1996 Australian Touring Car season

The 1996 Australian Touring Car season was the 37th year of touring car racing in Australia since the first runnings of the Australian Touring Car Championship and the fore-runner of the present day Bathurst 1000, the Armstrong 500.

Two major touring car categories raced in Australia during 1996, Group 3A Touring Cars and Super Touring. Between them there were 26 touring car race meetings held during 1996; a ten-round series for Group 3A Touring Cars, the 1996 Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC); an eight-round series for Super Touring, the 1996 Australian Super Touring Championship (ASTC); a two event series in New Zealand, support programme events at the 1996 Australian Grand Prix and 1996 Bartercard Indycar Australia and two stand alone long distance races, nicknamed 'enduros'.

Results and standings

Race calendar The 1996 Australian touring car season consisted of 26 events. DateSeriesCircuitCity / stateWinnerTeamCarReport 27 Jan ATCC Round 1 Eastern Creek Raceway Sydney, New South Wales Craig Lowndes Holden Racing Team Holden VR Commodore 4 Feb ATCC Round 2 Sandown International Raceway Melbourne, Victoria Craig Lowndes Holden Racing Team Holden VR Commodore 25 Feb ATCC Round 3 Mount Panorama Circuit Bathurst, New South Wales John Bowe Dick Johnson Racing Ford EF Falcon 9–10 Mar Super Touring Car Race Albert Park street circuit Melbourne, Victoria Geoff Brabham Paul Morris Motorsport BMW 318i TAC Touring Cars Peter Brock Holden Racing Team Holden VR Commodore 17 Mar ATCC Round 4 Symmons Plains Raceway Launceston, Tasmania Craig Lowndes Holden Racing Team Holden VR Commodore 30–31 Mar Super Touring Cars Surfers Paradise street circuit Surfers Paradise, Queensland Greg Murphy Brad Jones Racing Audi A4 Quattro EA Sports Touring Cars John Bowe Dick Johnson Racing Ford EF Falcon 14 Apr ATCC Round 5 Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit Phillip Island, Victoria Larry Perkins Perkins Engineering Holden VR Commodore 28 Apr ATCC Round 6 Calder Park Raceway Melbourne, Victoria Russell Ingall Perkins Engineering Holden VR Commodore 5 May ATCC Round 7 Lakeside International Raceway Brisbane, Queensland Craig Lowndes Holden Racing Team Holden VR Commodore 19 May ASTC Round 1 Amaroo Park Sydney, New South Wales Brad Jones Brad Jones Racing Audi A4 Quattro 26 May ATCC Round 8 Barbagallo Raceway Perth, Western Australia Craig Lowndes Holden Racing Team Holden VR Commodore 2 Jun ATCC Round 9 Mallala Motor Sport Park Adelaide, South Australia Craig Lowndes Holden Racing Team Holden VR Commodore 17 Jun ATCC Round 10 Oran Park Raceway Sydney, New South Wales Peter Brock Holden Racing Team Holden VR Commodore 23 Jun ASTC Round 2 Lakeside International Raceway Brisbane, Queensland Paul Morris Paul Morris Motorsport BMW 318i 14 Jul ASTC Round 3 Amaroo Park Sydney, New South Wales Brad Jones Brad Jones Racing Audi A4 Quattro 11 Aug ASTC Round 4 Mallala Motor Sport Park Adelaide, South Australia Greg Murphy Brad Jones Racing Audi A4 Quattro 25 Aug ASTC Round 5 Winton Motor Raceway Benalla, Victoria Paul Morris Paul Morris Motorsport BMW 318i 8 Sep Tickford 500 Sandown International Raceway Melbourne, Victoria Craig LowndesGreg Murphy Holden Racing Team Holden VR Commodore report 22 Sep ASTC Round 6 Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit Phillip Island, Victoria Greg Murphy Brad Jones Racing Audi A4 Quattro 5–6 Oct Super Touring Mount Panorama Circuit Bathurst, New South Wales Jim Richards Volvo Dealer Racing Volvo 850 AMP Bathurst 1000 Craig LowndesGreg Murphy Holden Racing Team Holden VR Commodore report 27 Oct ASTC Round 7 Lakeside International Raceway Brisbane, Queensland Paul Morris Paul Morris Motorsport BMW 318i 9 Nov ASTC Round 8 Oran Park Raceway Sydney, New South Wales Brad Jones Brad Jones Racing Audi A4 Quattro 17 Nov Pukekohe Mobil Sprints Pukekohe Park Raceway Pukekohe, New Zealand Greg Murphy Holden Racing Team Holden VR Commodore 24 Nov Wellington Mobil Sprints Wellington street circuit Wellington, New Zealand John Bowe Dick Johnson Racing Ford EF Falcon

