1987 Australian Drivers' Championship


The 1987 Australian Drivers' Championship was a CAMS sanctioned national motor racing title contested over a single race for Australian Formula 2 racing cars. The race, billed as the "Australia Cup for the 1987 CAMS Gold Star", was staged at the Adelaide Street Circuit in South Australia on Friday, 13 November 1987. This was the first year that the championship had been restricted to Australian Formula 2 cars and is the only year to date in which the title has been awarded on the results of a single race rather than a series of races.
David Brabham won the race after a remarkable drive from grid position 38 after poor qualifying caused by missing almost all of practice with carburettor and electrical problems.
While Brabham picked his way through the field the battle for the race saw Rohan Onslow and Mark McLaughlin take the lead after polesitter Arthur Abrahams was left on the grid with a failed ignition ballast restrictor. McLaughlin led for much of the race but his Elfin slowed near the end of the race and was swamped by Onslow then Brabham. With two laps remaining Brabham caught and passed Onlow and pulled away for a 1.7-second victory.
Ian Richards and John Wise fought over fourth for much of the event but Wise slowed near the end of the race with Shane Flynn taking fifth ahead of Chris Hocking.

Classification

Results as follows.
PosNo.DriverTeamCarLaps
18David BrabhamAustralian Motor RacingRalt RT30 Volkswagen15
271Rohan OnslowMichael BorlandCheetah Mk. 8 Volkswagen15
39Mark McLaughlinElfin Sports Cars Pty LtdElfin 852 Volkswagen15
422Ian RichardsIan RichardsRichards 201C Volkswagen15
570Shane FlynnAvanti SparesKaditcha Volkswagen15
674Chris HockingChris HockingCheetah Mk. 6 Volkswagen15
712Sam AstutiSalvatore AstutiCheetah Mk. 6 Ford15
844Neil IsraelMagnum Racing AustraliaMagnum 863 Volkswagen15
929Wayne WalkerWayne WalkerChevron B42 Ford15
1027Graeme SmithGraeme SmithCheetah Mk. 8 Volkswagen15
117Vince McLaughlanKevin McLaughlanCheetah Mk. 8 Volkswagen15
1234Carl GibsonCarl GibsonElfin 792 Volkswagen15
1337Richard DavisonRichard DavisonCheetah Mk. 8 Volkswagen15
1478Tony ReesAG ReesRalt RT3 Volkswagen15
1532John WiseJohn WiseCheetah Mk. 7 Volkswagen15
1618Rodney MoodyRodney MoodyCheetah Mk. 6 Toyota15
1728David GoodeDavid GoodeElfin 630 Ford15
182Grahame BleeBill Slattery's Bus & Truck SalesCheetah Mk. 6GE Volkswagen15
1973Adrian MartinAdrian MartinRalt RT1 Ford15
2031Wayne FordWayne FordRalt RT3 Ford15
26Ron BarnacleRon BarnacleWren
25Rob NewmanRob NewmanCheetah Mk. 7 Toyota
Ret45Mike DrewerMike DrewerCheetah Mk. 7 Toyota6
Ret33Mike HolmesMike HolmesME1 Volkswagen3
Ret46Stephen NobleJohn SilmanRichards 201 Volkswagen3
Ret14Peter BeehagPeter BeehagPBS 852 Nissan2
Ret24Tom CoullTom CoullElfin 620 Ford1
Ret1Arthur AbrahamsArthur AbrahamsRansberg-Cheetah Volkswagen0
DNSDerek PingelCheetah Mk.8 Volkswagen
DNSMichael LockRichards 201 Volkswagen