Grant
Mike Freeman  | Toyota Celica RA40 | 27  |  Mike Freeman
Capri Components  | Ford Mustang  | 28  |  Lawrie Nelson
Yellow Pages  | Holden VK Commodore SS Group A  | 28  |  Tony Kavich
Ken Davison  | Ford Mustang  | 29  |  Wally Kramer
Mike Burgmann  | Holden VK Commodore SS Group A  | 33  |  Mike Burgmann
Garry Rogers Motorsport | BMW 635CSi  | 34  |  Garry Rogers
Lester Smerdon  | Holden VK Commodore SS Group A  | 35  |  Geoff Russell
Lester Smerdon
Murray Carter  | Nissan Skyline DR30 RS  | 36  |  Murray Carter
Bill O'Brien
Grellis Marketing  | Holden VK Commodore SS Group A  | 38  |  Ray Ellis
Motor Sport Pacific[1] | Ford Sierra XR4Ti | 40  |  David Oxton
Ford Escort RS1600i | 55  |  Andrew Bagnall
Brian Callaghan  | Holden VK Commodore SS Group A  | 47  |  Brian Callaghan
John Donnelly  | Rover Vitesse | 50  |  John Donnelly
BJ Motorsport | Mitsubishi Starion  | 53  |  Brad Jones
David Ratcliff  | Toyota Corolla  | 58  |  David Ratcliff
John Giddings  | Nissan Gazelle | 60  |  John Giddings
John White  | Isuzu Gemini ZZ | 65  |  John White
Graeme Hooley  | Holden VK Commodore SS Group A  | 71  |  Graeme Hooley
John Major  | Mazda RX-7 | 74  |  Tim Howton
Network Alfa | Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV6 | 75  |  Colin Bond
Peter Williamson Toyota  | Toyota Celica Supra | 77  |  Peter Williamson
Melbourne Brake & Clutch  | Mitsubishi Starion  | 78  |  Brian Sampson
Daryl Hendrick  | Isuzu Gemini ZZ | 86  |  Daryl Hendrick
Brian Bolwell  | BMW 323i | 87  |  Brian Bolwell
Auto Art  | Ford Mustang | 91  |  Kevin Clark
Alf Barbagallo  | Rover Vitesse  | 96  |  Tim Slako

## Results and standings

[edit]

### Race calendar

[edit]

The championship was contested over ten rounds with one race per round.[2]

Rd.  | Race title  | Circuit  | City / state  | Date  | Winner  | Team  | Report

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | Better Brakes 100 | Amaroo Park | Sydney, New South Wales | 1 - 2 Mar  | Robbie Francevic | Mark Petch Motorsport |
2  | A.N.L. Cup | Symmons Plains Raceway | Launceston, Tasmania | 8 - 9 Mar  | Robbie Francevic  | Mark Petch Motorsport  | [3]
3  | Castrol Challenge | Sandown International Raceway | Melbourne, Victoria | 12 - 13 Apr  | George Fury | Peter Jackson Nissan Racing | [4]
4  | Motorcraft 100 | Adelaide International Raceway | Adelaide, South Australia | 26 - 27 Apr  | Robbie Francevic  | Volvo Dealer Team |
5  | Motorcraft 100 | Wanneroo Park | Perth, Western Australia | 5–6 May  | George Fury  | Peter Jackson Nissan Racing  | [5]
6  | XXXX 100 | Surfers Paradise Raceway | Surfers Paradise, Queensland | 17–18 May  | Peter Brock | Mobil Holden Dealer Team | [6]
7  | Coca-Cola Cup | Calder Park Raceway | Melbourne, Victoria | 31 May - 1 Jun  | George Fury  | Peter Jackson Nissan Racing  | [7]
8  | Motorcraft 100 | Lakeside International Raceway | Brisbane, Queensland | 14 - 15 Jun  | George Fury  | Peter Jackson Nissan Racing  | [8]
9  | Lusty-Allison Winton Roundup | Winton Motor Raceway | Benalla, Victoria | 28 - 29 Jun  | Jim Richards | JPS Team BMW | [9]
10  | Castrol Grand Final | Oran Park Raceway | Sydney, New South Wales | 12 - 13 Jul  | George Fury  | Peter Jackson Nissan Racing  |

