1976 Australian Touring Car Championship


The 1976 Australian Touring Car Championship was a CAMS sanctioned Australian motor racing title for Group C Touring Cars. It was the 17th running of the Australian Touring Car Championship. The championship began at Symmons Plains Raceway on 29 February and ended at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit on 28 November in the longest season in the history of the series. 1976 saw a substantial change to the ATCC calendar which was expanded to eleven rounds, incorporating the end-of-season long distance Australian Championship of Makes races for the first time. These races included Sandown's Hang Ten 400 and the Phillip Island 500K, although notably not the Bathurst 1000.
After contesting only selected rounds of the 1975 championship, Allan Moffat won his second Australian Touring Car Championship in 1976. He won the Calder, Oran Park and Adelaide rounds, building up a mid-season points lead that his rivals could not bridge. At the Hang Ten 400 at Sandown in September, Moffat re-launched his team as the Moffat Ford Dealers team with a new Ford XB Falcon GT, built after Moffat's original car and transporter were destroyed by fire on the way to the Adelaide round in June. Moffat borrowed the Ford Falcon of John Goss for the Adelaide and Lakeside rounds to stay in the series until the new car was built.
Barry Seton, driving a Ford Capri in the Up to 3000 cc class, was Moffat's main title threat for most of the year, winning his class four times, with a best finish of sixth outright at Sandown. Seton lost second place in the championship to Colin Bond when the Holden Torana driver won the final race of the season at Phillip Island. Bond had previously won at Sandown and Lakeside, but had mechanical failures that Moffat, even in his borrowed machinery, did not.

Drivers

The following drivers competed in the 1976 Australian Touring Car Championship.
EntrantNoCarDriver
Marlboro Holden Dealer Team1Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34Colin Bond
Bob Skelton3Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34Bob Skelton
John Goss3Ford XB Falcon GT HardtopJohn Goss
O'Brien's Transport4Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34Charlie O'Brien
Jim Keogh4Ford XB Falcon GT HardtopJim Keogh
Team Brock5Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34Peter Brock
Bruce Hindhaugh6Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34Bruce Hindhaugh
Ron Hodgson Motors7Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34Bob Morris
Jack Brabham7Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34Jack Brabham
Charlie O'Brien8Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34Charlie O'Brien
Allan Moffat Racing
Moffat Ford Dealers		9Ford XB Falcon GT HardtopAllan Moffat
Jim Richards10Ford XB Falcon GT HardtopJim Richards
Bob Forbes11Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34Bob Forbes
Gary Cooke11Mazda RX-3Gary Cooke
Craven Mild Racing12Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34Allan Grice
Bob Holden Motors13Ford Escort Mark I RS2000Bob Holden
B&D Autos,
Marlboro Holden Dealer Team		14Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34John Harvey
John English14Ford Escort Mark I RS2000John English
Phil Brock15Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34Phil Brock
Garth Wigston15Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34Garth Wigston
Graeme Blanchard16Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34Graeme Blanchard
Ray Kaleda17Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34Ray Kaleda
Bob Forbes17Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34Bob Forbes
Shell Racing18Ford XB Falcon GT HardtopMurray Carter
Garth Wigston19Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34Garth Wigston
Christine Gibson19Alfa Romeo 2000 GTVChristine Gibson
Peter Janson20Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34Peter Janson
Gown-Hindhaugh21Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34Frank Gardner
Kevin Kennedy22Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1Kevin Kennedy
Don Holland23Mazda RX-3Don Holland
Johnnie Walker24Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34Johnnie Walker
John Duggan24Mazda RX-3John Duggan
Graham Parsons25Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34Graham Parsons
Barry Seton25Ford Capri V6Barry Seton
Craven Mild25Mazda RX-3Allan Grice
Warren Cullen26Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34Warren Cullen
Lakis Manticas27Mazda RX-3Lakis Manticas
Lakis Manticas27Ford Capri V6Lakis Manticas
Kelvin Gough28Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34Kelvin Gough
Dick Johnson28Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1Dick Johnson
Garry Willmington29Ford XB Falcon GT HardtopGarry Willmington
Graeme Ibbotson29Ford Capri V6Graeme Ibbotson
Russell Skaife30Ford Capri V6Russell Skaife
Graham Parsons31Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34Graham Parsons
Alan Cant31Ford Capri V6Alan Cant
Lawrie Nelson32Ford Capri V6Lawrie Nelson
Paul Older34BMW 3.0SiPaul Older
Jim Murcott35Ford Escort Mark I RS2000Jim Murcott
Ron Dickson36Triumph Dolomite SprintRon Dickson
John Pollard37Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34John Pollard
Bob Morris37Triumph Dolomite SprintBob Morris
David Seldon38Triumph Dolomite SprintDavid Seldon
Phil Arnull39Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34Phil Arnull
Wally Scott42Toyota CorollaWally Scott
Bernie Stack44Volkswagen Passat 1300Bernie Stack
Lyndon Arnel45Ford Escort Mark I RS2000Lyndon Arnel
Ben Penhall45Mazda RX-3Ben Penhall
Ray Farrar46Ford Escort Mark I 1300Ray Farrar
Jeremy Braithwaite47Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1Jeremy Braithwaite
Graham Moore49Ford Capri V6Graham Moore
Brian Wheeler51Mazda RX-3Brian Wheeler
Eric Boord51Ford Escort Mark I RS2000Eric Boord
Fred Gibson51Alfa Romeo 2000 GTVFred Gibson
Allan Nuttall52Fiat 124 Sport CoupéAllan Nuttall
John Wharton53Mazda RX-3John Wharton
Chris Heyer53Volkswagen Golf GTIChris Heyer
Geoff Newton54Ford Capri V6Geoff Newton
Bernie McClure58Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34Bernie McClure
Frank Porter59Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTFrank Porter
Wayne Negus61Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34Wayne Negus
Max McGinley61Honda CivicMax McGinley
Roger Bonhomme62Honda CivicRoger Bonhomme
Craig Bradtke63Mazda RX-3Craig Bradtke
Wayne Mitchell63Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34Wayne Mitchell
Peter Kuebler63Alfa Romeo 2000 GTVPeter Kuebler
Peter Brown63Ford Escort Mark I RS2000Peter Brown
David Langman64Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34David Langman
Barry Wraith64Ford Escort Mark I RS2000Barry Wraith
Ken Brian64Honda CivicKen Brian
James Liang-Peach65Triumph Dolomite SprintJames Liang-Peach
David Crowther66Alfa Romeo GT1300 JuniorDavid Crowther
Robin Dudfield67Alfa Romeo GT1300 JuniorRobin Dudfield
Barry Sharp69Ford XB Falcon GT HardtopBarry Sharp
Tony Niovanni69Holden GeminiTony Niovanni
Fred Sayers70Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1Fred Sayers
Colin Campbell70Ford Escort Mark I RS2000Colin Campbell
Bill Evans71Datsun 1200Bill Evans
Jeff Harris74Morris Clubman GTJeff Harris
Jim Stewart75Morris Clubman GTJim Stewart
Ray Molloy76Morris Clubman GTRay Molloy
Martin Power77Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1Martin Power
Garry McGrath77Ford Escort Mark I 1600Garry McGrath
Peter Granger78BMW 2002tiiPeter Granger
Hugh Donaldson78Morris Clubman GTHugh Donaldson
Pat Crea79Ford Escort Mark I RS2000Pat Crea
John Millyard80Ford Escort Mark I 1300John Millyard
Geoff Moran88Ford Capri V6Geoff Moran
Brian Rhodes89Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34Brian Rhodes
Jim Richards90Mazda RX-3Jim Richards
Chris Trengrove91Renault 12Chris Trengrove
Terry Wade95Triumph Dolomite SprintTerry Wade
Herb Vines96Ford Capri V6Herb Vines
Geoff Wade96Ford Escort Mark I 1300Geoff Wade
Bob Nissen98Ford Capri V6Bob Nissan
Graham Harrison99Alfa Romeo 2000 GTVGraham Harrison
Russell Worthington100Mazda RX-3Russell Worthington
Frank Brewster110Honda CivicFrank Brewster

