The 1972 Australian Rally Championship

Australian Rally Championship

The Australian Rally Championship is a 6 Round National motorsport Championship run in forested countryside throughout Australia.-Current Competition:...

was a series of six rallying

Rallying

Rallying, also known as rally racing, is a form of auto racing that takes place on public or private roads with modified production or specially built road-legal cars...

 events held across Australia. It was the fifth season in the history of the competition.

Colin Bond

Colin Bond

Colin John Bond is a retired Australian racing driver. Bond reached the highest levels in Australian motorsport in 1969 when he was recruited by Harry Firth to the newly formed Holden Dealer Team...

 and navigator George Shepheard won the Championship for the second year in a row in the Holden Dealer Team

Holden Dealer Team

The Holden Dealer Team was Holden’s semi-official racing team from 1969 until 1987, primarily contesting Australian Touring Car events but also rallying, rallycross and sports sedans during the 1970s...

 Torana GTR XU-1 .

Season review

After a late challenge to the HDT

Holden Dealer Team

The Holden Dealer Team was Holden’s semi-official racing team from 1969 until 1987, primarily contesting Australian Touring Car events but also rallying, rallycross and sports sedans during the 1970s...

 Toranas at the 1971 Southern Cross Rally

Southern Cross Rally

The Southern Cross Rally was a major international rally mainly held in the Port Macquarie region of New South Wales, Australia, between 1966 and 1980. The rally attracted many of the world's leading rally drivers and factory teams....

, the works Mitsubishi Galants

Mitsubishi Galant

The first generation of the car, initially known as the Colt Galant, was released in December 1969. The design was dubbed "Dynawedge" by Mitsubishi, referring to the influence of aerodynamics on the silhouette. Three models were available, powered by the new 'Saturn' engine in 1.3 or 1.5 L ...

 were expected to do well in the 1972 Australian Rally Championship

Australian Rally Championship

The Australian Rally Championship is a 6 Round National motorsport Championship run in forested countryside throughout Australia.-Current Competition:...

 and pose a major threat to Harry Firth's

Harry Firth

Harry L. Firth is an Australian former racing driver and team manager. Firth was a leading race and rally driver during the 1950s and 1960s and continued as an influential team manager well into the 1970s...

 HDT

Holden Dealer Team

The Holden Dealer Team was Holden’s semi-official racing team from 1969 until 1987, primarily contesting Australian Touring Car events but also rallying, rallycross and sports sedans during the 1970s...

 domination of the series. However it was not to be, as the cars were poorly backed up and suffered from various incidents which cost them the chance of any outright wins. The HDT

Holden Dealer Team

The Holden Dealer Team was Holden’s semi-official racing team from 1969 until 1987, primarily contesting Australian Touring Car events but also rallying, rallycross and sports sedans during the 1970s...

 LJ Torana XU-1's won five of the six rounds, Mitsubishi's best finishes were a second place in the Alpine (for Doug Stewart and Dave Johnson) and thirds in the Warana (Doug Stewart and Dave Johnson) and Snowy Mountains

Bega Valley Rally

The Bega Valley Rally is one of the main car rallies held in Australia and has a history dating from the 1960s when it evolved from the Snowy Mountains Rally. It was centred in the New South Wales town of Bega since 1973 and used roads and forestry tracks in the Southern NSW/Victorian Border...

 rallies (Doug Chivas

Doug Chivas

Doug Chivas was an Australian rally and racing car driver. Chivas drove the first Lotus Mark 6 in Australia in the early 1950s winning many races....

 and Peter Meyer).

Another major challenge was expected from Renault. Their Renault R8 Gordinis had dominated the 1970 season and the new R12 Gordinis were faster and the team was hoping this would ensure some success for 1972. Tom Barr-Smith was second in the Walkerville 500, and Bob Watson managed a third in the Akademos

Akademos Rally

The Akademos Rally is an annual car rally held in Victoria, Australia by the Melbourne University Car Club. The event had its origins in 1961. The name was coined by the then head of Motorsport in Australia as an appropriate amalgam of academic [AKADEM] and motorsport [MOS].The event is conducted...

