Pole position: Geoghegan in 0.45,8
Fastest lap: Moffat in 0.46,3
Distance: 40 laps
Average speed: 151,923 kmh
Weather:
Ruleset: Australian Group C and Group E
Car info:
The exact position in the touring car title was a little uncertain when the final round was due to be run. It was rumoured, though not confirmed, that Moffat had appealed, or was about to appeal, against his disqualification from the Warwick Farm round. If he did appeal, and was successful in having himself reinstated, he still had to win this final round and have Bob Jane not finish at all, to win the title. As it transpired, Jane did finish, and Moffat did not appeal. The Australian Touring Car Championship fell to the Victorian millionaire businessman for the fourth time (1962, 1963, 1971 and now 1972). Moffat had everything go right for him for once, which must have been something of a novelty after his past two frustrating years, but his luck came too late to give him that long sought-after title. Jane opted to drive the Camaro again, with Harvey in the Monaro, Moffat in the TransAm, Geoghegan not only had the Grace Bros Falcon present but had it really cracking with a claimed 605 bhp from the 5.7 litre engine and a whole week of practising on this circuit behind him. Dick Johnson came down from Queensland with the Zupps sponsored Torana XU-1, and Mike Gore was in the ex-Niel Allen Mustang. Missing were Mike Stillwell who had already scored his maximum of seven class wins from seven starts, and Mal Ramsay with the City-State Racing Team Kingswood V8. The 14 car field was made up of Brown's and Holdens under 2 litre contenders, and several series cars. "Pete" Geoghegan showed them all the way around as he sprinted into the distance right from the word 'go'. No one could get near him. Further back, Moffat was trailing the two Bob Jane team cars, sitting in a safe and comfortable fourth spot. On only the sixth of the scheduled 40 laps, Jane slowed suddenly when his gear selectors became jumbled and he was Oft with only third gear. Moffat moved up one. The TransAm was able to move up to second on lap 24 when Harvey too slowed drastically with brake troubles that had bothered him from the start. Moffat looked to have no chance of catching Geoghegan. Harvey retired as he was about to lap his boss, for he was aware of the vague situation for the title and thought Jane might need that extra placing for a valuable point or two. Motor racing is full of the unexpected and, it was noticed that Geoghegan's car had slowed and begun to sound rough shortly after half distance. Moffat closed relentlessly and took the lead to the cheers of the same crowd who had earlier booed him, just four laps from the end. Geoghegan finished two seconds back in second, then Jane and Johnson were two laps behind. No matter what happened now, Jane had won the title, and Moffat has to try again next year. |
Overall result
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Pos | Pos in class | # | Team / Entrant Car- Engine |
Drivers, Nationality | Engine vol. (cc) |
Engine Type |
Group | Distance, time |
Qualifying position | Qualifying time | Fastest lap | Reason out, remarks |
1 | 1 | 9 | Allan Moffat Racing Ford Mustang Boss 302 |
Allan Moffat, CDN |
V8 | Over 2000 cc | 40 laps, 31.35,7 | 2 | 0.46,3 | 0.46,3 | ||
2 | 2 | 1 | Geoghegan's Sporty Cars Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III |
Ian "Pete" Geoghegan, AUS |
5763 | V8 | Over 2000 cc/E | 40 laps, ca. 31.37,7 | 1 | 0.45,8 | 0.46,4 | |
3 | 3 | 76 | Bob Jane Racing Chevrolet Camaro Z28 |
Bob Jane, AUS |
4956 | V8 | Over 2000 cc | 38 | 3 | 0.46,4 | 0.47,3 | Gearbox |
4 | 4 | 10 | Holden Torana LJ GTR XU1 |
Dick Johnson, AUS |
3330 | L6 | Over 2000 cc | 38 | 5 | 0.49,8 | 0.49,9 | |
5 | 5 | 5 | Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III |
John Goss, AUS |
5763 | V8 | Over 2000 cc/E | 6 | 0.50,8 | 0.50,7 | ||
6 | 6 | 13 | Max Wright Motors Pty Ltd. Holden Torana LJ GTR XU1 |
Don Holland, AUS |
3330 | L6 | Over 2000 cc/E | 10 | 0.51,3 | 0.51,1 | ||
7 | 7 | Chrysler VH Valiant Charger R/T E49 |
Tony Allen, AUS |
4342 | L6 | Over 2000 cc | 8 | 0.51,0 | 0.50,8 | |||
8 | 8 | Holden Torana LJ GTR XU1 |
Arnold Ahrenfeld, AUS |
3330 | L6 | Over 2000 cc | 13 | no time | 0.52,2 | |||
9 | 1 | Dr. Allan Hogan Ford Escort TC |
Bob Holden, AUS |
1558 | L4 | Under 2000 cc | 11 | 0.51,6 | 0.53,9 | |||
10 | 10 | Holden Torana LJ GTR XU1 |
John Stoopman, AUS |
3330 | L6 | Over 2000 cc | 14 | no time | 0.52,2 | |||
11 | 9 | Holden EH S4 Special Sedan |
Herb Taylor, AUS |
2933 | L6 | Over 2000 cc | 12 | 0.53,5 | 0.54,8 | |||
DNF | 7 | Bob Jane Racing Holden HT Monaro GTS350 |
John Harvey, AUS |
5736 | V8 | Over 2000 cc | 4 | 0.46,6 | Brakes | |||
DNF | Ford Mustang |
Mike Gore, AUS |
V8 | Over 2000 cc | 7 | 0.50,8 | ||||||
DNF | 11 | Alfa Romeo Australia Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV |
Peter Brown, AUS |
1962 | L4 | Under 2000 cc | 9 | 0.51,1 |