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Tooheys 1000 Bathurst 1988

Mount Panorama, Bathurst, Australia

Date: 2/10/1988
Track length: 6.213 m
Attendance: unknown
Entries accepted: 63
Starters: 48
Finishers: 19

Pole position: Johnson in 2.16,46
Fastest lap: Longhurst in 2.19,06

Distance: 1000 km
Average speed: 142,16 kmh
Weather: Fine
Ruleset: Group A
Car info: 1988 Cars

 

Unlike the previous year the invasion of European teams didn't happen. Schnitzer got as far as entering two cars but didn't make the trip, one of their entries taken up by a NZ BMW. Wolf Racing brought a car and team out for Mark Petch and Robbie Francevic, while Ruedi Eggenberger came out to run Allan Moffat's ex-Eggenberger Sierra, bringing with him a team of mechanics and Klaus Niedzwiedz. Niedzwiedz regular co-driver, Klaus Ludwig, didn't return, but Dieudonné and Soper came out to co-drive the Miedecke Motorsport cars. Meanwhile, Nissan favourite Anders Olofsson made his first trip to Bathurst to co-pilot Skyline #15.

Brinksmanship was the order of raceweek as protests and counter-protests flew. Tom Walkinshaw protested the eligibility of cars #4, #17, #18, #25, and #28, but later bizarrely withdrew the protest on any of the cars should they win the race, " ...in the interests of the sport". The Johnson team then protested the factory HSV Commodores for steering and body irregularities. All Sierras were eventually cleared - although a turbocharger issue with Bond's car was not resolved until long after the race - while the Commodores were found to be illegal. The protested Sierra teams claim the Friday night tear down of their cars compromised their race preparations, which was likely the whole point of the protest in the first place.

Meanwhile, there was a race to be run. Johnson, Bowe, Longhurst, and Niedzwiedz battled it out through qualifying, but it's Johnson and Bowe who lock up the front row, after Niedzwiedz's bid is derailed by a gearbox problem in the final qualifying session. With the top 10 runoff not counting for the grid this year, the times set during the week settle who starts where on the Sunday. Eight Sierras fill the top 10, with Perkins and Fury the only non-Ford runners. Walkinshaw would start from 13th in his English-built Commodore, just ahead of Armin Hahne in the Wolf Sierra. The lead Mobil BMW qualifies 16th, just ahead of Seton in the second Skyline. Several privateers miss the cut in qualifying after the 110% rule was strictly applied by FISA officials.

Johnson, Niedzwiedz and Longhurst took off at the start, setting a breakneck pace while Bowe watched on in fourth. Disaster for Walkinshaw as suspension failure eliminated his Commodore after just 5 laps. Attrition hit the top 10 early, with Miedecke, Granberg, Bagnall and Fury all retiring or suffering delays in the first hour. Brock is stuck behind the Commodore of Harvey, the two old teammates having a fair old dice which at one point saw the Mobil M3 take a trip across the sand trap at Skyline. Meanwhile, Johnson picked up a slow puncture going up the hill in lapped traffic. The tyre blows halfway down Conrod, sending the Shell car into a lurid, high-speed spin. He dragged the car slowly back to the pits, but drivetrain damage causes the car to be retired. The team was soon reduced to one car when Bowe brought #28 in with a blown engine. Out front was Niedzwiedz alone, with Longhurst dropping a lap after making two trips to the pits to sort out a sticking throttle. The battle of the Commodores settled down with Grice heading to the pits with gearbox problems. Terry Finnigan's Commodore punctured a tyre, depositing the carcass on Conrod. An unsighted Brock slammed into it, smashing the oil cooler and delaying the #56 car. Richards is put into #57 with Brock scheduled to get in at the next stop, but the car soon retired with overheating problems. John Andretti crashed at Reid Park, bringing out the pace car.