, but other than that it was a disappointing season.

Colin Bond

Colin Bond

Colin John Bond is a retired Australian racing driver. Bond reached the highest levels in Australian motorsport in 1969 when he was recruited by Harry Firth to the newly formed Holden Dealer Team...

 and George Shepheard dominated the championship, winning three rounds together and a fourth for Shepheard when he navigated for Frank Kilfoyle in the final round, The Alpine.

The Rallies

The 1972 season featured six events, two each in New South Wales

New South Wales

New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...

 and Victoria

Victoria (Australia)

Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....

; and one each for Queensland

Queensland

Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...

 and South Australia

South Australia

South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...

.

Round	Rally	Date
1	Bunbury Curran (NSW)	16-17 April
2	Akademos Rally (VIC) Akademos Rally The Akademos Rally is an annual car rally held in Victoria, Australia by the Melbourne University Car Club. The event had its origins in 1961. The name was coined by the then head of Motorsport in Australia as an appropriate amalgam of academic [AKADEM] and motorsport [MOS].The event is conducted...	27-28 May
3	Snowy Mountains Rally (NSW) Bega Valley Rally The Bega Valley Rally is one of the main car rallies held in Australia and has a history dating from the 1960s when it evolved from the Snowy Mountains Rally. It was centred in the New South Wales town of Bega since 1973 and used roads and forestry tracks in the Southern NSW/Victorian Border...	10-12 June
4	Warana Rally (QLD)	23-24 September
5	Rothmans Walkerville 500 (SA)	28-29 October
6	Alpine Rally (VIC)	25-26 November

Round One - Bunbury Curran - 16-17 April 1972

310 miles, 54 starters, 39 finishers

Position	Driver	Navigator	Car	Points
1	Colin Bond Colin Bond Colin John Bond is a retired Australian racing driver. Bond reached the highest levels in Australian motorsport in 1969 when he was recruited by Harry Firth to the newly formed Holden Dealer Team...	George Shepheard	Holden Torana LJ GTR XU-1	25
2	Richard Harris	Graham Lockie	Mazda Capella RE Mazda Capella The second generation rear-wheel drive Capella was available between 1978 and 1982, in both sedan and coupe forms. It was known on export markets as the Mazda 626, with the exception of the United Kingdom, where it was called the Mazda Montrose, the name was changed to honour the local Mazda...	36
3	Doug Stewart	Dave Johnson	Mitsubishi Galant 1600 Mitsubishi Galant The first generation of the car, initially known as the Colt Galant, was released in December 1969. The design was dubbed "Dynawedge" by Mitsubishi, referring to the influence of aerodynamics on the silhouette. Three models were available, powered by the new 'Saturn' engine in 1.3 or 1.5 L ...	38
4	Stewart McLeod	Jack Lock	Holden Torana LJ GTR XU-1	43
5	Peter Lang	Ed O'Cleary	Datsun 1600 Datsun 510 The Datsun 510 was a series of the Datsun Bluebird sold from 1968 to 1974, and offered outside the U.S. and Canada as the Datsun 1600. According to AutoWeek's G.D...	48
6	Paul Older	Brian McElhinney	BMW 2002	51
7	Brian West	Gary Hartnett	Mini Clubman GT Mini The Mini is a small car that was made by the British Motor Corporation and its successors from 1959 until 2000. The original is considered a British icon of the 1960s, and its space-saving front-wheel-drive layout influenced a generation of car-makers...	54
8	Grahame Elliott	Fred Gocentas	Datsun 1600 Datsun 510 The Datsun 510 was a series of the Datsun Bluebird sold from 1968 to 1974, and offered outside the U.S. and Canada as the Datsun 1600. According to AutoWeek's G.D...	57
9	Brian Hilton	Barry Lake	Peugeot 504 Peugeot 504 The Peugeot 504 is a large family car manufactured by French automaker Peugeot between 1968 and 1983, with licensed production continuing until 2006.-1968 — introduction:...	59
10	Peter Robertson	Chris Jessup	Ford Escort Twin Cam	62

Round Two - Akademos Rally

Akademos Rally

The Akademos Rally is an annual car rally held in Victoria, Australia by the Melbourne University Car Club. The event had its origins in 1961. The name was coined by the then head of Motorsport in Australia as an appropriate amalgam of academic [AKADEM] and motorsport [MOS].The event is conducted...