### Drivers championship

[edit]

Points were awarded 25-23-20-17-15-13-11-10-9-8-7-6-4-3-2-1 based on the top 17 outright race positions. The two smaller engine capacity classes received bonus points. Class B, under 3.0 litres received 3 points additional to points scored from race position. Class C, under 2.0 litres received 4 points.

Class A consisted of BMW 635 CSi, Ford Mustang GT, Ford Sierra XR4Ti, Holden VK Commodore SS Group A, Jaguar XJS, Rover Vitesse.

Class B consisted of Alfa Romeo GTV6, BMW 323i, BMW 325i, Mazda RX-7, Mitsubishi Starion Turbo, Nissan Skyline DR30 RS, Toyota Supra and Volvo 240T.

Class C consisted of Isuzu Gemini ZZ, Nissan Gazelle, Toyota Celica and Toyota Corolla.

| Pos  | Driver  | Ama  | Sym  | San  | Ade  | Wan  | Sur  | Cal  | Lak  | Win  | Ora  | Pts

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | Robbie Francevic | 1st  | 1st  | 2nd  | 1st  | 3rd  | 2nd  | Ret  | 4th  | 3rd  | 6th  | 217
2  | George Fury | Ret  | 2nd  | 1st  | Ret  | 1st  | 4th  | 1st  | 1st  | 2nd  | 1st  | 212
3  | Jim Richards | 2nd  | 6th  | Ret  | 10th  | 4th  | 3rd  | 7th  | 5th  | 1st  | 5th  | 147
4  | Peter Brock | 5th  | Ret  |  | DSQ  | 12th  | 1st  | 5th  | 3rd  | 6th  | 2nd  | 117
5  | Tony Longhurst | 3rd  | 7th  | 8th  | 7th  | 7th  | 6th  | 12th  | Ret  | Ret  | 8th  | 115
6  | Dick Johnson | 4th  | 5th  | Ret  | 6th  | 5th  | 10th  | 8th  | 7th  | 8th  | 7th  | 110
7  | Graeme Crosby | Ret  | 4th  | 12th  | 2nd  | 6th  | Ret  | 4th  | 9th  | 7th  | 12th  | 102
8  | John Bowe |  |  |  | 4th  | Ret  | 9th  | 3rd  | DNS  | 4th  | 3rd  | 98
9  | Colin Bond | Ret  |  | 4th  | 13th  | 8th  |  | 10th  |  | 5th  | Ret  | 69
10  | Glenn Seton |  |  | 14th  | Ret  | 2nd  | 13th  | 2nd  |  |  |  | 67
11  | John Harvey | Ret  | 3rd  | 6th  | 5th  | Ret  |  | 6th  |  |  |  | 61
12  | Charlie O'Brien | 6th  | Ret  |  | 3rd  |  | 5th  |  | 10th  |  |  | 56
13  | Graeme Bailey | Ret  |  |  |  |  | 7th  | 9th  | 6th  |  | 4th  | 50
14  | Garry Rogers | Ret  | 8th  | Ret  | 9th  |  |  | 11th  | 8th  | DNS  | DNS  | 39
15  | John Smith  |  | 9th  |  | 15th  |  |  | 15th  |  |  | 14th  | 35
16  | Murray Carter |  |  | 7th  |  |  |  | 14th  |  | 9th  |  | 33
17  | David Oxton |  |  |  |  |  | 11th  | 13th  | 11th  | Ret  | DNS  | 28
18  | Gary Scott  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2nd  | DSQ  |  | 26
19  | Peter McLeod |  |  | 5th  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 9th  | 25
19  | Bob Holden | 11th  |  |  | 16th  |  |  | 19th  |  |  | 17th  | 25
21  | Graeme Hooley  | 10th  |  |  | 18th  | 10th  |  |  |  |  | 11th  | 23
22  | Alf Grant  | 8th  |  |  |  |  | 12th  |  | 13th  |  |  | 21
23  | Neal Lowe  |  |  | 3rd  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 20
24  | Gerald Kay  | 12th  |  | 13th  |  |  |  | Ret  |  | 8th  |  | 19
24  | Graham Lusty  |  |  | 10th  | 14th  |  | Ret  |  |  | 11th  |  | 19
26  | Brad Jones |  |  |  | 8th  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 13