The race finally settled down, with the ANZ Sierra leading by a lap. Hahne, Mezera, Hulme, and Bond scrapped for the minor placings. Johnson gets into the #18 car, but a broken starter motor delayed the car for 6 minutes. The Scott/Nakaya Starion worked its way up into the top 5 before gearbox failure ended their run. The Finnigan car blew an engine and parked off the road at Skyline, where it was later hit by the #54 BMW. The Crowe/Janson car was the strongest remaining M3, working its way inside the top 10 as the afternoon rolled on. The Peanut Slab Sierra retired from the top five with overheating, while Walkinshaw hopped into car #10. When the Willmington Commodore stopped in the sand trap at Skyline, the pace car came out to pick up all the dead cars. On the restart, Longhurst passed Hansford to move back onto the lead lap, but the end was nigh for the ANZ car. The car came in to make its final stop with 30 laps to go, but it was apparent something was amiss. The car was soon retired with a blown head gasket. Longhurst took the lead from Walkinshaw, Bowe, Bond, and Janson. The HSV Commodore soon retired, though, with no oil pressure. Mezera hopped in for the final stint, narrowly avoiding the spinning Lusty Commodore, to take the win. Johnson used three cars to finish second, while Bond/Jones take third despite a late stop. The Janson/Crowe M3 finishes a remarkable 4th outright in winning its class, while the class-winning Corolla snuck inside the top 10.
(William Dale Jr/www.ten-tenths.com)

