The 1997 Australian Super Touring Championship was a CAMS sanctioned Australian motor racing title open to Super Touring Cars. It was the fifth national title to be run in Australia for Super Touring Cars and the third to carry the Australian Super Touring Championship name. The championship, which was promoted by TOCA Australia as the 1997 BOC Gases Australian Super Touring Championship, began on 4 May at Lakeside International Raceway and ended on 9 November at Amaroo Park after eight rounds and sixteen races. The Drivers Championship was won by Paul Morris, the Manufacturers Championship by BMW and the Teams Championship by BMW Motorsport.[1]
Teams and drivers
The following teams and drivers competed in the 1997 Australian Super Touring Championship.
Note : * indicates entry nominated by a manufacturer for the Manufacturers Championship
Race calendar
The 1997 Australian Super Touring Championship was contested over eight rounds with two races held at each round.[2]
Rd.[2]
|
Race
|
Circuit[2]
|
Location / state
|
Date
|
Winner
|
Car
|
Team
|
Report
|
NC
|
1
|
Albert Park Circuit
|
Melbourne, Victoria
|
8–9 March
|
Jim Richards
|
Volvo 850 GLT
|
Volvo Racing Australia
|
|
2
|
Albert Park Circuit
|
Melbourne, Victoria
|
8–9 March
|
Jim Richards
|
Volvo 850 GLT
|
Volvo Racing Australia
|
3
|
Albert Park Circuit
|
Melbourne, Victoria
|
8–9 March
|
Jim Richards
|
Volvo 850 GLT
|
Volvo Racing Australia
|
1
|
1
|
Lakeside International Raceway
|
Brisbane, Queensland
|
3–4 May
|
Paul Morris
|
BMW 320i
|
Paul Morris Motorsport
|
2
|
Lakeside International Raceway
|
Brisbane, Queensland
|
3–4 May
|
Paul Morris
|
BMW 320i
|
Paul Morris Motorsport
|
2
|
1
|
Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit
|
Phillip Island, Victoria
|
31 May–1 Jun
|
Paul Morris
|
BMW 320i
|
Paul Morris Motorsport
|
2
|
Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit
|
Phillip Island, Victoria
|
31 May–1 Jun
|
Geoff Brabham
|
BMW 320i
|
Paul Morris Motorsport
|
3
|
1
|
Calder Park Raceway
|
Melbourne, Victoria
|
21–22 Jun
|
Brad Jones
|
Audi A4 Quattro
|
Brad Jones Racing
|
2
|
Calder Park Raceway
|
Melbourne, Victoria
|
21–22 Jun
|
Geoff Brabham
|
BMW 320i
|
Paul Morris Motorsport
|
4
|
1
|
Amaroo Park
|
Sydney, New South Wales
|
19–20 Jul
|
Brad Jones
|
Audi A4 Quattro
|
Brad Jones Racing
|
2
|
Amaroo Park
|
Sydney, New South Wales
|
19–20 Jul
|
Brad Jones
|
Audi A4 Quattro
|
Brad Jones Racing
|
5
|
1
|
Winton Motor Raceway
|
Benalla, Victoria
|
9–10 Aug
|
Cameron McConville
|
Audi A4 Quattro
|
Brad Jones Racing
|
2
|
Winton Motor Raceway
|
Benalla, Victoria
|
9–10 Aug
|
Paul Morris
|
BMW 320i
|
Paul Morris Motorsport
|
6
|
1
|
Mallala Motor Sport Park
|
Mallala, South Australia
|
23–24 Aug
|
Brad Jones
|
Audi A4 Quattro
|
Brad Jones Racing
|
2
|
Mallala Motor Sport Park
|
Mallala, South Australia
|
23–24 Aug
|
Cameron McConville
|
Audi A4 Quattro
|
Brad Jones Racing
|
NC
|
1
|
Mount Panorama Circuit
|
Bathurst, New South Wales
|
5 Oct
|
David Brabham & Geoff Brabham
|
BMW 320i
|
BMW Motorsport Australia
|
Report
|
7
|
1
|
Lakeside International Raceway
|
Brisbane, Queensland
|
25–26 Oct
|
Paul Morris
|
BMW 320i
|
Paul Morris Motorsport
|
|
2
|
Lakeside International Raceway
|
Brisbane, Queensland
|
25–26 Oct
|
Paul Morris
|
BMW 320i
|
Paul Morris Motorsport
|
8
|
1
|
Amaroo Park
|
Sydney, New South Wales
|
8–9 Nov
|
Geoff Brabham
|
BMW 320i
|
Paul Morris Motorsport
|
2
|
Amaroo Park
|
Sydney, New South Wales
|
8–9 Nov
|
Paul Morris
|
BMW 320i
|
Paul Morris Motorsport
|
Results
Drivers Championship
Drivers Championship points were awarded on a 15-12-10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis for the first ten places in each race.[2] One point was awarded to the driver setting the fastest qualifying time for each races.[2]
|
Colour |
Result
|
Gold |
Winner
|
Silver |
Second place
|
Bronze |
Third place
|
Green |
Points finish
|
Blue |
Non-points finish
|
Non-classified finish (NC)
|
Purple |
Retired (Ret)
|
Red |
Did not qualify (DNQ)
|
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
|
Black |
Disqualified (DSQ)
|
White |
Did not start (DNS)
|
Withdrew (WD)
|
Race cancelled (C)
|
Blank
|
Did not practice (DNP)
|
Did not arrive (DNA)
|
Excluded (EX)
|
|
Manufacturers Championship
Manufacturers Championship points were awarded on a 15-12-10 basis for relative positions attained in each race by the best placed car of each of the three manufacturers that had nominated cars to compete on their behalf.
Position
|
Manufacturer[1]
|
Lak R1
|
Lak R2
|
Phi R1
|
Phi R2
|
Cal R1
|
Cal R2
|
Ama R1
|
Ama R2
|
Win R1
|
Win R2
|
Mal R1
|
Mal R2
|
Lak R1
|
Lak R2
|
Ama R1
|
Ama R2
|
Points[1]
|
1
|
BMW
|
15
|
15
|
15
|
15
|
12
|
15
|
12
|
12
|
12
|
15
|
10
|
12
|
15
|
15
|
15
|
15
|
220
|
2
|
Audi
|
-
|
10
|
12
|
12
|
15
|
12
|
15
|
15
|
15
|
12
|
15
|
15
|
12
|
10
|
12
|
12
|
194
|
3
|
Volvo
|
12
|
12
|
-
|
10
|
10
|
10
|
10
|
10
|
10
|
10
|
12
|
10
|
10
|
12
|
10
|
10
|
158
|
Teams Championship
TOCA Challenge Cup - Independents
The TOCA Challenge Cup was open to drivers of teams which did not receive major support from a manufacturer.[2]
See also
1997 AMP Bathurst 1000, a non-championship race for Super Touring cars.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l TOCA Australia – BOC Gases Australian Super Touring Championship Points – Final, 9 December 1997
- ^ a b c d e f Official Programme, Australian Super Touring Championship, Mallala, Round 6–24 August 1997, p. 40
External links