1997 Australian Touring Car Championship


The 1997 Australian Touring Car Championship was a CAMS sanctioned Australian motor racing title open to 5.0 Litre Touring Cars complying with Group 3A regulations. The championship, which was the 38th Australian Touring Car Championship, began on 15 March at Calder Park Raceway and ended on 3 August at Oran Park Raceway after 10 rounds.
Promoted as the Shell Australian Touring Car Championship, the series was won by Glenn Seton driving a Ford EL Falcon.

Teams and drivers

The following teams and drivers competed in the 1997 Australian Touring Car Championship.
TeamCarNoDrivers
Gibson MotorsportHolden VS Commodore2 Mark Skaife
Gibson MotorsportHolden VS Commodore45 Darren Hossack
Lansvale Racing TeamHolden VS Commodore3 Trevor Ashby
Lansvale Racing TeamHolden VS Commodore6 Steve Reed
Holden Racing TeamHolden VS Commodore05 Peter Brock
Holden Racing TeamHolden VS Commodore15 Greg Murphy
Holden Racing TeamHolden VS Commodore97 Stephen White
Wayne Gardner RacingHolden VS Commodore7 Wayne Gardner
Perkins EngineeringHolden VS Commodore8 Russell Ingall
Perkins EngineeringHolden VS Commodore11 Larry Perkins
Perkins EngineeringHolden VS Commodore16 Melinda Price
Perkins EngineeringHolden VS Commodore19 Kerryn Brewer
Alan Jones RacingFord EL Falcon9 Alan Jones
Larkham Motor SportFord EL Falcon10 Mark Larkham
Malcolm StennikenHolden VR Commodore14 Malcolm Stenniken
Dick Johnson RacingFord EL Falcon17 Dick Johnson
Dick Johnson RacingFord EL Falcon18 John Bowe
Palmer PromotionsHolden VS Commodore20 Ian Palmer
Colourscan MotorsportFord EF Falcon
Ford EL Falcon		22 Danny Osborne
Ray HislopFord EF Falcon23 Ray Hislop
Romano RacingHolden VS Commodore24 Paul Romano
Longhurst RacingFord EL Falcon25 Tony Longhurst
Longhurst RacingFord EL Falcon52 Steven Ellery
M3 MotorsportHolden VP Commodore26 Peter Doulman
John Cotter
Terry FinniganHolden VS Commodore27 Terry Finnigan
Glenn Seton RacingFord EL Falcon30 Glenn Seton
Phil JohnsonHolden VS Commodore31 Grant Johnson
West Coast RacingFord EL Falcon32 Allan McCarthy
West Coast RacingFord EL Falcon35 Claude Giorgi
Pro-Duct MotorsportHolden VS Commodore33 Bob Pearson
Garry Rogers MotorsportHolden VS Commodore34 Steven Richards
Jason Bright
Gearbox MotorsportHolden VR Commodore
Holden VS Commodore		36 Neil Schembri
James Rosenberg RacingHolden VS Commodore38 Mark Poole
Challenge MotorsportHolden VS Commodore39 Chris Smerdon
Michael HartHolden VR Commodore40 Michael Hart
Michael HartHolden VR Commodore42 Peter Lawrence
Garry Willmington PerformanceFord EB Falcon41 Garry Willmington
Wynn's RacingHolden VR Commodore45 Darren Hossack
John Faulkner RacingHolden VS Commodore46 John Faulkner
Daily Planet RacingHolden VS Commodore47 John Trimbole
Alcair RacingHolden VS Commodore49 Greg Crick
Steven Johnson
Truckie ParsonsHolden VS Commodore55 David Parsons
Novocastrian MotorsportHolden VS Commodore62 Wayne Russell
Briggs Motor SportFord EF Falcon70 John Briggs
PACE RacingHolden VS Commodore74 Kevin Heffernan
V8 RacingHolden VP Commodore77 Richard Mork
Cadillac ProductionsHolden VP Commodore
Ford EB Falcon		79 Mike Conway
Don PulverHolden VP Commodore88 Don Pulver
Geoff KendrickHolden VS Commodore92 Geoff Kendrick
Shaun WalkerHolden VS Commodore99 Shaun Walker