Division 1, 2 and 3
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 25 Benson & Hedges Racing
Ford Sierra RS 500 Cosworth		 Tony Longhurst, AUS
Tomas Mezera, AUS
 1993 tc L4 Class 1: over 2500 cc 161 laps, 7:02.10,28 3 2.17,96 2.19,06 Top 12: 2.18,51 (Longhurst)
2 2 18 Shell Ultra Hi Tech Racing Team
Ford Sierra RS 500 Cosworth		 Dick Johnson, AUS
John Bowe, AUS
John Smith, AUS
(Alf Costanzo, AUS)
 1993 tc L4 Class 1: over 2500 cc 160 laps 12 2.22,34 2.21,22  
3 3 4 Caltex CXT Race Team
Ford Sierra RS 500 Cosworth		 Alan Jones, AUS
Colin Bond, AUS
 1993 tc L4 Class 1: over 2500 cc 158 6 2.19,84 2.23,18 Top 12: 2.20,33 (Bond)
4 1 53 John Sax Racing
BMW M3 Evo		 Peter Janson, NZ
Trevor Crowe, NZ
(John Sax, NZ)
 2332 L4 Class 2: 1601-2500 cc 156 36 2.30,46 2.31,66  
5 4 44 Caltex CXT Race Team
Ford Sierra RS 500 Cosworth		 Bruce Stewart, AUS
John Giddings, AUS
(Colin Bond, AUS)
 1993 tc L4 Class 1: over 2500 cc 155 28 2.27,84 2.26,90  
6 5 37 Brian Callaghan Racing P/L
Holden VL SS Commodore		 Barry Graham, AUS
Brian Callaghan, AUS
 4980 V8 Class 1: over 2500 cc 152 20 2.26,14 2.27,02  
7 6 46 Sunliner Campmobiles
Holden VK Commodore		 Steve Harrington, AUS
Tony Hunter, NZ
 4980 V8 Class 1: over 2500 cc 151 33 2.30,04 2.31,10  
8 7 24 Jagparts Racing
Holden VK Commodore		 Geoff Munday, AUS
Gerald Kay, AUS
Alf Grant, AUS
 4980 V8 Class 1: over 2500 cc 150 38 2.30,84 2.32,06  
9 1 71 Toyota Team Australia
Toyota Corolla GT AE86		 Drew Price, AUS
John Faulkner, NZ
 1587 L4 Class 3: Up to 1600 cc 146 41 2.38,84 2.40,42  
10 8 31 Ralliart Australia
Mitsubishi Starion Turbo A183		 Brad Jones, AUS
Terry Shiel, AUS
(Michael Preston, AUS)
 1998 tc L4 Class 1: over 2500 cc 145 27 2.27,62 2.28,86  
11 2 73 Toyota Team Australia
Toyota Corolla FX-GT AE82		 Brett Riley, NZ
Peter MacKay, AUS
 1587 L4 Class 3: Up to 1600 cc 145 42 2.41,32 2.41,06  
12 3 74 Bryan Bate
Toyota Corolla GT AE86		 Andrew Maher, NZ
Bryan Bate, NZ
Dave Barrow, NZ
 1587 L4 Class 3: Up to 1600 cc 144 43 2.44,54 2.40,82  
13 9 23 Chris Lambden
Holden VL SS Commodore		 Chris Lambden, AUS
Kerry Baily, AUS
 4980 V8 Class 1: over 2500 cc 141 35 2.30,18 2.29,90  
14 10 12 Bob Forbes Corporation Pty Ltd
Holden VL SS Commodore		 John Harvey, AUS
Kevin Bartlett, AUS
 4980 V8 Class 1: over 2500 cc 140 22 2.26,26 2.26,08  
15 11 2 Roadways Racing Pty Ltd
Holden VL SS Commodore		 Allan Grice, AUS
Win Percy, GB
 4980 V8 Class 1: over 2500 cc 139 11 2.22,32 2.23,28 Top 12: 2.22,84 (Grice)
16 4 72 Toyota Team Australia
Toyota Corolla FX-GT AE82		 Mike Freeman, AUS
Mike Oliver, AUS
 1587 L4 Class 3: Up to 1600 cc 133 44 2.46,46 2.45,52  
17 5 78 Bob Holden Motors
Toyota Corolla FX-GT AE82		 Bob Holden, AUS
Damon Beck, AUS
Jim Faneco, AUS
 1587 L4 Class 3: Up to 1600 cc 128 45 2.46,90 2.47,30  
18 12 49 Alcair Airconditioning
Holden VL SS Commodore		 Bob Tindall, AUS
Wayne Park, AUS
 4980 V8 Class 1: over 2500 cc 127 32 2.29,36 2.34,20  
NC   22 Lusty Engineering P/L
Holden VL SS Commodore		 Graham Lusty, AUS
John Lusty, AUS
 4980 V8 Class 1: over 2500 cc 141 34 2.30,06 2.31,36 Last lap too slow
