1999 Shell Championship Series


The 1999 Shell Championship Series was a motor racing series for V8 Supercars which began on 28 March 1999 at Eastern Creek Raceway and ended on 14 November at the Mount Panorama Circuit after 13 rounds. The Australian Touring Car Championship was renamed for 1999 in what was essentially a marketing decision, however the winner of the newly named series was also awarded the 1999 Australian Touring Car Championship title by CAMS. 1999 was the first season since 1977 in which the longer distance, endurance race events were included in the championship. For the first time in the championship's history, tyres supplied by Bridgestone specified for all cars.
This series was won by Craig Lowndes of the Holden Racing Team.

Teams and drivers

The following drivers and teams competed in the 1999 Shell Championship Series. The series consisted of 11 rounds of sprint racing with one driver per car and two rounds of endurance racing with each car shared by two drivers.
TeamCarDriversEventsEndurance Event Drivers
Holden Racing TeamHolden VT Commodore1 Craig Lowndes1–8, 10–13 Cameron McConville
Holden Racing TeamHolden VT Commodore2 Mark SkaifeAll Paul Morris
Holden VS Commodore
Holden VT Commodore		15 Todd Kelly1, 6–7, 12–13 Mark Noske
Holden VS Commodore
Holden VT Commodore		15 Cameron McConville9 Mark Noske
Holden VS Commodore
Holden VT Commodore		99 Mark Noske1–7
Lansvale Racing TeamHolden VS Commodore3 Trevor Ashby1–2, 6–7, 11–13
Lansvale Racing TeamHolden VS Commodore3 Steve Reed3–5, 8–10
Lansvale Racing TeamHolden VS Commodore28 Rodney ForbesAll Geoff Full
Stone Brothers RacingFord AU Falcon4 Jason BrightAll Craig Baird
Glenn Seton RacingFord AU Falcon5 Glenn SetonAll Geoff Brabham
Neal Bates
Glenn Seton RacingFord EL Falcon
Ford AU Falcon		6 Neil CromptonAll Geoff Brabham
Neal Bates
Gibson MotorsportHolden VT Commodore7 Steven RichardsAll Greg Murphy
Gibson MotorsportHolden VT Commodore12 Greg Murphy1–11
Gibson MotorsportHolden VS Commodore
Holden VT Commodore		73 David "Truckie" Parsons4–13 David "Skippy" Parsons
Perkins EngineeringHolden VT Commodore8 Russell Ingall1–11
Perkins EngineeringHolden VT Commodore11 Larry PerkinsAll Russell Ingall
Larkham Motor SportFord AU Falcon10 Mark LarkhamAll Brad Jones
Imrie Motor SportHolden VS Commodore14 Mike Imrie2, 4–6, 8–10, 12–13 Rodney Crick
McDougall MotorsportHolden VS Commodore
Holden VT Commodore		16 Dugal McDougall1–4
6–13		 Andrew Miedecke
Dick Johnson RacingFord AU Falcon17 Dick Johnson1–7, 9–13
Dick Johnson RacingFord AU Falcon17 Steven Johnson8
Dick Johnson RacingFord AU Falcon18 Paul RadisichAll Steven Ellery
Wayne Gardner RacingHolden VT Commodore19 Wayne Gardner2, 13 David Brabham
Colourscan MotorsportFord EL Falcon
Ford AU Falcon		22 Danny Osborne1–2, 6–7, 10, 12–13
Colourscan MotorsportFord EL Falcon
Ford AU Falcon		22 Brett Peters3, 11
Colourscan MotorsportFord EL Falcon42 Mark Williams
Scott Fleming
Romano RacingHolden VS Commodore24 Paul Romano1–4, 6–13 Tomas Mezera*
Darren Hossack**
Longhurst RacingFord AU Falcon25 Tony LonghurstAll Adam Macrow
M3 MotorsportHolden VS Commodore
Holden VT Commodore		26 John Cotter1, 6–7
M3 MotorsportHolden VS Commodore
Holden VT Commodore		26 Peter Doulman2, 4, 8, 10–13
Terry FinniganHolden VS Commodore27 Terry Finnigan1, 13
Terry FinniganHolden VS Commodore27 Darren Pate8, 10–11
Greg Crick MotorsportFord EL Falcon30 Greg Crick1
Harris RacingFord EL Falcon30 Craig Harris7, 10–11, 13 Tim Shaw
Steven Ellery RacingFord EL Falcon31 Steven Ellery1, 4–5, 7, 10–11
Tomas Mezera MotorsportHolden VT Commodore32 Tomas Mezera1–2, 4, 6–7, 13 Tony Ricciardello
Pro-Duct MotorsportHolden VS Commodore33 Allan McCarthy6, 13
Pro-Duct MotorsportHolden VS Commodore33 Phil Ward7
