Larkham Motor Sport
Encyclopedia
Larkham Motor Sport was a motorsport
team contesting the V8 Supercar Championship. The team ceased operations at the end of 2005, with the owner Mark Larkham
selling the team to WPS Racing
.
in the Australian Production Car Championship
with little success, Larkham returned to open wheelers and purchased a Ralt
RT20 Formula Holden
to run in the 1991 Australian Drivers' Championship
. Finishing third he created a rivalry with series champion Mark Skaife
which would continue for much of the next decade. For 1992 a relaxation in the rules governing what Formula Holden cars could be built from saw Larkham be the first to import a carbon-fibre constructed racing car to Australia in a Reynard
90D. Using this car Larkham would spend the next two seasons as runner up to Skaife. After the 1993 season Larkham sold his car and spent 18 months planning his return to racing.
for Mark Larkham in the V8 Touring Car category which he debuted partway through the 1995 season, later it was run as a satellite team
of Stone Brothers Racing
in 1998 and coming fourth at the Bathurst 1000 the same year. At the 1999 Bathurst 1000 Mark Larkham qualified the car on pole but the car never finished the race.
In 2002, Orrcon joined the team as title sponsor and in 2003 the team expanded to a full two-car operation. Mark Larkham drove the #10 AU Falcon, with Jason Bargwanna
in the # 20 BA Falcon.
For the 2004 and 2005 seasons, Larkham stepped back from full-time driving duties, signing Mark Winterbottom
to race alongside Jason Bargwanna in a two car BA Falcon team.
Motorsport
Motorsport or motorsports is the group of sports which primarily involve the use of motorized vehicles, whether for racing or non-racing competition...
team contesting the V8 Supercar Championship. The team ceased operations at the end of 2005, with the owner Mark Larkham
Mark Larkham
Mark Larkham is a retired Australian racing driver, former racing team owner and television commentator.-Open wheelers:...
selling the team to WPS Racing
WPS Racing
WPS Racing was a motorsport team that participated in the V8 Supercars competition in Australia sponsored by Wright Patton Shakespeare, a financial management company. The team was founded in early 2004 by Queensland-based businessman Craig Gore, who bought the embattled 00 Motorsport and...
.
History
Formed in 1990 with the intent of further Mark Larkham's career after his graduation out of winning the Australian Formula Ford series. After originally running a Ford EA FalconFord EA Falcon
-Model range:The EA series was available in seven model variants:* Falcon GL Sedan* Falcon GL Wagon* Falcon S Sedan* Fairmont Sedan* Fairmont Wagon* Fairmont Ghia Sedan* Fairmont Ghia Wagon...
in the Australian Production Car Championship
Australian Production Car Championship
The Australian Production Car Championship is a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title for drivers of production cars, which must compete in close to standard specification...
with little success, Larkham returned to open wheelers and purchased a Ralt
Ralt
RALT was a manufacturer of single-seater racing cars, founded by ex-Jack Brabham associate Ron Tauranac after he sold out his interest in Brabham to Bernie Ecclestone. Ron and his brother had built some specials in Australia in the 1950s under the RALT name...
RT20 Formula Holden
Formula Holden
Formula Holden was an Australian open wheel racing category.-History:Known during its development as Formula Australia, it was initially for chassis constructed from aluminium only, running a 3.8 litre Buick V6 engine as it was then utilised in the new versions of the Holden Commodore...
to run in the 1991 Australian Drivers' Championship
1991 Australian Drivers' Championship
The 1991 Australian Drivers' Championship was a CAMS sanctioned national motor racing title for drivers of Formula Brabham racing cars.The winner of the championship was awarded the 1991 CAMS Gold Star.-Calendar:...
. Finishing third he created a rivalry with series champion Mark Skaife
Mark Skaife
Mark Stephen Skaife OAM is an Australian motor racing driver. Skaife is a five time winner of the V8 Supercar Championship Series, including its predecessor the Australian Touring Car Championship. He is also a six-time winner of Australia's most prestigious domestic motor race, the Bathurst 1000...
which would continue for much of the next decade. For 1992 a relaxation in the rules governing what Formula Holden cars could be built from saw Larkham be the first to import a carbon-fibre constructed racing car to Australia in a Reynard
Reynard Motorsport
Reynard Motorsport was at one time the world's largest racing car manufacturer. Initially based at Bicester and latterly at Reynard Park, Brackley, England the company built successful cars in Formula Ford 1600, Formula Ford 2000, Formula Vauxhall Lotus, Formula Three, Formula 3000 and Indy...
