1973 Australian Touring Car Championship

The 1973 Australian Touring Car Championship was an Australian motor racing competition for Group C Touring Cars. It began at Symmons Plains on 5 March 1973 and ended at Warwick Farm after eight rounds. The championship, which was authorised by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport as an Australian National Title, was the 14th running of the Australian Touring Car Championship.

The championship was won by Allan Moffat in a Ford Falcon GTHO Phase III.

The night before Round 6 of the series at the Adelaide International Raceway, Moffat's GTHO Falcon was stolen from Stillwell Ford in the northern Adelaide suburb of Medindie. Rather than see Moffat out of the race (he was the series points leader at the time having won the opening 4 rounds and finishing 3rd in round 5), Murray Carter loaned Moffat his GTHO Falcon for the race. Peter Brock won the race while Moffat kept his points lead by finishing second. Moffat's stolen Falcon was later found abandoned in the Adelaide Hills where the thieves who had taken it for a "joy ride" dumped it when it ran out of fuel.

Entrants and drivers[edit]

The following drivers competed in the 1973 ATCC. The series consisted of eight rounds held in six different states. As of 2022, Elemer Vajda's entry is still the only Subaru to have contested an ATCC/V8 Supercars race.^[1]

Entrant	Car	No	Driver
Holden Dealer Team	Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1	1	Peter Brock
Grace Brothers Racing	Chrysler Valiant Charger R/T E49	1	Ian Geoghegan
Holden Dealer Team	Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1	2	Peter Brock
Murray Carter - Shell Racing	Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III	3	Murray Carter
Dick Johnson	Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1	4	Dick Johnson
McLeod Ford	Ford XA Falcon GT Hardtop	5	John Goss
Road & Track Auto Services	Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III	6	Fred Gibson
Bob Jane Racing	Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1	7	Bob Jane
Allan Moffat	Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III	9	Allan Moffat
Grace Brothers Racing	Chrysler Valiant Charger R/T E49	10	Ian Geoghegan
Holden Dealer Team	Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1	11	Peter Brock
Ron Hodgson Motors	Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1	11	Bob Morris
Bob Holden	Ford Escort Twin Cam	13	Bob Holden
Peter Robinson Motors Lilydale	Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1	14	Tony Niovanni
John Stoopman	Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1	15	John Stoopman
Graeme Blanchard	Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1	16	Graeme Blanchard
Bryan Thomson	Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1	17	Bryan Thomson
Ted Mudie	Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1	18	Ted Mudie
Cessnock Motor Works	Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1	19	Allan Grice
Rod McRae	Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1	20	Rod McRae
Phil Barnes	Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1	21	Phil Barnes
Phillip Lyon	Ford Escort Twin Cam	23	Phillip Lyon
Holden Dealer Team	Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1	24	Colin Bond
Graham Parsons	Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1	25	Graham Parsons
Lakis Manticas	Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1	27	Lakis Manticas
Stuart Saker	Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1	29	Stuart Saker
Don Holden	Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1	30	Don Holland
Gary Cooke	Mazda RX-3	31	Gary Cooke
Graham Ryan	Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1	32	Graham Ryan
Ken Loughan	Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1	34	Ken Loughan
Alan Cant	Ford Escort Twin Cam	37	Alan Cant
John Duggan	Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1	39	John Duggan
John French	Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III	44	John French
Rod Housego	Chrysler Valiant Charger R/T E49	45	Rod Housego
Lyndon Arnel	Ford Escort Twin Cam	47	Lyndon Arnel
Geoff Leeds	Ford Escort Twin Cam	49	Geoff Leeds
Tony Farrell	Ford Escort Twin Cam	52	Tony Farrell
Barry Bassingthwaite	Ford Escort Twin Cam	57	Barry Bassingthwaite
Strapp Ford Doncaster	Ford Escort Twin Cam	58	Graham Ritter
David Jamieson	Ford Mustang	60	David Jamieson
Campbell Lambert	Morris Cooper S	61	Campbell Lambert
Tony Watts	Morris Cooper S	62	Tony Watts
Chris Pawson	Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1	63	Chris Pawson ^[2]
Westland Autos	Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III	64	Bill Dickson
Werner Tulipan	Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1	66	Werner Tulipan
Peter Granger	Ford Escort Twin Cam	67	Peter Granger
Nick Munting	Toyota Corolla	68	Nick Munting ^[3]
John Dellaca	Morris Cooper S	69	John Dellaca
Rod Miles	Morris Clubman GT	72	Rod Miles
Stewart McLeod	Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1	73	Stewart McLeod
Gary Keen	Mazda RX-3	75	Gary Keen
Bob Jane Racing	Chevrolet Camaro ZL1	76	Bob Jane
Garry Rowe	Ford Escort Twin Cam	77	Garry Rowe
Martin Anderson	Morris Cooper S	78	Martin Anderson
Jim Stewart	Morris Cooper S	79	Jim Stewart
Brett Keightley	Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1	80	Brett Keightley
Elemer Vajda	Subaru 1300	81	Elemer Vajda
Eric Olsen	Ford Escort Twin Cam	83	Eric Olsen
Paul Gulson	Fiat 128 Coupe	85	Paul Gulson
Tony Allen	Chrysler Valiant Charger R/T E49	87	Tony Allen
Lawrie Nelson	Chrysler Valiant Charger R/T E49	88	Lawrie Nelson
John Piper	Ford Escort Twin Cam	90	John Piper
Mel McEwin	Toyota Corolla	91	Mel McEwin
Keith McCloy	Morris Cooper S	94	Keith McCloy
Rod Boyle	Morris Cooper S	95	Rod Boyle
Graeme Adams	Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1	96	Graeme Adams
Bill Nitschke	Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1	97	Bill Nitschke
World of Tyres	Chrysler Valiant Charger R/T E49	98	Ian Diffen
Alfred Colledge	Morris Cooper S	99	Alfred Colledge
W. S. Nitschke	Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1	101	John Lewis
Paul Moore	Toyota Corolla	102	Paul Moore
Rod Morris	Morris Cooper S	107	Rod Morris
Motorama	Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1	154	Ray Thackwell