Garry Rogers MotorsportHolden VS Commodore
Holden VT Commodore		34 Garth TanderAll Greg Ritter
Matthew Coleman*
Steve Owen**
Garry Rogers MotorsportHolden VT Commodore35 Jason BargwannaAll Greg Ritter
Matthew Coleman*
Steve Owen**
Schembri MotorsportHolden VS Commodore36 Neil Schembri13 Gary Quartly
Scotty Taylor RacingHolden VS Commodore37 Bill Attard1, 11, 13 Alan Taylor
South Pacific Motor SportHolden VS Commodore38 Peter Field13 Shane Howison
Challenge MotorsportHolden VS Commodore39 Chris Smerdon1–2, 6–8, 10–13 Mal Rose*
Charlie Cox**
Greenfield Mowers RacingFord EL Falcon40 Cameron McLeanAll Wayne Park*
John Cleland**
Simon EmerzidisHolden VS Commodore
Ford EL Falcon		41 Garry Willmington4 Garry Holt
Simon EmerzidisHolden VS Commodore
Ford EL Falcon		41 Bill Sieders13 Garry Holt
Simon EmerzidisFord EL Falcon54 Simon Emerzidis1–2, 4, 7, 11–13 Garry Willmington
Paul Weel RacingFord AU Falcon43 Paul Weel1, 4–13 Greg Crick
John Faulkner RacingHolden VT Commodore46 John FaulknerAll Simon Wills
John Faulkner RacingHolden VS Commodore96 Paul Dumbrell1, 9, 12–13 Matthew White
John Faulkner RacingHolden VS Commodore96 Cameron McConville6–8 Matthew White
John Faulkner RacingHolden VS Commodore96 Matthew White10–11 Matthew White
Daily Planet RacingHolden VS Commodore47 John Trimbole12–13 Kevin Heffernan
Rod Smith RacingHolden VS Commodore48 D'arcy Russell2–5, 8, 11–13 Grant Johnson
Layton CrambrookHolden VS Commodore49 Layton Crambrook8–13 Dean Crosswell
Clive Wiseman RacingHolden VS Commodore50 Mick Donaher1–7, 10–11 Melinda Price
Clive Wiseman RacingHolden VS Commodore50 Dean Lindstrom12–13 Melinda Price
Charles RymanFord EL Falcon51 Charles Ryman1rowspan="2"
Charles RymanFord EL Falcon51 Wayne Wakefield5, 7-
Barry MorcomHolden VS Commodore52 Barry Morcom1–2, 6–7, 11
Rod Nash RacingHolden VS Commodore
Holden VT Commodore		55 Rod Nash1–8, 10–13 Dean Wanless
Pretty MotorsportHolden VS Commodore60 Nathan Pretty3, 10, 13 Andrew Fawcet
Pretty MotorsportHolden VS Commodore60 Nicole Pretty8 Andrew Fawcet
James Rosenberg RacingHolden VT Commodore66 Mark Poole8–13 Tony Scott
Briggs Motor SportFord AU Falcon70 John Briggs2, 4–7, 10–13 Tim Leahey
Briggs Motor SportFord EL Falcon80 Bob Thorn1, 4–8, 12–13 Todd Wanless
Robert Smith RacingHolden VS Commodore72 David Parsons1–2rowspan="2"
Robert Smith RacingHolden VS Commodore72 Robert Smith6-
Paul Little RacingFord AU Falcon75 Anthony Tratt1, 4–6, 8–13 Alan Jones
V8 RacingHolden VS Commodore77 Richard Mork1, 6, 11, 13 Christian D'Agostin
Cadillac ProductionsFord EL Falcon79 Mike Conway1–2, 6–7, 9–13 Ric Shaw
Cadillac ProductionsFord EL Falcon79 Bob Jones8 Ric Shaw
Rowse MotorsportHolden VP Commodore81 Tim Rowse13 Ron Barnacle
Miller RacingHolden VS Commodore84 Daniel Miller2–3, 5, 11–13 Tony Ricciardello*
Geoff Kendrick**
Rod SalmonHolden VS Commodore87 Damien White11, 13 Rod Salmon
Geoff KendrickHolden VS Commodore92 Geoff Kendrick3, 5
Graphic Skills RacingHolden VS Commodore97 Wayne Wakefield12–13 Dean Canto
Owen Parkinson RacingHolden VS Commodore98 Kerryn Brewer2 Neil Crowe
Owen Parkinson RacingHolden VS Commodore98 Gary Baxter4 Neil Crowe
Owen Parkinson RacingHolden VS Commodore98 Wayne Wakefield6 Neil Crowe
Owen Parkinson RacingHolden VS Commodore98 Kim Jane8 Neil Crowe
Owen Parkinson RacingHolden VS Commodore98 David Parsons9–10 Neil Crowe
Owen Parkinson RacingHolden VS Commodore98 Dean Canto11 Neil Crowe
Owen Parkinson RacingHolden VS Commodore98 Barry Cassidy13 Neil Crowe
Power RacingFord EL Falcon134 Alan Heath2–3, 5, 7–8, 12–13 Warren Luff*
Mick Donaher**
PAE MotorsportFord EL Falcon
Ford AU Falcon		600 John BoweAll Jim Richards
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* = Drove in the Queensland 500 only
** = Drove in the FAI 1000 only