90D. Using this car Larkham would spend the next two seasons as runner up to Skaife. After the 1993 season Larkham sold his car and spent 18 months planning his return to racing.
Touring Cars
The team built a Ford EF FalconFord EF Falcon
The Ford EF Falcon is a full-size car that was manufactured by the Ford Motor Company of Australia between 1994 and 1996. A total of 192,100 EF models were produced prior to replacement of the EF by the Ford EL Falcon in 1996.-Introduction and changes:...
for Mark Larkham in the V8 Touring Car category which he debuted partway through the 1995 season, later it was run as a satellite team
Satellite team
In motorsport, a satellite team is a team related to a larger, better-funded team. This relation may involve ownership, technical support and staff sharing, including drivers...
of Stone Brothers Racing
Stone Brothers Racing
Stone Brothers Racing is an Australian motor racing team competing in the International V8 Supercars Championship, formed in 1998 by experienced New Zealand-born motorsport veterans, Ross Stone and Jim Stone after buying out their partner in their previous racing team...
in 1998 and coming fourth at the Bathurst 1000 the same year. At the 1999 Bathurst 1000 Mark Larkham qualified the car on pole but the car never finished the race.
In 2002, Orrcon joined the team as title sponsor and in 2003 the team expanded to a full two-car operation. Mark Larkham drove the #10 AU Falcon, with Jason Bargwanna
Jason Bargwanna
Jason Bargwanna is an Australian racing driver who competes in the V8 Supercar Championship Series.-Career history:Bargwanna commenced his racing career in the late 1980s, initially competing in the Formula Vee category...
in the # 20 BA Falcon.
For the 2004 and 2005 seasons, Larkham stepped back from full-time driving duties, signing Mark Winterbottom
Mark Winterbottom
Mark "Frosty" Winterbottom, is a racing driver who has competed in the V8 Supercar category since 2003. He currently drives for the Ford Performance Racing team...
to race alongside Jason Bargwanna in a two car BA Falcon team.
Former drivers
- Geoff BrabhamGeoff BrabhamGeoff Brabham is an Australian racing driver. He is the son of three-time Formula One World Champion Jack Brabham. Brabham spent the majority of his racing career in the United States. He raced successfully in CART early in his career. In ten appearances in the Indianapolis 500, with a best result...
- Matt HallidayMatt HallidayMatthew Halliday is a motor racing driver from New Zealand.-Formula Racing:His formula racing career has involved various single seater series in New Zealand, Australia, Europe and the United States...
- Jason BargwannaJason BargwannaJason Bargwanna is an Australian racing driver who competes in the V8 Supercar Championship Series.-Career history:Bargwanna commenced his racing career in the late 1980s, initially competing in the Formula Vee category...
- Brad Jones
- Mark WinterbottomMark WinterbottomMark "Frosty" Winterbottom, is a racing driver who has competed in the V8 Supercar category since 2003. He currently drives for the Ford Performance Racing team...
- Mark LarkhamMark LarkhamMark Larkham is a retired Australian racing driver, former racing team owner and television commentator.-Open wheelers:...
- Alain MenuAlain MenuAlain Menu is a Swiss racing driver. He was one of the most successful touring car drivers of the 1990s, winning the prestigious British Touring Car Championship twice . He currently races for Chevrolet in the World Touring Car Championship.- BTCC :He is the son of a farmer...
- Will PowerWill PowerWilliam Steven Power is an Australian motorsport driver, who currently competes in the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series, driving for Team Penske.-Australian Racing:...
- Cameron McConvilleCameron McConvilleCameron 'Cam' McConville is an Australian racing driver and motorsport media personality. While retired from full-time competition McConville still races occasionally and is an indemand endurance event co-driver. McConville spent 14 years as a professional driver, ten of those in the largest...