Calendar[edit]

The 1973 Australian Touring Car Championship consisted of eight rounds.^[4]

Rd.	Race title	Circuit	City / state	Date	Winning driver	Winning car	Entrant
1	Symmons Plains	Symmons Plains Raceway	Launceston, Tasmania	5 March	Allan Moffat	Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III	Allan Moffat
2	Calder	Calder Park Raceway	Melbourne, Victoria	18 March	Allan Moffat	Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III	Allan Moffat
3	Sandown	Sandown International Raceway	Melbourne, Victoria	15 April	Allan Moffat	Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III	Allan Moffat
4	Wanneroo	Wanneroo Park	Perth Western Australia	6 May	Allan Moffat	Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III	Allan Moffat
5	Surfers Paradise	Surfers Paradise International Raceway	Surfers Paradise, Queensland	20 May	Peter Brock	Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1	Holden Dealer Team
6	Datsun Trophy^[5]	Adelaide International Raceway	Adelaide, South Australia	10 June	Peter Brock	Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1	Holden Dealer Team
7	Oran Park	Oran Park Raceway	Sydney, New South Wales	24 June	Allan Moffat	Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III	Allan Moffat
8	Warwick Farm	Warwick Farm Raceway	Sydney, New South Wales	15 July	Peter Brock	Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1	Holden Dealer Team

Points system[edit]

Car competed in two classes:

Up to and including 2000 cc
Over 2000 cc

Points were awarded on a 9-6-4-3-2-1 basis for the first six positions in each class at each round with additional points awarded on a 4-3-2-1 basis for the first four positions, regardless of class, at each round.

Championship standings[edit]

