1977 Australian Grand Prix

The 1977 Australian Grand Prix was a motor race held at Oran Park International Raceway[1] in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 6 February 1977. It was the forty second Australian Grand Prix and also the first round of the 1977 Rothmans International Series. The race was open to Australian Formula 1 cars and Australian Formula 2 cars.[2]

1977 Australian Grand Prix
Round 1 of the 1977 Rothmans International Series
Race details
Date 6 February 1977
Official name XLII Australian Grand Prix
Location Oran Park Raceway, Sydney
Course Permanent racing facility
Course length 2.620 km (1.628 mi)
Distance 58 laps, 151.96 km (94.424 mi)
Weather Sunny
Pole position
Driver Lola-Chevrolet
Time 1'05.7
Fastest lap
Driver Alan Jones Lola-Chevrolet
Time 1'06.4
Podium
First Lola-Chevrolet
Second Chevron-Chevrolet
Third Matich-Repco Holden

The race was won by Warwick Brown (Lola T430), his first and only Australian Grand Prix victory. Alan Jones (Lola T332) actually finished his 58th and final lap 40 seconds ahead of Brown, however officials penalised Jones 60 seconds for jumping the start and he was officially classified in 4th place.

Classification

Warwick Brown won the race driving this Lola T430 (pictured in 2008)

Results as follows:[3]

Qualifying

PosNoDriverCar / engineQualGap
1 3 Warwick Brown Lola T430 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 1:05.7
2 6 Alan Jones Lola T332 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 1:06.0 +0.3
3 4 Peter Gethin Chevron B24 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 1:06.1 +0.4
4 2 John Goss Matich A53 / Repco Holden 5.0L V8 1:06.1 +0.4
5 16 Max Stewart Lola T400 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 1:06.9 +1.2
6 5 Kevin Bartlett Lola T332 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 1:07.3 +1.6
7 1 Vern Schuppan Elfin MR8 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 1:07.3 +1.6
8 84 Alfredo Costanzo Lola T332 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 1:07.7 +2.0
9 12 Garrie Cooper Elfin MR8 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 1:08.0 +2.3
10 15 Terry Hook Lola T332 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 1:09.8 +4.1
11 17 Ken Shirvington Lola T400 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 1:10.4 +4.7
12 10 Chris Milton Gardos OR2 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 1:10.9 +5.2
13 14 Jon Davison Matich A51 / Repco Holden 5.0L V8 1:11.1 +5.4
14 62 Dave Powell Matich A51 / Repco Holden 5.0L V8 1:11.3 +5.6
15 19 John Edmonds Elfin MR5B / Repco Holden 5.0L V8 1:11.7 +6.0
16 8 Graeme Lawrence Lola T332 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 DNP
17 77 John McCormack McLaren M23 / Leyland 5.0L V8 DNP
7 John Leffler Lola T400 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 DNP engine[4]

Race

PosNo.DriverCar / engineEntrant[1]LapsTime
1 3 Warwick Brown Lola T430 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 Racing Team VDS 58 1h 05m 31.9s
2 4 Peter Gethin Chevron B24 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 Racing Team VDS 58 1h 05m 46.7s
3 2 John Goss Matich A53 / Repco Holden 5.0L V8 John Goss Racing 58 1h 05m 49.2s
4 6 Alan Jones Lola T332 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 Theodore Racing (Hong Kong) / Bill Patterson Motors 58 1h 05m 51.9s
5 1 Vern Schuppan Elfin MR8 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 Ansett Team Elfin 57
6 12 Garrie Cooper Elfin MR8 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 Ansett Team Elfin 56
7 15 Terry Hook Lola T332 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 Terry Hook Racing 54
8 10 Chris Milton Gardos OR2 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 C & C Racing 52
9 14 Jon Davison Matich A51 / Repco Holden 5.0L V8 J. Davison 52
10 19 John Edmonds Elfin MR5B / Repco Holden 5.0L V8 J. Edmonds 48
11 5 Kevin Bartlett Lola T332 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 Magnum Wheels 45
Ret 77 John McCormack McLaren M23 / Leyland 5.0L V8 Budget Motor Racing Team 42 blown engine
Ret 8 Graeme Lawrence Lola T332 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 18 broken engine pushrod
Ret 62 Dave Powell Matich A51 / Repco Holden 5.0L V8 D. Powell 17 overheating
Ret 84 Alfredo Costanzo Lola T332 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 Stock 84 8 broken drive shaft
DNS 16 Max Stewart Lola T400 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 M. Stewart dropped valve
DNS 17 Ken Shirvington Lola T400 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 K. Shirvington dropped valve[5]
DNS 7 John Leffler Lola T400 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 Grace Bros. Racing Team engine[4]

Notes

  • Pole Position: Warwick Brown – 1:05.7
  • Fastest Lap: Alan Jones – 1:06.4
  • Average speed of winning car: 138.6 km/h[6]
  • Alan Jones was penalised 60 seconds for jumping the start

References

  1. Official Programme, 42nd Australian Grand Prix, Oran Park International Raceway
  2. 1977 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, Conditions for Australian Titles, page 87
  3. Wilson, Stewart (1986). "1977". In Howard, Graham (ed.). The Official 50-race history of the Australian Grand Prix. Gordon, NSW: R & T Publishing. pp. 408–415. ISBN 0-9588464-0-5.
  4. According to The Official 50-race history of the Australian Grand Prix, Leffler was unable to contest the timed qualifying sessions due to an engine failure, suffered another engine failure during an later untimed session and did not start the race.
  5. Ray Bell, Beer Baron's Brown Bomber!, Racing Car News, February 1977, pages 62 to 65
  6. Australian Competition Yearbook, 1978 Edition, 42nd Australian Grand Prix. pages 86 to 89
Preceded by
1976 Australian Grand Prix
Australian Grand Prix
1977
Succeeded by
1978 Australian Grand Prix
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