Layout of the Mount Panorama Circuit
The 1997 Primus 1000 Classic was a 1000 kilometre endurance race for V8 Supercars ,[ 1] staged at the Mount Panorama Circuit just outside Bathurst in New South Wales , Australia on 19 October 1997.
It was the inaugural "1000 Classic " race,[ 1] created in response to the desire of V8 Supercar organisers AVESCO to compete at the popular Mount Panorama Circuit outside of the traditional Bathurst 1000 event, as AVESCO were in conflict with the Bathurst 1000 organisers, the Australian Racing Drivers' Club . While many attempts were made to broker a peace between the two bodies, there was a fundamental chasm over the issue of television coverage with AVESCO holding a series contract with Network Ten and the ARDC holding a contract with the Seven Network . The impasse was solved when Bathurst City Council negotiated a deal with AVESCO for a separate race, to be held two weeks after the 1997 AMP Bathurst 1000 , which subsequently went ahead with a field of Australian and British Super Touring cars.
The 1997 Primus 1000 Classic was won by Larry Perkins and Russell Ingall driving a Holden Commodore (VS) .
Entry list and class structure
Class structure
Level 1
These were the full-time professional teams, aiming to win the race outright and holders of a 'Level 1' V8 Supercar franchise.
Special Level 1
The smaller, part-time 'Level 2' teams, who wished to run on the tyres of their own choosing.
Level 2
The smaller, part-time 'Level 2' teams, running on a Dunlop control tyre of lower, cheaper specification.
Entry list
Class
Drivers
Team (Sponsors)
Car
Class
Drivers
Team (Sponsors)
Car
1
L1
Glenn Seton David Parsons
Glenn Seton Racing (Ford Credit )
Ford Falcon EL
28
L2
Kevin Waldock John Smith
Playscape Racing (CBS Drill & Blast)
Ford Falcon EF
3
S1
Steve Reed Trevor Ashby
Lansvale Smash Repairs (Dulux ICI Autocolor)
Holden Commodore VS
33
L2
Bob Pearson Allan McCarthy
Pro-Duct Motorsport (Pro-Duct Air Conditioning)
Holden Commodore VS
05
L1
Peter Brock Mark Skaife
Holden Racing Team (Holden , Mobil 1 )
Holden Commodore VS
34
L1
Steven Richards Jim Richards
Garry Rogers Motorsport (Valvoline , Cummins )
Holden Commodore VS
7
L1
Wayne Gardner Neil Crompton
Wayne Gardner Racing (Coca-Cola , Donut King )
Holden Commodore VS
36
L2
Neil Schembri Ian Luff
Schembri Motorsport (Gearbox Motorsport)
Holden Commodore VS
9
L1
Alan Jones Scott Pruett Jason Bright
Alan Jones Racing (Komatsu )
Ford Falcon EL
37
L2
Alan Taylor Bill Attard Stephen Bell
Alan Taylor Racing (The Xerox Shop)
Holden Commodore VP
10
L1
Mark Larkham Andrew Miedecke
Larkham Motorsport (Mitre 10 )
Ford Falcon EL
38
S1
Mark Poole Tony Scott
James Rosenberg Racing (Gawler Farm Machinery, John Deere )
Holden Commodore VS
11
L1
Larry Perkins Russell Ingall
Perkins Engineering (Castrol )
Holden Commodore VS
39
L2
Chris Smerdon Charlie Cox
Challenge Motorsport (Vittoria Coffee )
Holden Commodore VS
12
L2
Bruce Williams Paul Gover
Robert Smith Racing (Simoco Radio Communications)
Holden Commodore VS
40
L2
