1979 Australian Grand Prix
Appearance
1979 Australian Grand Prix | |||
---|---|---|---|
Round 1 of 3 of the 1979 Australian Drivers' Championship | |||
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 1979 Australian Grand Prix was an open-wheel racing car race held at Wanneroo Raceway [1] north of Perth in Western Australia, Australia on 11 March 1979.
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
Qualifying
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
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
- 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
- ^ 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).
- ^ 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