Calendar

The 1976 Australian Touring Car Championship was contested over eleven rounds.
Rd.Event TitleCircuitLocation / StateDateFormatWinnerTeamReport
1Symmons PlainsSymmons PlainsLaunceston, Tasmania29 FebruaryJohn HarveyB&D Autos
2CalderCalderMelbourne, Victoria17 MarchAllan MoffatAllan Moffat Racing
3Oran ParkOran ParkSydney, New South Wales28 MarchAllan MoffatAllan Moffat Racing
4SandownSandownMelbourne, Victoria11 AprilColin BondMarlboro Holden Dealer Team
5Amaroo ParkAmaroo ParkSydney, New South Wales18 AprilCharlie O'BrienO'Brien's Transport Shell Sport
6Datsun TrophyAdelaide International RacewayAdelaide, South Australia6 JuneTwo heatsAllan MoffatJohn Goss Racing Pty Ltd
7The Governor's TrophyLakesideBrisbane, Queensland27 JuneColin BondMarlboro Holden Dealer Team
8Hang Ten 400SandownMelbourne, Victoria12 SeptemberOne race Peter BrockTeam Brockreport
9Rothmans 250Adelaide International RacewayAdelaide, South Australia24 OctoberOne race Allan GriceCraven Mild Racing
10Rothmans 300Surfers Paradise International RacewaySurfers Paradise, Queensland30 OctoberOne race Peter BrockTeam Brock
11Rover 500KPhillip IslandPhillip Island, Victoria28 NovemberOne race Colin BondMarlboro Holden Dealer Teamreport

Class system

Cars competed in two classes, based on engine capacity:
Championship points were awarded to drivers on the following basis:
Pos.1st2nd3rd4th5th6th
All Rounds
Outright		4321
Rounds 1-7
each class		964321
Round 8-11
each class		1286421

Points were only awarded to a driver where the car had completed 75% of race distance and was running at the completion of the final lap.
Only the best two results from the four long distance races could be counted by each driver.

Championship standings

Points scored in the long distance races which were not retained for championship totals are shown in the above table within double brackets.

Australian Championship of Makes

The 1976 Australian Championship of Makes was contested over a four-round series, staged concurrently with the final four rounds of the Australian Touring Car Championship. It was the sixth championship for manufacturers to be awarded by CAMS, and the first to be contested under the Australian Championship of Makes name. The title was won by General Motors-Holden's.

Class system

Cars competed in four classes based on engine capacity.
Championship points were awarded in each class on a 9, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1 basis, with the results of all four races counting towards the championship.