27  | Mike Burgmann | 7th  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 11
27  | Drew Price  |  |  |  | 17th  |  |  | 16th  |  |  |  | 11
27  | David Ratcliff  |  |  |  | 19th  |  |  | 17th  |  |  | 19th  | 11
30  | Gregg Hansford |  |  |  |  |  | 8th  |  |  |  |  | 10
30  | Brian Sampson |  |  |  | 10th  |  |  | Ret  |  | Ret  |  | 10
30  | Lawrie Nelson |  |  | 11th  |  |  |  | Ret  |  | 15th  |  | 10
33  | Brian Callaghan  | 9th  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 9
33  | Jim Keogh  |  |  | 9th  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 9
33  | Tim Slako  |  |  |  |  | 9th  |  |  |  |  |  | 9
33  | Peter Williamson  | DNS  |  | Ret  | 12th  |  | Ret  |  |  |  | DNS  | 9
37  | Tony Kavich  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10th  | 8
37  | Tim Howton  |  |  |  |  | 13th  |  |  |  |  |  | 8
37  | Brian Bolwell  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 13th  |  | 8
37  | Bill O'Brien |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 13th  | 8
37  | Andrew Bagnall |  |  |  |  |  | 14th  |  |  |  |  | 8
37  | Mike Freeman  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 14th  |  | 8
43  | Simon Emmerling  |  |  |  |  | 11th  |  |  |  |  |  | 7
44  | Lester Smerdon  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12th  |  |  | 6
44  | Ray Ellis  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12th  |  | 6
44  | John Giddings  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16th  | 6
44  | John White  |  |  |  | 20th  |  |  | 18th  |  |  |  | 6
48  | Ken Mathews  | 13th  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 18th  | 5
49  | Kevin Clark  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 14th  |  |  | 4
50  | Garry Willmington  | Ret  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 15th  |  | Ret  | 3
50  | Wally Kramer  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 15th  | 3
52  | Darryl Hendrick  |  |  |  | 21st  |  |  | 20th  |  |  |  | 2
Pos  | Driver  | Ama  | Sym  | San  | Ade  | Wan  | Sur  | Cal  | Lak  | Win  | Ora  | Pts
| Colour | Result

|

Gold | Winner
Silver | Second place
Bronze | Third place
Green | Points finish
Blue | Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple | Retired (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 practice (DNP)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Excluded (EX)

## See also

[edit]

1986 Australian Touring Car season

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Program, Australian Touring Car Championship - Round 9, Saturday and Sunday June 28 and 29 1986
2. ^ Australian Motor Racing Year 1986/87, pages 312 & 313
3. ^ 1986 ATCC Symmons Plains Round 2
4. ^ 1986 Sandown ATCC R3
5. ^ 1986 ATCC Barbagello Round 5
6. ^ 1986 ATCC Surfers Paradise R 6
7. ^ 1986 ATCC Calder Park Round 7
8. ^ 1986 ATCC Lakeside Round 8
9. ^ 1986 ATCC R9 Winton

## External links

[edit]

* Official V8 Supercar site Contains historical ATCC information.

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