 - 27-28 May 1972

320 miles, 38 starters, 23 finishers

Position	Driver	Navigator	Car	Points
1	Frank Kilfoyle	Roger Bonhomme	Holden Torana LJ GTR XU-1	31
2	Colin Bond Colin Bond Colin John Bond is a retired Australian racing driver. Bond reached the highest levels in Australian motorsport in 1969 when he was recruited by Harry Firth to the newly formed Holden Dealer Team...	George Shepheard	Holden Torana LJ GTR XU-1	32
3	Bob Watson	Geoff Thomas	Renault 12 Gordini	34
4	Barry Ferguson	Warwick Smith	Holden Torana LJ GTR XU-1	37
5	George Fury George Fury George Fury is a retired Australian rally and racing car driver. For the majority of his career Fury was associated with Nissan, twice winning the Australian Rally Championship, and twice runner up in the Australian Touring Car Championship.-Rallying:Born in Hungary, Fury rose to prominence during...	Monty Suffern	Ford Cortina GT	38
6	Mike Fitzgerald	Geoff Schmidt	Peugeot 404 Peugeot 404 The Peugeot 404 is a large family car produced by French automobile manufacturer Peugeot from 1960 to 1975, with the exception of the truck which was sold until 1988. It was also made under licence in various African countries until 1991 . It was also built in Argentina by Sevel.Designed by...	46
7	Peter Janson	Mike Mitchell	Holden Torana LJ GTR XU-1	66
8	John Dixon	Rex Muldoon	Ford Escort Ford Escort Ford Escort may refer to:* Ford Escort , a vehicle manufactured by Ford Motor Company's European division from 1968 through 2003* Ford Escort , a compact car that was manufactured by the Ford Motor Company for the North American market...	74
9=	Mal McPherson	Jeff Beaumont	Renault 12 Gordini	75
9=	Evan Green Evan Green Evan Clifford Symons Green was a well-known Australian motoring journalist and a novelist. He is also a former rally driver with international recognition. He was born in Fairfield, New South Wales, Australia...	Roy Denny	Ford Escort Twin Cam	75

Round Three - Snowy Mountains Rally

Bega Valley Rally

The Bega Valley Rally is one of the main car rallies held in Australia and has a history dating from the 1960s when it evolved from the Snowy Mountains Rally. It was centred in the New South Wales town of Bega since 1973 and used roads and forestry tracks in the Southern NSW/Victorian Border...