Race Calendar

The 1999 Shell Championship Series consisted of 13 rounds which included eleven sprint rounds of two or three races and two endurance races. It was the first time since 1977 that endurance races had been included in the championship.
Rd.Race Title
Circuit		Location / StateDateWinnerTeamReport
1Eastern Creek RacewayEastern Creek, New South Wales26–28 MarchMark SkaifeHolden Racing TeamReport
2Sensational Adelaide 500
Adelaide Street Circuit		Adelaide, South Australia8–11 AprilCraig LowndesHolden Racing TeamReport
3Barbagallo RacewayPerth, Western Australia30 April – 2 MayCraig LowndesHolden Racing Team
4Phillip IslandPhillip Island, Victoria14–16 MayMark SkaifeHolden Racing Team
5Hidden Valley RacewayDarwin, Northern Territory4–6 JuneJason BrightStone Brothers Racing
6Sandown International RacewayMelbourne, Victoria25–27 JuneMark SkaifeHolden Racing TeamReport
7Queensland RacewayIpswich, Queensland9–11 JulyGarth TanderGarry Rogers Motorsport
8Calder Park RacewayMelbourne, Victoria23–25 JulyMark SkaifeHolden Racing Team
9Symmons Plains RacewayLaunceston, Tasmania6–8 AugustMark SkaifeHolden Racing TeamReport
10Winton Motor RacewayBenalla, Victoria20–22 AugustJason BargwannaGarry Rogers Motorsport
11Oran Park RacewaySydney, New South Wales3–5 SeptemberMark SkaifeHolden Racing TeamReport
12Queensland 500
Queensland Raceway		Ipswich, Queensland17–19 SeptemberRussell Ingall
Larry Perkins		Perkins EngineeringReport
13FAI 1000
Mount Panorama Circuit		Bathurst, New South Wales11–14 NovemberSteven Richards
Greg Murphy		Gibson MotorsportReport

Championship standings

Privateers award

The Privateers award was contested over all rounds except Rounds 2, 12 & 13. Unlike 1998, points were awarded to the driver rather than the team. The best five scores from the ten rounds could be retained by each driver.
Pos.DriverCarEntrantPoints
1Cameron McLeanFord EL FalconGreenfield Mowers Racing250
2Rodney ForbesHolden VS CommodoreBob Forbes Corporation242
3Steve ReedHolden VS CommodoreLansvale Smash Repairs230
4Mick DonaherHolden VS CommodoreUltra Tune Racing220
5David ParsonsHolden VS CommodoreSmiths Trucks & Challenge Recruitment214
6Mike ImrieHolden VS CommodoreSaabwreck Motorsport176
7Chris SmerdonHolden VS CommodoreChallenge Motorsport156
8Bob ThornFord EL FalconSupercheap Auto142
9Mike ConwayFord EL FalconCadillac Productions128
10Trevor AshbyHolden VS CommodoreLansvale Smash Repairs126