NC   39 Lansvale Smash Repairs P/L
Holden VL SS Commodore		 Steve Reed, AUS
Trevor Ashby, AUS
 4980 V8 Class 1: over 2500 cc 136 26 2.27,34 2.28,86 Last lap too slow
NC   41 Mulvihill Motorsport P/L
Holden VL SS Commodore		 Barry Jones, AUS
Geoff Leeds, AUS
Tony Mulvihill, AUS
 4980 V8 Class 1: over 2500 cc 118 31 2.28,68 2.29,60 Last lap too slow
NC   55 Bill Bryce Racing
BMW M3		 Ludwig Finauer, D
Paul Radisich, NZ
(Wally Storey, AUS)
 2332 L4 Class 2: 1601-2500 cc 113 19 2.25,60 2.26,08 Insufficient laps completed
NC   76 Bob Holden Motors
Toyota Corolla GT AE86		 Dennis Rogers, AUS
Garry Jones, AUS
(Bob Holden, AUS)
 1587 L4 Class 3: Up to 1600 cc 89 47 2.49,26 2.50,44 Insufficient laps completed
NC   77 Mark Ducquet
Toyota Corolla GT AE86		 Brian Selby, AUS
Marc Ducquet, AUS
(Mike Birks, AUS)
 1587 L4 Class 3: Up to 1600 cc 85 46 2.48,88 2.50,68 Insufficient laps completed
DSQ   10 Holden Special Vehicles
Holden VL SS Commodore		 Denny Hulme, NZ
Larry Perkins, AUS
Tom Walkinshaw, GB
 4980 V8 Class 1: over 2500 cc 137 8 2.21,00 2.22,44 Top 12: 2.22,47 (Perkins); Engine
DNF   9 Allan Moffat Racing
Ford Sierra RS 500 Cosworth		 Allan Moffat, CDN
Klaus Niedzwiedz, D
Gregg Hansford, AUS
 1993 tc L4 Class 1: over 2500 cc 129 4 2.18,02 2.19,14 Top 12: 2.18,24 (Niedzwiedz); Overheating
DNF   75 Belgrave 2-Way Radio Services
Toyota Corolla GT AE86		 David Ratcliff, AUS
Mike Mortimer, AUS
 1587 L4 Class 3: Up to 1600 cc 118 48 2.49,96 2.48,26 Cam follower
DNF   45 Wolf Racing Team
Ford Sierra RS 500 Cosworth		 Armin Hahne, D
Robbie Francevic, NZ
 1993 tc L4 Class 1: over 2500 cc 103 14 2.22,62 2.24,24 Overheating
DNF   6 Miedecke Motorsport
Ford Sierra RS 500 Cosworth		 Andrew Miedecke, AUS
Steve Soper, GB
 1993 tc L4 Class 1: over 2500 cc 102 5 2.18,78 2.21,60 Top 12: 2.19,60 (Miedecke); Split bore
DNF   50 Leeson Civil Engineering P/L
Holden VL SS Commodore		 Garry Willmington, AUS
John Leeson, AUS
 4980 V8 Class 1: over 2500 cc 101 30 2.28,42 2.31,98 Suspension
DNF   54 John Sax Racing
BMW M3		 John Sorenson, NZ
Kayne Scott, NZ
(John Sax, NZ)
 2332 L4 Class 2: 1601-2500 cc 100 40 2.33,38 2.32,52 Accident
DNF   56 Mobil 1 Racing
BMW M3 Evo		 Neil Crompton, AUS
Peter Brock, AUS
(Jim Richards, NZ)
 2332 L4 Class 2: 1601-2500 cc 89 16 2.23,76 2.26,02 Top 12: 2.25,11 (Brock); Engine
DNF   16 Ralliart Australia
Mitsubishi Starion Turbo A183		 Akihiko Nakaya, J
Gary Scott, AUS
(Terry Shiel, AUS)
 1998 tc L4 Class 1: over 2500 cc 88 15 2.23,24 2.26,52 Gearbox
DNF   19 Finnigan/Mathews Racing
Holden VL SS Commodore		 Ken Mathews, AUS
Terry Finnigan, AUS
(Greg Toepfer, AUS)
 4980 V8 Class 1: over 2500 cc 84 23 2.26,28 2.28,28 Started from pit lane; engine
DNF   26 Formula 1 Investments Pty Ltd
Holden VL SS Commodore		 Graham Moore, AUS
Tony Noske, AUS
(Garry Rush, AUS)
 4980 V8 Class 1: over 2500 cc 79 21 2.26,26 2.28,34 Rocker arm
DNF   57 Mobil 1 Racing
BMW M3 Evo		 David "Skippy" Parsons, AUS
Jim Richards, NZ
(Neil Crompton, AUS)
 2332 L4 Class 2: 1601-2500 cc 68 24 2.26,74 2.26,40 Overheating
DNF   36 Everlast Battery Service