 - 10-12 June 1972

600 miles, 48 starters, 40 finishers

Position	Driver	Navigator	Car	Points
1	Colin Bond Colin Bond Colin John Bond is a retired Australian racing driver. Bond reached the highest levels in Australian motorsport in 1969 when he was recruited by Harry Firth to the newly formed Holden Dealer Team...	George Shepheard	Holden Torana LJ GTR XU-1	58
2	Frank Kilfoyle	Roger Bonhomme	Holden Torana LJ GTR XU-1	60
3=	Stewart McLeod	Adrian Mortimer	Holden Torana LJ GTR XU-1	65
3=	Doug Chivas Doug Chivas Doug Chivas was an Australian rally and racing car driver. Chivas drove the first Lotus Mark 6 in Australia in the early 1950s winning many races....	Peter Meyer	Mitsubishi Galant 1600 Mitsubishi Galant The first generation of the car, initially known as the Colt Galant, was released in December 1969. The design was dubbed "Dynawedge" by Mitsubishi, referring to the influence of aerodynamics on the silhouette. Three models were available, powered by the new 'Saturn' engine in 1.3 or 1.5 L ...	65
5	Doug Stewart	Dave Johnson	Mitsubishi Galant 1600 Mitsubishi Galant The first generation of the car, initially known as the Colt Galant, was released in December 1969. The design was dubbed "Dynawedge" by Mitsubishi, referring to the influence of aerodynamics on the silhouette. Three models were available, powered by the new 'Saturn' engine in 1.3 or 1.5 L ...	70
6	Peter Lang	Ed O'Clery	Datsun 1600 Datsun 510 The Datsun 510 was a series of the Datsun Bluebird sold from 1968 to 1974, and offered outside the U.S. and Canada as the Datsun 1600. According to AutoWeek's G.D...	71
7	Barry Ferguson	Warwick Smith	Holden Torana LJ GTR XU-1	88
8	Bruce Collier	Lindsay Adcock	Renault 12 Gordini	92
9	Mark Sheridan	Richard McMaster	Volvo 142S	96
10	Arthur Jackson	Peter Godden	Datsun 1600 Datsun 510 The Datsun 510 was a series of the Datsun Bluebird sold from 1968 to 1974, and offered outside the U.S. and Canada as the Datsun 1600. According to AutoWeek's G.D...	97

Round Four - Warana Rally - 23-24 September 1972

450 miles

Position	Driver	Navigator	Car	Points
1	Colin Bond Colin Bond Colin John Bond is a retired Australian racing driver. Bond reached the highest levels in Australian motorsport in 1969 when he was recruited by Harry Firth to the newly formed Holden Dealer Team...	George Shepheard	Holden Torana LJ GTR XU-1	22
2	Frank Kilfoyle	Mike Osborne	Holden Torana LJ GTR XU-1	26
3	Doug Stewart	Dave Johnson	Mitsubishi Galant 1600 Mitsubishi Galant The first generation of the car, initially known as the Colt Galant, was released in December 1969. The design was dubbed "Dynawedge" by Mitsubishi, referring to the influence of aerodynamics on the silhouette. Three models were available, powered by the new 'Saturn' engine in 1.3 or 1.5 L ...	33
4	Bob Riley	Brian Gemmell	Mitsubishi Galant 1600 Mitsubishi Galant The first generation of the car, initially known as the Colt Galant, was released in December 1969. The design was dubbed "Dynawedge" by Mitsubishi, referring to the influence of aerodynamics on the silhouette. Three models were available, powered by the new 'Saturn' engine in 1.3 or 1.5 L ...	37
5	Mike Chapman	Alan Lawson	Holden HK V8 Holden HK The Holden HK series is an automobile which was produced by General Motors-Holden's in Australia from 1968 to 1969. Introduced in January 1968, the HK range progressively replaced the Holden HR series which had been in production since 1966...	40
6	Stewart McLeod	Adrian Mortimer	Holden Torana LJ GTR XU-1	41
7	Ian Riedel	Ray Wood	Holden Monaro 350 Holden Monaro The Holden Monaro is an automobile that was produced by GM Holden Ltd, an Australian subsidiary of General Motors, between 1968 and 1977 and between 2001 and 2005...	45
8	Evan Green	Roy Denny	Ford Escort Twin Cam	50
9	Charlie Lund	Brian McCloy	Mazda RX-3 Mazda RX-3 The Mazda RX-3 is an automobile sold in the 1970s. It was intended to be smaller and sportier than its brother, the RX-2/Capella Rotary. In 1972 all rotary engines had their die-cast rotor housing coated with a new process: The new Transplant Coating Process featured sprayed-on steel which is...	52
10	Doug Chivas Doug Chivas Doug Chivas was an Australian rally and racing car driver. Chivas drove the first Lotus Mark 6 in Australia in the early 1950s winning many races....	Peter Meyer	Mitsubishi Galant 1600 Mitsubishi Galant The first generation of the car, initially known as the Colt Galant, was released in December 1969. The design was dubbed "Dynawedge" by Mitsubishi, referring to the influence of aerodynamics on the silhouette. Three models were available, powered by the new 'Saturn' engine in 1.3 or 1.5 L ...	58

