1961 Australian GT Championship
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/Warwick_Farm_Raceway.png/250px-Warwick_Farm_Raceway.png)
The 1961 Australian GT Championship was a CAMS sanctioned Australian motor racing title for Appendix K GT cars.[1] The title, which was the second Australian GT Championship,[2] was contested over a single 50 mile race held at the Warwick Farm circuit, in New South Wales, Australia on 30 July 1961.[3] The race was conducted by the Australian Automobile Racing Co.[4]
The championship was won by Frank Matich driving a Jaguar D-Type.
Results
Position[5] | Driver[5] | No.[6] | Car[5] | Entrant[6] | Laps[5] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Frank Matich | 36 | Jaguar D-Type | Team Leaton | 23 |
2 | David McKay | 14 | Lola 1100 | Scuderia Veloce | 23 |
3 | Brian Foley | 1 | Austin-Healey Sprite | B. Foley | 22 |
4 | Bob Jane | 33 | Maserati 300S | Autoland Pty. Ltd. | 22 |
5 | Greg Cusack | 20 | Porsche Super 90 | G. Cusack | |
6 | Brian Lawler | 28 | Buckle | B. Lawler | |
? [7] | Keith Malcolm[8] | 30 | Skoden[9] | Bass Hill Service Station | |
? | John Callaway[10] | 18 | MGA Twin Cam[9] | Monaro Motors | |
? | Les Howard[9] | 3 | Austin-Healey Sprite[9] | Howard & Sons | |
? | Harry Firth[9] | 37 | Jaguar 3.8[9] | Autoland Pty. Ltd. | |
? | Bob Holden[8] | 2 | Austin-Healey Sprite[8] | Killara Motor Garage | |
? | Harry Cape[8] | 17 | MGA Twin Cam[8] | H. Cape | |
? | H. Fenton[8] | 22 | Peugeot 203[8] | H. G. Fenton | |
? | Martin Faithfull[8] | 15 | Simca[8] | Killara Motor Garage | |
DNF[9] | Ralph Sach | 16 | MGA Twin Cam | R. Orlando | |
DNF[9] | Graham White[9] | 23 | Porsche[9] | Continental Motors | 12[9] |
DNF[9] | Bruce McPhee[8] | 31 | Holden FE[11] | Wyong Motors | 5[9] |
DNF | Ron Hodgson | 10 | Lotus Eleven Coventry Climax[12] | Stathfield Motors Pty. Ltd. | 3[10] |
DNF | Leo Geoghegan | 11 | Lotus Elite | Geoghegan Motors | 2 |
DNF | Bryan Thomson | 26 | Monza Holden | Ecurie Shepparton | 0 |
DNS[13] | Harry Howard[8] | 19 | Simca Aronde[6] | Howard & Sons | - |
DNS[14] | Peter Manton[10] | 4 | Morris 850[6] | Monaro Motors | - |
DNS[15] | Max Laroux[10] | 7 | Morris Minor 1000[16] | W. Mitchell | - |
DNS[17] | Peter Williamson[10] | 32 | Buckle[6] | P. Williamson | - |
DNS[18] | Ken Lindsay[10] | 29 | Holden[6] | Ken Lindsay Motors | - |
DNS[19] | Bill Mitchell[8] | 25 | Lotus Holden[6] | W. Mitchell | - |
Notes
- Attendance: 25,000[10][20]
- Number of entries in Official Programme: 33[6]
- Number of starters: 20[8]
- Pole position: Frank Matich (Jaguar D-Type)[5]
- Fastest lap: Frank Matich (Jaguar D-Type), 1:53.5 (71.80 mph)[3]
- Winner's race time: 44:40.8 (69.47 mph)[3]
- Winning margin: 2:07.8[5]
References
- ^ 1961 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, page 53
- ^ 2006 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, page 14-6
- ^ a b c Young Sydney Driver Wins Car Race Title, The Sydney Morning Herald, Monday, 31 July 1961
- ^ Coming Events In N.S.W, Racing Car News, July 1961, page 8
- ^ a b c d e f David McKay, Matich G.T. Champ, Modern Motor, October 1961, pages 26,27 & 98
- ^ a b c d e f g h Official Programme, Warwick Farm Motor Racing Circuit, 30 July 1961
- ^ The report in Australian Motor Sport indicates that Malcolm finished the race but does not indicate the placing attained.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Mike Kable, Matich runs away with GT title, Sports Car World, October 1961, pages 46 to 48
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Australian G.T. Championships at Warwick Farm, Australian Motor Sports, September 1961, pages 368 - 370
- ^ a b c d e f g Warwick Farm - 30 July, Racing Car News, September 1961, pages 1 to 3
- ^ McPhee's car is referred to in the Sports Car World report as a Holden FC but the image published with the Racing Car News report shows it to be a Holden FE. It appears in the Official Programme simply as a Holden.
- ^ Mike Kable, The GT Jaguar That Ran Away, Wheels, October 1961, pages 34 & 35
- ^ The Racing Car News report notes that Harry Howard contested the first preliminary heat. He is not included in the grid list published with that report.
- ^ The Racing Car News report notes that Peter Manton contested the first preliminary heat but did not finish. He is not included in the grid list published with that report.
- ^ The Racing Car News report notes that Max Laroux contested the first preliminary heat but did not finish. He is not included in the grid list published with that report.
- ^ The Racing Car News Report lists Laroux's car as a Morris Minor. The Official Programme lists it as a Morris 1000.
- ^ The Racing Car News report notes that Peter Williamson contested the second preliminary heat. He is not included in the grid list published with that report.
- ^ The Racing Car News report notes that Ken Lindsay contested the second preliminary heat but did not finish. He is not included in the grid list published with that report.
- ^ The Sports Car World report notes that Bill Mitchell crashed in practice. He is not included in the grid list published with the Racing Car News report.
- ^ Matich [D Jaguar] Wins G.T. Title, Australian Motor Manual, 2 October 1961, page 39
Further reading
- Jim Shepherd, A History of Australian Motor Sport, 1980, pages 184-185
External links
- Greg Cusack's Porsche Super 90 leads Brian Foley's Austin-Healey Sprite during the 1961 Australian GT Championship, www.foleyalfa.com.au, as archived at web.archive.org