Pos.^[6]	Driver ^[6]	Sym.	Cal.	San.	Wan.	Sur.	Ade.	Ora.	War.	Pts ^[6]
1	Allan Moffat	1st(13)	1st(13)	1st(13)	1st(13)	3rd(6)	2nd(9)	1st(13)	Ret	80
2	Peter Brock	2nd(9)	Ret	Ret	2nd(9)	1st(13)	1st(13)	DSQ	1st(13)	57
3	Graham Ritter	8th(9)	9th(9)	(9)	7th(9)	DNS	7th(9)	Ret	6th(9)	54
4	Bob Holden			(4)	Ret	(4)	Ret	10th(9)	7th(6)	23
4	Eric Olsen	Ret	10th(6)	(3)	8th(6)	10th(6)	(2)			23
6	Ian Geoghegan		Ret	3rd(6)	Ret	2nd(9)	Ret	Ret	3rd(6)	21
7	Fred Gibson		2nd(9)			4th(4)		3rd(6)	Ret	19
8	Murray Carter	5th(2)	5th(2)	3rd(6)	4th(4)	7th	DNS	7th	5th(2)	16
9	Lawrie Nelson		DSQ	2nd(9)			3rd(6)			15
10	Bob Morris							4th(4)	2nd(9)	13
11	Colin Bond							2nd(9)		9
	Lyndon Arnel					5th(9)				9
	Tony Farrell		(3)	(6)						9
14	John Goss	3rd(6)	DSQ	Ret		5th(2)	Ret	Ret		8
15	Bill Dickson				3rd(6)					6
	John Stoopman		6th(1)	6th(1)			4th(4)			6
	Tony Watts	9th(6)								6
	Mel McEwin						(6)			6
	Paul Gulson							(6)		6
20	Bryan Thomson			4th(4)				6th(1)		5
20	Rod Morris							(2)	(3)	5
22	Bob Jane	4th(4)	DSQ							4
	Graham Blanchard	10th	4th(4)	8th						4
	Don Holland							9th	4th(4)	4
	Ian Diffen	6th(1)	7th		5th(2)	8th	6th(1)	8th		4
	John Piper		(4)							4
	Rod Miles				(4)					4
	Peter Moore						(4)			4
	Gary Cooke							(4)		4
	Geoff Leeds								(4)	4
31	Adrian Lewis				(3)					3
	Keith McCloy					(3)				3
	Nick Munting						(3)			3
	Peter Granger							(3)		3
35	Rod McRae		DSQ	5th(2)						2
	Tony Niovanni		DSQ	7th			5th(2)			2
	Lakis Manticas							5th(2)		2
	Alf Colledge		(2)							2
	Phillip Lyons			(2)						2
	Elemer Vajda				(2)					2
	Alan Cant								(2)	2
42
	John Lewis				6th(1)					1
	Dick Johnson					6th(1)				1
	Ted Mudie								(1)	1
	Garry Rowe			(1)						1
Pos	Driver	Sym.	Cal.	San.	Wan.	Sur.	Ade.	Ora.	War.	Pts

Colour	Result
Gold	Winner
Silver	Second place
Bronze	Third place
Green	Points finish
Blue	Non-points finish
Blue	Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple	Retired (Ret)
Red	Did not qualify (DNQ)
Red	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)

Up to and including 2000 cc class competitors

References[edit]

^ Howard, Graham (1986). Australian Touring Car Championship - 25 fabulous years. Sydney, Australia: R & T Publishing. p. 280. ISBN 0959037829.
^ Peter Oliver, Brock's Sensational Sixth, Racing Car News, July 1973, pages 62 & 63
^ Official Programme, Adelaide International Raceway, Sunday, June 10, 1973
^ V8 Central website
^ "1973 Australian Touring Car Championship Programmes". The Programme Covers Project. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
^ ^a ^b ^c The official history - Australian Touring Car Championship - 50 Years, page 137

[1] Howard, Graham (1986). Australian Touring Car Championship - 25 fabulous years. Sydney, Australia: R & T Publishing. p. 280. ISBN 0959037829.

[AIR_RCN-2] Peter Oliver, Brock's Sensational Sixth, Racing Car News, July 1973, pages 62 & 63

[AIR_Programme-3] Official Programme, Adelaide International Raceway, Sunday, June 10, 1973

[4] V8 Central website

[5] "1973 Australian Touring Car Championship Programmes". The Programme Covers Project. Retrieved 23 June 2019.

[50_Years-6] The official history - Australian Touring Car Championship - 50 Years, page 137

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v t e Australian touring car racing
Australian Touring Car Championship	1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
Shell Championship Series	1999 2000 2001
V8 Supercar Championship Series	2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
International V8 Supercars Championship	2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Supercars Championship	2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Super2 Series Super3 Series Australian Super Touring Championship AMSCAR Bathurst 1000 Sandown 500 Enduro Cup List of Australian Touring Car and V8 Supercar champions List of Australian Touring Car Championship races List of Australian Touring Car Championship circuits List of Australian Touring Car and V8 Supercar driver records