Round Five - Rothmans Walkerville 500 - 28-29 October 1972

320 miles

Position	Driver	Navigator	Car	Points
1	John Taylor	Graham West	Austin Kimberley Austin Kimberley The Australian Austin Kimberley and Austin Tasman "X6" models of 1970 were a range of Leyland Australian designed front-wheel-drive sedans based on the Austin 1800 platform...	20
2	Tom Barr-Smith	Rob Hunt	Renault 12 Gordini	26
3	Gary Chapman	Norm Vincent	Mazda RX-3 Mazda RX-3 The Mazda RX-3 is an automobile sold in the 1970s. It was intended to be smaller and sportier than its brother, the RX-2/Capella Rotary. In 1972 all rotary engines had their die-cast rotor housing coated with a new process: The new Transplant Coating Process featured sprayed-on steel which is...	41
4	Tony Pennell	Jack Lock	Holden Torana LJ GTR XU-1	42
5	K Intveld	J Hese	Citroen Citroën Citroën is a major French automobile manufacturer, part of the PSA Peugeot Citroën group.Founded in 1919 by French industrialist André-Gustave Citroën , Citroën was the first mass-production car company outside the USA and pioneered the modern concept of creating a sales and services network that...	49
6	Chuck Mora	Colin Abbey	Renault 16TS Renault 16 The Renault 16 is a hatchback produced by French automaker Renault between 1965 and 1980 in Le Havre, France. The reviewer in the May 1965 edition of the English "Motoring Illustrated" said: "The Renault Sixteen can thus be described as a large family car but one that is neither a four door saloon...	56

Round Six - Alpine Rally - 25-26 November 1972

600 miles

Position	Driver	Navigator	Car	Points
1	Frank Kilfoyle	George Shepheard	Holden Torana LJ GTR XU-1	62
2	Doug Stewart	Dave Johnson	Mitsubishi Galant 1600 Mitsubishi Galant The first generation of the car, initially known as the Colt Galant, was released in December 1969. The design was dubbed "Dynawedge" by Mitsubishi, referring to the influence of aerodynamics on the silhouette. Three models were available, powered by the new 'Saturn' engine in 1.3 or 1.5 L ...	83
3	Peter Janson	Mike Prendergast	Holden Torana LJ GTR XU-1	85
4	Doug Chivas Doug Chivas Doug Chivas was an Australian rally and racing car driver. Chivas drove the first Lotus Mark 6 in Australia in the early 1950s winning many races....	Peter Meyer	Mitsubishi Galant 1600 Mitsubishi Galant The first generation of the car, initially known as the Colt Galant, was released in December 1969. The design was dubbed "Dynawedge" by Mitsubishi, referring to the influence of aerodynamics on the silhouette. Three models were available, powered by the new 'Saturn' engine in 1.3 or 1.5 L ...	100
5	Bob Riley	Adrian van Loon	Mitsubishi Galant 1600 Mitsubishi Galant The first generation of the car, initially known as the Colt Galant, was released in December 1969. The design was dubbed "Dynawedge" by Mitsubishi, referring to the influence of aerodynamics on the silhouette. Three models were available, powered by the new 'Saturn' engine in 1.3 or 1.5 L ...	103
6=	Helmut Goetz	Mike Mitchell	Datsun 1600 SSS	111
6=	Gil Davis	Peter Haas	Holden Torana LJ GTR XU-1	111
8	Sue Ransom	Christine Cole	Ford Escort Twin Cam	117
9	Len Shaw	Jim McAuliffe	Holden Torana LJ GTR XU-1	124
10	Warwick Smith	Tony Walsham	Renault Dauphine Renault Dauphine Renault Dauphine is a rear-engined economy car manufactured by Renault in one body style — a three-box, four-door sedan — as the successor to the Renault 4CV, with over two million examples marketed worldwide during its production from 1956-1967....	153

