1961 Australian GT Championship

Layout of the Warwick Farm Raceway (1960-1973)

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

References

  1. ^ 1961 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, page 53
  2. ^ 2006 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, page 14-6
  3. ^ a b c Young Sydney Driver Wins Car Race Title, The Sydney Morning Herald, Monday, 31 July 1961
  4. ^ Coming Events In N.S.W, Racing Car News, July 1961, page 8
  5. ^ a b c d e f David McKay, Matich G.T. Champ, Modern Motor, October 1961, pages 26,27 & 98
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Official Programme, Warwick Farm Motor Racing Circuit, 30 July 1961
  7. ^ The report in Australian Motor Sport indicates that Malcolm finished the race but does not indicate the placing attained.
  8. ^ 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
  9. ^ 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
  10. ^ a b c d e f g Warwick Farm - 30 July, Racing Car News, September 1961, pages 1 to 3
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ Mike Kable, The GT Jaguar That Ran Away, Wheels, October 1961, pages 34 & 35
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ The Racing Car News Report lists Laroux's car as a Morris Minor. The Official Programme lists it as a Morris 1000.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ 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