1961 Australian GT Championship

December 2023 December 2023 1961 Australian GT Championship 1960 1962 thumb|250px|Layout of the Warwick Farm Raceway (1960-1973) The 1961 Australian GT Championship was a CAMS sanctioned Australian motor racing title for Appendix K GT cars.1961 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, page 53 The title, which was the second Australian GT Championship,2006 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, page 14-6 was contested over a single 50 mile race held at the Warwick Farm circuit, in New South Wales, Australia on 30 July 1961.Young Sydney Driver Wins Car Race Title, The Sydney Morning Herald, Monday, 31 July 1961 The race was conducted by the Australian Automobile Racing Co.Coming Events In N.S.W, Racing Car News, July 1961, page 8 The championship was won by Frank Matich driving a Jaguar D-Type. Results PositionDavid McKay, Matich G.T. Champ, Modern Motor, October 1961, pages 26,27 & 98 Driver No.Official Programme, Warwick Farm Motor Racing Circuit, 30 July 1961 Car Entrant LapsInformation Sheets, National Open Meeting, Warwick Farm, 30th July, 1961, Australian Automobile Racing Co. Ltd., jbraithwaite.smugmug.com 1 Frank Matich 36 Jaguar D-Type Team Leaton 23 2 David McKay 14 Lola 1100 Scuderia Veloce 23 3 Brian Foley 1 Austin-Healey Sprite B. Foley 22 4 Bob Jane 33 Maserati 300S Autoland Pty. Ltd. 22 5 Greg Cusack 20 Porsche Super 90 G. Cusack 22 6 Brian Lawler 28 Buckle B. Lawler 22 ? The report in Australian Motor Sport indicates that Malcolm finished the race but does not indicate the placing attained. Keith MalcolmMike Kable, Matich runs away with GT title, Sports Car World, October 1961, pages 46 to 48 30 SkodenAustralian G.T. Championships at Warwick Farm, Australian Motor Sports, September 1961, pages 368 - 370 Bass Hill Service Station ? John CallawayWarwick Farm - 30 July, Racing Car News, September 1961, pages 1 to 3 18 MGA Twin Cam Monaro Motors   ? Les Howard 3 Austin-Healey Sprite Howard & Sons   ? Harry Firth 37 Jaguar 3.8 Autoland Pty. Ltd.   ? Bob Holden 2 Austin-Healey Sprite Killara Motor Garage ? Harry Cape 17 MGA Twin Cam H. Cape ? H. Fenton 22 Peugeot 203 H. G. Fenton ? Martin Faithfull 15 Simca Killara Motor Garage DNF Ralph Sach 16 MGA Twin Cam R. Orlando   DNF Graham White 23 Porsche Continental Motors 12 DNF Bruce McPhee 31 Holden FEMcPhee's car is referred to in the Sports Car World report as a Holden FC but the image published with the Racing Car News report shows it to be a Holden FE. It appears in the Official Programme simply as a Holden. Wyong Motors 5 DNF Ron Hodgson 10 Lotus Eleven Coventry ClimaxMike Kable, The GT Jaguar That Ran Away, Wheels, October 1961, pages 34 & 35 Stathfield Motors Pty. Ltd. 3 DNF Leo Geoghegan 11 Lotus Elite Geoghegan Motors 2 DNF Bryan Thomson 26 Monza Holden Ecurie Shepparton 0 DNSThe Racing Car News report notes that Harry Howard contested the first preliminary heat. He is not included in the grid list published with that report. Harry Howard 19 Simca Aronde Howard & Sons - DNSThe Racing Car News report notes that Peter Manton contested the first preliminary heat but did not finish. He is not included in the grid list published with that report. Peter Manton 4 Morris 850 Monaro Motors - DNSThe Racing Car News report notes that Max Laroux contested the first preliminary heat but did not finish. He is not included in the grid list published with that report. Max Laroux 7 Morris Minor 1000The Racing Car News Report lists Laroux's car as a Morris Minor. The Official Programme lists it as a Morris 1000. W. Mitchell - DNS The AARC Information Sheets show Car 18 on the grid list for Heat A. It is not included in the grid list for the final as published with the Racing Car News report. L. J. Callaway 18 MGA Twin Cam Monaro Motors - DNSThe AARC Information Sheets show Car 5 on the grid list for Heat A. It is not included in the grid list for the final as published with the Racing Car News report. A. R. Allen 5 Morris 850 A. R. Allen - DNSThe Racing Car News report notes that Peter Williamson contested the second preliminary heat. He is not included in the grid list published with that report. Peter Williamson 32 Buckle P. Williamson - DNSThe Racing Car News report notes that Ken Lindsay contested the second preliminary heat but did not finish. He is not included in the grid list published with that report. Ken Lindsay 29 Holden Ken Lindsay Motors - DNSThe AARC Information Sheets show Car 27 on the grid list for Heat A. It is not included in the grid list for the final as published with the Racing Car News report. J. McKeown 27 Jewitt Holden T. M. Motors - DNSThe Sports Car World report notes that Bill Mitchell crashed in practice. He is not included in the grid list published with the Racing Car News report. Bill Mitchell 25 Lotus Holden W. Mitchell - Notes Attendance: 25,000Matich [D Jaguar] Wins G.T. Title, Australian Motor Manual, 2 October 1961, page 39 Number of entries in Official Programme: 33 Number of starters: 20 Pole position: Frank Matich (Jaguar D-Type) Fastest lap: Frank Matich (Jaguar D-Type), 1:53.5 (71.80 mph) Winner's race time: 44:40.8 (69.47 mph) Winning margin: 2:07.8 References Further reading Jim Shepherd, A History of Australian Motor Sport, 1980, pages 184-185 External links Greg Cusack's Porsche Super 90 leads Brian Foley's Austin-Healey Sprite during the 1961 Australian GT Championship, www.foleyalfa.com.au, as archived at web.archive.org Category:Australian GT Championship GT Championship Category:Motorsport at Warwick Farm