Holden VL SS Commodore		 Bill O'Brien, AUS
Brian Sampson, AUS
Ray Lintott, AUS
 4980 V8 Class 1: over 2500 cc 66 25 2.27,14 2.29,32 Accident
DNF   33 Garry Rogers
Holden VL SS Commodore		 Garry Rogers, AUS
John Andretti, USA
 4980 V8 Class 1: over 2500 cc 37 18 2.25,08 2.25,80 Accident
DNF   51 Phil Ward
Mercedes 190 E 2.3-16		 David Clement, AUS
Phil Ward, AUS
 2323 L4 Class 2: 1601-2500 cc 27 39 2.32,08 2.31,70 Accident
DNF   28 Shell Ultra Hi Tech Racing Team
Ford Sierra RS 500 Cosworth		 John Bowe, AUS
Robb Gravett, GB
Neville Crichton, NZ
 1993 tc L4 Class 1: over 2500 cc 26 2 2.17,52 2.20,30 Top 12: 2.18,95 (Bowe); Engine
DNF   17 Shell Ultra Hi Tech Racing Team
Ford Sierra RS 500 Cosworth		 Dick Johnson, AUS
John Bowe, AUS
(Neville Crichton, NZ)
 1993 tc L4 Class 1: over 2500 cc 22 1 2.16,46 2.19,30 Top 12: 2.19,22 (Johnson); Differential
DNF   14 Nettcomm (Aust) Racing
Ford Sierra RS 500 Cosworth		 Murray Carter, AUS
Steve Masterton, AUS
 1993 tc L4 Class 1: over 2500 cc 22 37 2.30,50 2.32,50 Driveshaft
DNF   30 Peter Jackson Nissan Racing
Nissan Skyline GTS-R Turbo HR31		 Mark Skaife, AUS
George Fury, AUS
(Glenn Seton, AUS)
 2029 tc L6 Class 1: over 2500 cc 17 9 2.21,92 2.22,78 Water pump belt
DNF   8 Andrew Bagnall
Ford Sierra RS 500 Cosworth		 Andrew Bagnall, NZ
Pierre Dieudonné, B
 1993 tc L4 Class 1: over 2500 cc 9 7 2.20,34 2.24,06 Top 12: 2.20,71 (Dieudonné); Head gasket
DNF   3 Yellow Pages Racing
Holden VL SS Commodore		 Jim Keogh, AUS
Peter McLeod, AUS
 4980 V8 Class 1: over 2500 cc 7 29 2.28,14 2.28,10 Started from pit lane; electrics
DNF   21 Team CMS Sweden
Ford Sierra RS 500 Cosworth		 Ulf Granberg, S
Christer Simonsen, S
Ian "Inky" Tulloch, NZ
 1993 tc L4 Class 1: over 2500 cc 6 10 2.22,20 2.23,14 Top 12: 2.21,82 (Granberg); Turbo
DSQ   20 Holden Special Vehicles
Holden VL SS Commodore		 Jeff Allam, GB
Tom Walkinshaw, GB
(Larry Perkins, AUS)
 4980 V8 Class 1: over 2500 cc 5 13 2.22,48 2.24,92 Axle
DNF   15 Peter Jackson Nissan Racing
Nissan Skyline GTS-R Turbo HR31		 Anders Olofsson, S
George Fury, AUS
Glenn Seton, AUS
 2029 tc L6 Class 1: over 2500 cc   17 2.24,14   Top 12: 2.22,72 (Fury); Differential
DNQ   11 Ray Gulson
BMW 635 CSi		 Graham Gulson, AUS
Ray Gulson, AUS
 3475 L6 Class 1: over 2500 cc     2.31,48    
DNQ   47 Craig Kinmoth
Holden VK Commodore		 Alf Grant, AUS
Craig Kinmoth, AUS
 4980 V8 Class 1: over 2500 cc     2.33,68    
DNQ   38 Grellis Marketing
Holden VL SS Commodore		 Ray Ellis, AUS
Bruce Williams, AUS
 4980 V8 Class 1: over 2500 cc     2.33,98    
DNQ   48 Tony Kavich
Holden VL SS Commodore		 Ken Davison, AUS
Tony Kavich, AUS
 4980 V8 Class 1: over 2500 cc     2.34,50    
DNQ   42 Steve Williams
Holden VK Commodore		 Chris Clearihan, AUS
Steve Williams, AUS
 4980 V8 Class 1: over 2500 cc     2.34,70    
DNQ   29 The Xerox Shop
Mitsubishi Starion Turbo A183		 Alan "Scotty" Taylor, AUS
Kevin Kennedy, AUS
 1998 tc L4 Class 1: over 2500 cc     2.41,06    
DNQ   40 Holden Special Vehicles
Holden VL SS Commodore		 Tom Walkinshaw, GB
Larry Perkins, AUS
 4980 V8 Class 1: over 2500 cc     no time   T-car, withdrawn