Colin Bond - Champion Driver 1972

Position	Driver	Car	Points
1	Colin Bond Colin Bond Colin John Bond is a retired Australian racing driver. Bond reached the highest levels in Australian motorsport in 1969 when he was recruited by Harry Firth to the newly formed Holden Dealer Team...	Holden Torana LJ GTR XU-1	33
2	Frank Kilfoyle	Holden Torana LJ GTR XU-1	30
3	Doug Stewart	Mitsubishi Galant 1600 Mitsubishi Galant The first generation of the car, initially known as the Colt Galant, was released in December 1969. The design was dubbed "Dynawedge" by Mitsubishi, referring to the influence of aerodynamics on the silhouette. Three models were available, powered by the new 'Saturn' engine in 1.3 or 1.5 L ...	16
4	John Taylor	Holden Torana LJ GTR XU-1	9
5	Stewart McLeod	Holden Torana LJ GTR XU-1	8
6	Doug Chivas Doug Chivas Doug Chivas was an Australian rally and racing car driver. Chivas drove the first Lotus Mark 6 in Australia in the early 1950s winning many races....	Mitsubishi Galant 1600 Mitsubishi Galant The first generation of the car, initially known as the Colt Galant, was released in December 1969. The design was dubbed "Dynawedge" by Mitsubishi, referring to the influence of aerodynamics on the silhouette. Three models were available, powered by the new 'Saturn' engine in 1.3 or 1.5 L ...	7

George Shepheard - Champion Navigator 1972

Position	Navigator	Car	Points
1	George Shepheard	Holden Torana LJ GTR XU-1	42
2	Dave Johnson	Mitsubishi Galant 1600 Mitsubishi Galant The first generation of the car, initially known as the Colt Galant, was released in December 1969. The design was dubbed "Dynawedge" by Mitsubishi, referring to the influence of aerodynamics on the silhouette. Three models were available, powered by the new 'Saturn' engine in 1.3 or 1.5 L ...	16
3	Roger Bonhomme	Mitsubishi Galant 1600 Mitsubishi Galant The first generation of the car, initially known as the Colt Galant, was released in December 1969. The design was dubbed "Dynawedge" by Mitsubishi, referring to the influence of aerodynamics on the silhouette. Three models were available, powered by the new 'Saturn' engine in 1.3 or 1.5 L ...	15
4	Graham West	Austin Kimberley Austin Kimberley The Australian Austin Kimberley and Austin Tasman "X6" models of 1970 were a range of Leyland Australian designed front-wheel-drive sedans based on the Austin 1800 platform...	9
5	Peter Meyer	Mitsubishi Galant 1600 Mitsubishi Galant The first generation of the car, initially known as the Colt Galant, was released in December 1969. The design was dubbed "Dynawedge" by Mitsubishi, referring to the influence of aerodynamics on the silhouette. Three models were available, powered by the new 'Saturn' engine in 1.3 or 1.5 L ...	7
6=	Rob Hunt	Renault 12 Gordini	6
6=	Jack Lock	Holden Torana LJ GTR XU-1	6
6=	Graham Lockie	Mazda Capella Mazda Capella The second generation rear-wheel drive Capella was available between 1978 and 1982, in both sedan and coupe forms. It was known on export markets as the Mazda 626, with the exception of the United Kingdom, where it was called the Mazda Montrose, the name was changed to honour the local Mazda...	6
6=	Mike Mitchell	Mitsubishi Galant 1600 Mitsubishi Galant The first generation of the car, initially known as the Colt Galant, was released in December 1969. The design was dubbed "Dynawedge" by Mitsubishi, referring to the influence of aerodynamics on the silhouette. Three models were available, powered by the new 'Saturn' engine in 1.3 or 1.5 L ...	6
6=	Mike Osborne	Holden Torana LJ GTR XU-1	6