Race calendar

The championship was contested over ten rounds with three races per round.
Rd.CircuitLocation / StateDateRound WinnerCarTeam
1Calder Park RacewayMelbourne, Victoria13–15 MarWayne GardnerHolden VS CommodoreWayne Gardner Racing
2Phillip Island Grand Prix CircuitPhillip Island, Victoria11–13 AprRussell IngallHolden VS CommodorePerkins Engineering
3Sandown International RacewayMelbourne, Victoria25–27 AprGlenn SetonFord EF FalconGlenn Seton Racing
4Symmons Plains RacewayLaunceston, Tasmania2–4 MayGreg MurphyHolden VS CommodoreHolden Racing Team
5Winton Motor RacewayBenalla, Victoria16–18 MayRussell IngallHolden VS CommodorePerkins Engineering
6Eastern Creek RacewaySydney, New South Wales23–25 MayGlenn SetonFord EF FalconGlenn Seton Racing
7Lakeside International RacewayBrisbane, Queensland13–15 JunJohn BoweFord EF FalconDick Johnson Racing
8Barbagallo RacewayPerth, Western Australia4–6 JulPeter BrockHolden VS CommodoreHolden Racing Team
9Mallala Motor Sport ParkMallala, South Australia11–13 JulGreg MurphyHolden VS CommodoreHolden Racing Team
10Oran Park RacewaySydney, New South Wales1–3 AugGreg MurphyHolden VS CommodoreHolden Racing Team

Race Winners

RoundRaceCircuitWinnerTeam
11Calder Park RacewayGreg MurphyHolden Racing Team
12Calder Park RacewayWayne GardnerWayne Gardner Racing
13Calder Park RacewayGlenn SetonGlenn Seton Racing
24Phillip Island Grand Prix CircuitGlenn SetonGlenn Seton Racing
25Phillip Island Grand Prix CircuitRussell IngallPerkins Engineering
26Phillip Island Grand Prix CircuitLarry PerkinsPerkins Engineering
37Sandown International RacewayGlenn SetonGlenn Seton Racing
38Sandown International RacewayGlenn SetonGlenn Seton Racing
39Sandown International RacewayGlenn SetonGlenn Seton Racing
410Symmons Plains RacewayPeter BrockHolden Racing Team
411Symmons Plains RacewayGreg MurphyHolden Racing Team
412Symmons Plains RacewayGreg MurphyHolden Racing Team
513Winton Motor RacewayLarry PerkinsPerkins Engineering
514Winton Motor RacewayRussell IngallPerkins Engineering
515Winton Motor RacewayRussell IngallPerkins Engineering
616Eastern Creek RacewayGlenn SetonGlenn Seton Racing
617Eastern Creek RacewayGlenn SetonGlenn Seton Racing
618Eastern Creek RacewayGlenn SetonGlenn Seton Racing
719Lakeside International RacewayGlenn SetonGlenn Seton Racing
720Lakeside International RacewayJohn BoweDick Johnson Racing
721Lakeside International RacewayRussell IngallPerkins Engineering
822Barbagallo RacewayLarry PerkinsPerkins Engineering
823Barbagallo RacewayJohn BoweDick Johnson Racing
824Barbagallo RacewayGreg MurphyHolden Racing Team
925Mallala Motor Sport ParkGreg MurphyHolden Racing Team
926Mallala Motor Sport ParkGreg MurphyHolden Racing Team
927Mallala Motor Sport ParkLarry PerkinsPerkins Engineering
1028Oran Park RacewayPeter BrockHolden Racing Team
1029Oran Park RacewayAlan JonesAlan Jones Racing
1030Oran Park RacewayGlenn SetonGlenn Seton Racing

Points system

Championship points were awarded on a 30–26–24–22–20–18–16–14–12–10–8–6–4–2–1 basis to the top 15 finishers in each race.

Championship results

Privateers' Cup

The Privateers' Cup was open to Category 2 and Category 3 entries only. Points were awarded on a 30–26–24–22–20–18–16–14–12–10–8–6–4–2–1 basis to the top 15 eligible finishers in each race.
Pos.DriverCar
1John FaulknerHolden VS Commodore
2Mark PooleHolden VS Commodore
3Terry FinniganHolden VS Commodore
4Darren HossackHolden VS Commodore
5Trevor AshbyHolden VS Commodore

Note: Only the top five positions are shown.