Australian Touring Car Championship

Formula 1 Super Touring support race This meeting was a support event of the 1996 Australian Grand Prix.

DriverNo.TeamCarRace 1Race 2 Geoff Brabham 83 BMW Motorsport Australia BMW 320i 1 1 Paul Morris 1 BMW Motorsport Australia BMW 320i 2 2 Jim Richards 77 Ross Palmer Motorsport Ford Mondeo 5 3 Brad Jones 3 Brad Jones Racing Audi A4 Quattro 4 4 Greg Murphy 4 Brad Jones Racing Audi A4 Quattro 3 5 Peter Brock 05 Volvo Cars Australia Volvo 850 6 6 Steven Richards 34 Garry Rogers Motorsport Alfa Romeo 155 8 7 Mark Adderton 96 Phoenix Motorsport Peugeot 405 Mi16 9 8 Paul Nelson 15 Bob Holden Motors BMW M3 DNF 9 Justin Mathews 16 Bob Holden Motors BMW 318i 11 10 Cameron McLean 12 Greenfield Mowers Racing BMW 318i DNF 11 Peter Hills 88 Knight Racing Ford Sierra 13 12 John Mann 31 Craig Lawless Peugeot 405 Mi16 14 13 Geoff Full 95 Phoenix Motorsport Peugeot 405 Mi16 7 DNF Bob Holden 13 Bob Holden Motors BMW M3 12 DNF Les May 20 Les May Racing BMW M3 10 DNF

TAC Touring Cars This meeting was a support event of the 1996 Australian Grand Prix.

DriverNo.TeamCarRace 1Race 2 Peter Brock 05 Holden Racing Team Holden VR Commodore 2 1 John Bowe 1 Dick Johnson Racing Ford EF Falcon 3 2 Glenn Seton 30 Glenn Seton Racing Ford EF Falcon 1 3 Russell Ingall 8 Perkins Engineering Holden VR Commodore 7 4 Mark Skaife 2 Gibson Motorsport Holden VR Commodore DNF 5 Steven Richards 32 Garry Rogers Motorsport Holden VR Commodore 13 6 Wayne Gardner 4 Wayne Gardner Racing Holden VR Commodore DNF 7 Steve Ellery 52 Steven Ellery Racing Ford EF Falcon 11 8 Neil Crompton 7 Wayne Gardner Racing Holden VR Commodore DNF 9 Dick Johnson 17 Dick Johnson Racing Ford EF Falcon 19 10 Tony Longhurst 25 Longhurst Racing Ford EF Falcon 10 11 Terry Finnigan 27 Holden VP Commodore 22 12 Alan Jones 301 Alan Jones Racing Ford EF Falcon 5 13 John Faulkner 46 John Faulkner Racing Holden VR Commodore 8 14 David Parsons 55 David Parsons Holden VR Commodore 16 15 Mark Poole 38 James Rosenberg Racing Holden VR Commodore 24 16 Trevor Ashby 3 Lansvale Racing Team Holden VP Commodore DNF 17 Chris Smerdon 39 Challenge Motorsport Holden VR Commodore 23 18 Peter McLeod 50 Holden VR Commodore 25 19 Malcolm Stenniken 14 Holden VR Commodore 21 20 Bob Jones 43 Bob Jones Racing Holden VP Commodore 20 21 John Trimbole 47 Daily Planet Racing Ford EB Falcon 18 22 Larry Perkins 11 Perkins Engineering Holden VR Commodore 6 23 Craig Lowndes 15 Holden Racing Team Holden VR Commodore 4 DNF Paul Romano 201 Alan Jones Racing Ford EF Falcon 15 DNF Max Dumesny 75 John Sidney Racing Ford EF Falcon 12 DNF Mark Larkham 10 Larkham Motor Sport Ford EF Falcon 14 DNF Peter Doulman 29 M3 Motorsport Holden VP Commodore 9 DNF Wayne Russell 62 Holden VP Commodore DNF DNF Kevin Heffernan 74 PACE Racing Holden VP Commodore 17 DNF

