Greg Carr (driver)
Encyclopedia
Greg Carr is an Australian former rally driver. Carr won the Australian Rally Championship
three times and dominated the prestigious Castrol International Rally
in the 1970s as well as winning numerous other rallies.
Carr rose through the ranks of Australian rallying driving a Datsun 1600
starting in the 1973 rallying season. In 1975 Carr and navigator Wayne Gregson won the Bunbury Curran Rally. Carr began his domination of his local Canberra
rally, the Don Capasco Rally (later called the Castrol International Rally) in 1975. He won the prestigious event six times in succession.
In 1976 Carr won four rallies in a Gerry Ball-sponsored Datsun 180B SSS. Then in 1977 Carr’s burgeoning talent was rewarded by Colin Bond
, the manager of a new two-car Ford works rally team, when Bond signed up Carr to drive a works Ford Escort RS2000. Carr had his first Australian Rally Championship round win with the Ford works team
in the 1977 Bega Valley Rally
. In the Southern Cross Rally
that year Carr led until late on the last night when put out by alternator failure.
In 1978 Carr, with navigator John Dawson-Damer, won the Australian Rally Championship
for the Ford works team. During this era Carr and Bond in their Escorts clashed with Ross Dunkerton
and George Fury
in their works Datsuns in what is widely regarded as a classic period of Australian rallying. Carr won numerous rallies during his four years at the Ford rally team, including four victories in the Castrol International Rally which was held in the forests around Canberra.
In 1980 Carr again went close to winning the prestigious Southern Cross Rally
finishing second to Ross Dunkerton and ahead of team-mate Finnish world rally champion Ari Vatanen
. The Ford works rally team was wound up at the end of the 1980 season.
In 1987 Greg Carr won his second national rally championship, with navigator Fred Gocentas, in an Alfa Romeo GTV6. Two years later Carr added a third Australian Rally Championship title to his name driving a Lancia Delta Integrale
with Mick Harker as his navigator.
Australian Rally Championship
The Australian Rally Championship is a 6 Round National motorsport Championship run in forested countryside throughout Australia.-Current Competition:...
three times and dominated the prestigious Castrol International Rally
Castrol International Rally (Australia)
The Castrol International Rally was a major Australian rally held in the forests around Canberra, between 1974 and 1981.The rally originated as the Don Capasco Rally in 1974 and by 1976 had attracted major oil company Castrol as sponsor and was then run under the name 'Castrol International Rally'...
in the 1970s as well as winning numerous other rallies.
Carr rose through the ranks of Australian rallying driving a Datsun 1600
Datsun 1600
Datsun 1600 may refer to one of the following Datsun cars:* Datsun 510* Datsun Fairlady 1600 Roadster SP311/SPL311...
starting in the 1973 rallying season. In 1975 Carr and navigator Wayne Gregson won the Bunbury Curran Rally. Carr began his domination of his local Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
rally, the Don Capasco Rally (later called the Castrol International Rally) in 1975. He won the prestigious event six times in succession.
In 1976 Carr won four rallies in a Gerry Ball-sponsored Datsun 180B SSS. Then in 1977 Carr’s burgeoning talent was rewarded by 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...
, the manager of a new two-car Ford works rally team, when Bond signed up Carr to drive a works Ford Escort RS2000. Carr had his first Australian Rally Championship round win with the Ford works team
Ford Works Team (Australia)
The Ford Works Team was a former Australian motor racing team that was supported by the Ford Motor Company of Australia. The team was formed in 1962 and was wound up when Ford withdrew from motor racing at the end of 1973...
in the 1977 Bega Valley 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...
. In the 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....
that year Carr led until late on the last night when put out by alternator failure.
In 1978 Carr, with navigator John Dawson-Damer, won the 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:...
for the Ford works team. During this era Carr and Bond in their Escorts clashed with Ross Dunkerton
Ross Dunkerton
Ross Dunkerton is considered Australia's most successful rally driver to date, originating in Perth, Western Australia. He was previously a councillor for the Town of Bassendean, but moved with his family to Cairns in Far North Queensland in late 2007.Ross is married to his wife Lisa has two...
and 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...
in their works Datsuns in what is widely regarded as a classic period of Australian rallying. Carr won numerous rallies during his four years at the Ford rally team, including four victories in the Castrol International Rally which was held in the forests around Canberra.
In 1980 Carr again went close to winning the prestigious 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....
finishing second to Ross Dunkerton and ahead of team-mate Finnish world rally champion Ari Vatanen
Ari Vatanen
Ari Pieti Uolevi Vatanen is a Finnish rally driver turned politician and Member of the European Parliament 1999–2009. Vatanen won the World Rally Championship drivers' title in 1981 and the Paris Dakar Rally four times....
. The Ford works rally team was wound up at the end of the 1980 season.
In 1987 Greg Carr won his second national rally championship, with navigator Fred Gocentas, in an Alfa Romeo GTV6. Two years later Carr added a third Australian Rally Championship title to his name driving a Lancia Delta Integrale
Lancia Delta
The Lancia Delta is a small family car produced by Italian automaker Lancia with the first generation being produced between 1979 and 1994, the second generation running from 1993 until 1999, and the third generation Delta entering production in 2008. It was first shown inFrankfurt Motor Show in 1979...
with Mick Harker as his navigator.