Michael Hart Peter Lawrence
Michael Hart Motorsport (SMC Pneumatics)
Holden Commodore VR
13
L2
Ryan McLeod Darren Pate
John Faulkner Racing (OAMPS Insurance, Bankwest )
Holden Commodore VR
41
L2
Garry Willmington Bill Sieders
Emerzidis Motorsport (Simon's Earthworks)
Holden Commodore VR
14
L2
Malcolm Stenniken Peter Gazzard
Malcolm Stenniken Racing (Disc Brakes Australia)
Holden Commodore VS
44
L2
Mal Rose Kevin Burton
Mal Rose Racing (Fairfax Community Classifieds )
Holden Commodore VS
15
L1
Greg Murphy Craig Lowndes
Holden Racing Team (Holden , Mobil 1 )
Holden Commodore VS
45
L1
Darren Hossack Steven Ellery
Gibson Motorsport (Wynn's )
Holden Commodore VS
16
L2
Melinda Price Kerryn Brewer
Perkins Engineering (Castrol )
Holden Commodore VS
46
L1
John Faulkner Win Percy
John Faulkner Racing (Betta Electrical , Fisher & Paykel )
Holden Commodore VS
17
L1
Dick Johnson John Bowe
Dick Johnson Racing (Shell Helix )
Ford Falcon EL
47
S1
John Trimbole Tomas Mezera
Daily Planet Racing (Bottle Magic)
Holden Commodore VS
18
L1
Steven Johnson Craig Baird
Dick Johnson Racing (Shell Helix )
Ford Falcon EL
49
S1
Greg Crick Peter Fitzgerald
Greg Crick Motorsport (Ericsson , Alcair Air Conditioning)
Holden Commodore VS
20
L2
Ian Palmer John English
Palmer Promotions (Contrabart Trade Exchange)
Holden Commodore VS
54
L1
Anthony Tratt Paul Stokell Peter Bradbury
Wayne Gardner Racing (Toll , Coca-Cola )
Holden Commodore VS
21
L2
Brian Walden Steve Williams
Walden Motorsport (unsponsored )
Holden Commodore VP
58
L2
Peter O'Brien Brian Callaghan, Jr. Ron Barnacle
O'Brien Automotive (Everlast Automotive)
Holden Commodore VR
23
L2
Ray Hislop Tim Briggs
Ray Hislop Motorsport (Skilled Group )
Ford Falcon EF
62
L2
Wayne Russell Ric Shaw
Novocastrian Motorsport (Union Steel, Koala Clothing)
Holden Commodore VS
24
S1
Paul Romano Allan Grice
Romano Racing (Bridgestone )
Holden Commodore VS
74
L2
Kevin Heffernan Danny Osborne
PACE Racing (Price Attack, Colourscan Printing)
Holden Commodore VS
25
L1
Tony Longhurst Charlie O'Brien
Longhurst Racing (Castrol )
Ford Falcon EL
79
L2
Mike Conway Gavin Monaghan
Conway Racing (Cadillac Film Productions)
Ford Falcon EB
26
L2
Peter Doulman John Cotter
Doulman Automotive (Allen's )
Holden Commodore VP
97
L1
Jason Bargwanna Mark Noske
Holden Young Lions (Holden )
Holden Commodore VS
27
S1
Terry Finnigan Terry Shiel
Terry Finnigan Racing (Sony )
Holden Commodore VS
Source:[ 2]
Icon
Class
L1
Level 1
S1
Special Level 1
L2
Level 2
Results
Top 10 Shootout
Race
The names of drivers who did not drive in the actual race are shown in the above table within brackets.[ 6]
Statistics
Provisional pole position (Fastest in Qualifying) - #97 Jason Bargwanna - 2:10.9216
Pole position (Fastest in Top 10 Shootout)- #05 Mark Skaife - 2:10.0397
Fastest race lap - #11 Larry Perkins - 2:12.3398 (new lap record)[ 3]
Winners' average speed - 157.14 km/h[ 3] (V8 Supercar record)
Most laps led - Perkins/Ingall - 80[ 3]
See also
References
External links
Phillip Island 500 Bathurst 500 Bathurst 1000 Australia 1000