Champ Car Super Touring support race This meeting was a support event of the 1996 Bartercard Indycar Australia.

DriverNo.TeamCarRace 1Race 2 Greg Murphy 4 Brad Jones Racing Audi A4 Quattro 2 1 Jim Richards 77 Ross Palmer Motorsport Ford Mondeo 5 2 Charlie O'Brien 10 BMW International BMW 318i 1 3 Peter Brock 05 Volvo Cars Australia Volvo 850 4 4 Cameron McLean 12 Greenfield Mowers Racing BMW 318i 5 Kevin Schwantz 97 Phoenix Motorsport Peugeot 405 Mi16 3 6 Geoff Full 95 Phoenix Motorsport Peugeot 405 Mi16 7 7 Stephen Voight 18 BMW M3 8 Justin Mathews 16 Bob Holden Motors BMW 318i 9 9 Paul Pickett 58 Triple P Racing Hyundai Lantra 10 Miles Pope 36 BMW International BMW 318i 11 Kurt Kratzmann 33 Ford Sierra 12 Bob Holden 13 Bob Holden Motors BMW M3 13 Paul Nelson 15 Bob Holden Motors BMW M3 14 Steven Richards 34 Garry Rogers Motorsport Alfa Romeo 155 8 15 Geoff Brabham 83 BMW Motorsport Australia BMW 318i DNF DNF Paul Morris 1 BMW Motorsport Australia BMW 318i 6 DNF Brad Jones 3 Brad Jones Racing Audi A4 Quattro DNF DNS

EA Sports Touring Cars This meeting was a support event of the 1996 Bartercard Indycar Australia.

DriverNo.TeamCarRace 1Race 2 John Bowe 1 Dick Johnson Racing Ford EF Falcon 1 1 Peter Brock 05 Holden Racing Team Holden VR Commodore 2 2 Russell Ingall 8 Perkins Engineering Holden VR Commodore 8 3 Alan Jones 301 Alan Jones Racing Ford EF Falcon 4 4 Dick Johnson 17 Dick Johnson Racing Ford EF Falcon 3 5 Mark Skaife 2 Gibson Motorsport Holden VR Commodore 9 6 Larry Perkins 11 Perkins Engineering Holden VR Commodore 5 7 Glenn Seton 30 Glenn Seton Racing Ford EF Falcon 7 8 Tony Longhurst 25 Longhurst Racing Ford EF Falcon 10 9 John Faulkner 46 John Faulkner Racing Holden VR Commodore 13 10 Steve Ellery 52 Steven Ellery Racing Ford EF Falcon 14 11 Brad Jones 4 Wayne Gardner Racing Holden VR Commodore 12 12 Mark Poole 38 James Rosenberg Racing Holden VR Commodore 18 13 Mal Rose 44 Mal Rose Racing Holden VR Commodore 20 14 Terry Finnigan 27 Holden VP Commodore 15 15 Neil Crompton 7 Wayne Gardner Racing Holden VR Commodore DNF 16 Paul Romano 201 Alan Jones Racing Ford EF Falcon DNS 17 Max Dumesny 75 John Sidney Racing Ford EF Falcon 16 18 Steve Reed 3 Lansvale Racing Team Holden VP Commodore DNF 19 Kevin Waldock 28 Playscape Racing Ford EF Falcon 21 20 Steven Richards 32 Garry Rogers Motorsport Holden VR Commodore 11 21 Wayne Russell 62 Holden VP Commodore 22 22 Kevin Heffernan 74 PACE Racing Holden VP Commodore DNF 23 Mark Larkham 10 Larkham Motor Sport Ford EF Falcon 17 DNF Chris Smerdon 39 Challenge Motorsport Holden VR Commodore 19 DNF Craig Lowndes 15 Holden Racing Team Holden VR Commodore 6 DNF

