The 1979 Australian Grand Prix was an open-wheel racing car race held at Wanneroo Raceway[1] north of Perth in Western Australia on 11 March 1979.
| 1979 Australian Grand Prix | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 of 3 of the 1979 Australian Drivers' Championship | |||
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| Race details | |||
| Date | 11 March 1979 | ||
| Official name | XLIV Australian Grand Prix | ||
| Location | Wanneroo Raceway, Wanneroo, Western Australia | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 2.411 km (1.498 miles) | ||
| Distance | 63 laps, 151.893 km (93.374 miles) | ||
| Weather | Sunny | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Lola-Chevrolet | ||
| Time | 0'52.11 | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Driver |
 John Wright Johnnie Walker |
Lola-Chevrolet Lola-Chevrolet | |
| Time | 0'54.92 | ||
| Podium | |||
| First | Lola-Chevrolet | ||
| Second | Elfin-Chevrolet | ||
| Third | Lola-Chevrolet | ||
The race, which was the first round of the 1979 Australian Drivers' Championship,[2] was open to racing cars complying with Australian Formula 1[3] (incorporating Formula 5000 and Formula Pacific). It was recognised by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport as the 44th Australian Grand Prix[4] and was the only Australian Grand Prix to be held at Wanneroo Raceway.
Classification edit
Qualifying edit
| Pos | No | Driver | Car | Entrant | Qual | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 84 | Alfredo Costanzo
|
Lola T430 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | Alfredo Costanzo | 0:52.11 | — |
| 2 | 12 | Larry Perkins
|
Elfin MR8 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | Ansett Team Elfin | 0:52.77 | +0.66 |
| 3 | 25 | John Walker
|
Lola T332 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | John Walker | 0:53.00 | +0.89 |
| 4 | 15 | Terry Hook
|
Lola T332 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | Terry Hook | 0:53.20 | +1.09 |
| 5 | 24 | Jon Davison
|
Lola T332 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | Ranger Truck Rentals | 0:54.20 | +2.09 |
| 6 | 76 | John Wright
|
Lola T400 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | John Wright | 0:54.27 | +2.16 |
| 7 | 7 | John McCormack
|
McLaren M23 / Leyland 5.0L V8 | John McCormack | 0:54.67 | +2.56 |
| 8 | 11 | John Bowe
|
Elfin MR8 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | Ansett Team Elfin | 0:55.30 | +3.19 |
| 9 | 10 | Rob Butcher
|
Lola T332 / Chevrolet V8 | Rob Butcher | 0:55.85 | +3.74 |
| 10 | 71 | John Smith
|
Ralt RT1 / Ford 1.6L I4 | John Smith | 0:56.59 | +4.48 |
| 11 | 38 | Ivan Tighe
|
Chevron B37 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | Ivan Tighe | 0:57.11 | +5.00 |
| 12 | 30 | Peter Larner
|
Chevron B39 / Ford 1.6L I4 | Paul England Racing | 0:57.30 | +5.19 |
| 13 | 19 | Barry Singleton
|
Gardos GL1 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | Barry Singleton | 0:58.20 | +6.09 |
| 14 | 8 | Rod Housego
|
Elfin 622 / Ford 1.6L I4 | Rod Housego | 1:00.70 | +8.59 |
| 15 | 16 | Bob Creasy
|
Birrana 273 / Ford 1.6L I4 | Bob Creasy | 1:01.00 | +8.89 |
| 16 | 40 | Geoff Nicol
|
Elfin 622 / Ford 1.6L I4 | Geoff Nicol | 1:01.89 | +9.78 |
| 17 | 3 | Bill Downey
|
Minos / Ford 1.6L I4 | Bill Downey | 1:03.35 | +11.24 |
| 18 | 17 | Bob Kingsbury
|
El Toro / Alfa Romeo 1.6L I4 | Bob Kingsbury | 1:05.45 | +13.34 |
Race edit
| Pos | No[1] | Driver | Car | Entrant[1] | Laps | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25 | John Walker
|
Lola T332 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | John Walker | 63 | 59m 09.72s |
| 2 | 11[2] | John Bowe
|
Elfin MR8 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | Ansett Team Elfin[5] | 63 | 59m 22.13s |
| 3 | 10 | Rob Butcher
|
Lola T332 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | Rob Butcher | 61 | |
| 4 | 71 | John Smith
|
Ralt RT1 / Ford 1.6L I4 | John Smith | 61 | |
| 5 | 15 | Terry Hook
|
Lola T332 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | Terry Hook | 59 | |
| 6 | 19 | Barry Singleton
|
Gardos GL1 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | Barry Singleton | 59 | |
| 7 | 38 | Ivan Tighe
|
Chevron B37 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | Ivan Tighe | 49 | |
| 8 | 40 | Geoff Nicol
|
Elfin 622 / Ford 1.6L I4 | Geoff Nicol | 45 | |
| Ret | 76 | John Wright
|
Lola T400 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | John Wright | 62 | Engine |
| Ret | 17 | Bob Kingsbury
|
El Toro / Alfa Romeo 1.6L I4 | Bob Kingsbury | 39 | Battery |
| Ret | 7 | John McCormack
|
McLaren M23 / Leyland 5.0L V8 | John McCormack | 36 | Gearbox |
| Ret | 8 | Rod Housego
|
Elfin 622 / Ford 1.6L I4 | Rod Housego | 33 | Exhaust |
| Ret | 3 | Bill Downey
|
Minos[7] / Ford 1.6L I4 | Bill Downey | 30 | Transmission |
| Ret | 24 | Jon Davison
|
Lola T332 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | Ranger Truck Rentals | 20 | Fuel Pump |
| Ret | 30 | Peter Larner
|
Chevron B39 / Ford 1.6L I4 | Paul England Racing | 8 | Brakes / Suspension |
| Ret | 12[5] | Larry Perkins
|
Elfin MR8 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | Ansett Team Elfin[5] | 0 | Accident |
| Ret | 84 | Alfredo Costanzo
|
Lola T430 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | Alfredo Costanzo | 0 | Accident |
| DNS | 16 | Bob Creasy
|
Birrana 273 / Ford 1.6L I4 | Bob Creasy | 0 | Gearbox |
Notes edit
- Pole position: Alfredo Costanzo - 52.11[5]
- Fastest lap: John Wright / John Walker - 54.92, 158.20 km/h (98.30 mph)[5]
- Winner's average speed: 154.20 km/h (95.30 mph)[5]
References edit
- ^ a b c Souvenir Programme, Australian Grand Prix, Wanneroo Raceway, Sunday, March 11th, 1979
- ^ a b Australian Drivers Championship - Wanneroo, Australian Motor Racing Yearbook, 1979/80, pages 92–93
- ^ Conditions for Australian Titles, CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, 1979, page 95
- ^ Australian Grand Prix Winners, CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, 1980, page 55
- ^ a b c d e f g Wilson, Stewart (1986). "1979". In Howard, Graham (ed.). The Official 50-race history of the Australian Grand Prix. Gordon, NSW: R & T Publishing. pp. 426–434. ISBN 0-9588464-0-5.
- ^ Walker, Terry. "Western Australian Motor Race Results 1979" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
- ^ Downey was entered to drive a Birrana 273 but actually raced a Minos, as per The Official 50-race history of the Australian Grand Prix, page 429