Australian Super Touring Championship

Tickford 500

Bathurst 1000 Super Touring support race This meeting was a support event of the 1996 AMP Bathurst 1000.

DriverNo.TeamCarRace 1Race 2Race 3 Jim Richards 05 Volvo Cars Australia Volvo 850 2 2 1 Brad Jones 3 Brad Jones Racing Audi A4 Quattro 3 9 2 Paul Morris 1 BMW Motorsport Australia BMW 318i 4 DNS 3 Craig Baird 10 BMW Motorsport Australia BMW 318i 1 1 4 Geoff Brabham 83 BMW Motorsport Australia BMW 318i 7 3 5 Tamara Vidali 4 Brad Jones Racing Audi A4 Quattro 5 4 6 Geoff Full 95 Phoenix Motorsport Peugeot 405 Mi16 DNF DNF 7 Justin Mathews 16 Bob Holden Motors BMW 318i 10 DNS 8 Bob Tweedie 36 BMW International BMW 318i 9 6 9 Kurt Kratzmann 33 Ford Sierra 11 8 10 Bob Holden 13 Bob Holden Motors BMW M3 DNS DNS 11 Stephen Voight 28 BMW M3 8 5 12 Paul Nelson 16 Bob Holden Motors BMW 318i DNS 7 DNS Mark Adderton 96 Phoenix Motorsport Peugeot 405 Mi16 6 10 DNS Dennis Rogers 13 Bob Holden Motors BMW M3 12 DNS DNS Ross Jones 58 Triple P Racing BMW 318iS DNS DNS DNS

AMP Bathurst 1000

Mobil New Zealand Sprints This was a two event invitational series held in New Zealand late in 1996. Seven teams (two of them with just a single car) were freighted to New Zealand and held three races at each of two events held at Pukekohe Park Raceway and a Wellington street circuit. Points were allocated 20–16–14–12–10–8–6–4–2–1 for each of the six races.

DriverNo.TeamCarPukekoheWellingtonTotalRace 1Race 2Race 3Race 1Race 2Race 3 Greg Murphy 1 Holden Racing Team Holden VR Commodore 1 1 1 6 3 1 102 John Bowe 18 Dick Johnson Racing Ford EF Falcon 7 2 3 1 1 4 88 Glenn Seton 30 Glenn Seton Racing Ford EF Falcon 2 7 6 5 5 3 64 Paul Radisich 6 Alan Jones Racing Ford EF Falcon 4 DNS DNF 4 4 2 52 Dick Johnson 17 Dick Johnson Racing Ford EF Falcon 6 4 4 8 10 8 41 Neil Crompton 4 Wayne Gardner Racing Holden VR Commodore DNF DNS DNS 3 2 5 40 Larry Perkins 11 Perkins Engineering Holden VP Commodore Ret 8 5 2 Ret 7 36 Russell Ingall 8 Perkins Engineering Holden VR Commodore 8 6 7 7 6 Ret 32 Tony Longhurst 25 Longhurst Racing Ford EF Falcon 9 5 2 12 9 Ret 30 Peter Brock 05 Holden Racing Team Holden VR Commodore 3 9 8 10 7 Ret 27 Alan Jones 9 Alan Jones Racing Ford EF Falcon 5 3 Ret 9 Ret DNS 26 Wayne Gardner 7 Wayne Gardner Racing Holden VR Commodore DNF DNS DNS 11 8 6 12

References