Leo Geoghegan
Encyclopedia
Leo Geoghegan is a retired Australian racing driver.
Geoghegan is the elder of two sons of New South Wales car dealer Tom Geoghegan, who went on to become two of the dominant names in Australian motor racing in the 1960s. While his brother Ian Geoghegan
had much of his success in touring car racing
, Leo Geoghegan spent much of his racing career in open wheel racing cars and sports racing cars. In addition to being a multi-Australian championship winning driver, Geoghegan has the rare distinction for an Australian of having won an international grand prix, specifically the 1969 Grand Prix of Japan.
Other career highlights included victories in the following:
Leo Geoghegan was the principal driver for Chrysler Australia
during the period (1970–1972) when the company supported Valiant Pacer and Valiant Charger
Series Production touring car teams.
Today Geoghegan is an enthusiastic supporter of historic motor racing.
Geoghegan is the elder of two sons of New South Wales car dealer Tom Geoghegan, who went on to become two of the dominant names in Australian motor racing in the 1960s. While his brother Ian Geoghegan
Ian Geoghegan
Ian "Pete" Geoghegan, was an Australian race car driver, known for a quick wit and natural driving skills. Geoghegan was one of the iconic characters of the 1960s and 1970s Australian motor racing scene...
had much of his success in touring car racing
Touring car racing
Touring car racing is a general term for a number of distinct auto racing competitions in heavily-modified street cars. It is notably popular in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Japan, Scandinavia and Britain.-Characteristics of a touring car:...
, Leo Geoghegan spent much of his racing career in open wheel racing cars and sports racing cars. In addition to being a multi-Australian championship winning driver, Geoghegan has the rare distinction for an Australian of having won an international grand prix, specifically the 1969 Grand Prix of Japan.
Other career highlights included victories in the following:
- 1960 Australian GT Championship1960 Australian GT ChampionshipThe 1960 Australian GT Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title for drivers of cars complying with Appendix K Gran Turismo regulations. The title, which was the inaugural Australian GT Championship, was contested over a single 50 mile race held at the Mount Panorama Circuit, Bathurst,...
- 1962 Bathurst Six Hour Classic1962 Bathurst Six Hour ClassicThe 1962 Bathurst Six Hour Classic was an endurance race for production sedans and sports cars. The event was staged at the Mount Panorama Circuit near Bathurst, New South Wales, on September 30, 1962....
- 1963 Australian Formula Junior Championship1963 Australian Formula Junior ChampionshipThe 1963 Australian Formula Junior Championship was open to racing cars complying with "Australian Formula Junior" regulations. The championship was decided over a single race which was staged at the Warwick Farm Raceway in New South Wales on 8 September 1963...
- 1968 Surfers Paradise 6 Hour1968 Surfers Paradise 6 HourThe 1968 Surfers Paradise 6 Hour was an endurance race for sports cars and touring cars, staged at the Surfers Paradise International Raceway in Queensland, Australia on 1 September 1968....
- 1970 Australian Drivers' Championship1970 Australian Drivers' ChampionshipThe 1970 Australian Drivers' Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title for drivers of Australian Formula 1 and Australian Formula 2 racing cars...
- 1973 Australian Formula 2 Championship1973 Australian Formula 2 ChampionshipThe 1973 Australian Formula 2 Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title open to Australian Formula 2 racing cars. It was the seventh Australian Formula 2 Championship to be awarded by CAMS....
- 1974 Australian Formula 2 Championship1974 Australian Formula 2 ChampionshipThe 1974 Australian Formula 2 Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title for drivers of Australian Formula 2 racing cars. It was the eighth Australian Formula 2 Championship to be awarded by CAMS.-Calendar:...
Leo Geoghegan was the principal driver for Chrysler Australia
Chrysler Australia
Chrysler Australia is the importer of Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles for sale in the Australian marketplace. However, there had previously been a "Chrysler Australia Ltd" which had operated as a vehicle manufacturer in Australia from 1951 until 1980....
during the period (1970–1972) when the company supported Valiant Pacer and Valiant Charger
Valiant Charger
The Chrysler Valiant Charger is a muscle car introduced by Chrysler Australia in 1971. It was a short wheelbase two door coupe based on the concurrent Australian Chrysler Valiant sedan...
Series Production touring car teams.
Today Geoghegan is an enthusiastic supporter of historic motor racing.
Career results
The following table lists the results obtained by Ian Geoghegan in the various national motor racing titles and major endurance races in which he competed.| Year | Title/ Event | Position | Car | Entrant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 1960 Australian GT Championship The 1960 Australian GT Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title for drivers of cars complying with Appendix K Gran Turismo regulations. The title, which was the inaugural Australian GT Championship, was contested over a single 50 mile race held at the Mount Panorama Circuit, Bathurst,... |
Australian GT Championship Australian GT Championship The Australian GT Championship is a CAMS-sanctioned national title for drivers of GT cars, held annually from 1960 to 1963, from 1982 to 1985 and from 2005. Each championship up to and including the 1963 title was contested over a single race and those after that year over a series of races... |
1st | Lotus Elite Lotus Elite Not to be confused with the Lotus Elise.The Lotus Elite name was used for two vehicles from Lotus Cars.-1957:The first Elite or Lotus Type 14 was an ultra-light two-seater coupé, produced from 1958 to 1963.... |
Geoghegan Motors |
| 1962 | Australian Formula Junior Championship Australian Formula Junior Championship The Australian Formula Junior Championship was a short-lived motor racing championship held in Australia for drivers of open-wheel racing cars conforming to Formula Junior regulations. The championship was sanctioned by the Australian governing body CAMS and held for just two years... |
3rd | Lotus 22 Lotus 22 The Lotus 22 was a racing car built by Lotus cars in 1962, and a total of 77 cars were built. It was developed from the 1962 Lotus 20, with the major differences that it had disk brakes all round, had a top link to the rear suspension, and had a dry sump engine that was canted over to lower the... Ford |
Geoghegan Motors |
| 1963 1963 Australian Drivers' Championship The 1963 Australian Drivers' Championship was a CAMS sanctioned national motor racing title for drivers of Formula Libre cars with the championship winner awarded the 1963 CAMS Gold Star... |
Australian Drivers' Championship Australian Drivers' Championship The Australian Drivers' Championship is a motor racing championship which has been contested annually since 1957 by drivers of cars complying with Australia's premier open-wheeler racing category as determined by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport. Since 2005 this category has been Formula... |
13th | Lotus 20 Lotus 20 Lotus 20 was a Formula Junior car built by Lotus for the 1962 season as a successor to the Lotus 18.The chassis was a spaceframe, clothed in fibreglass bodywork. It had front double wishbone suspension, but the rear had a lower wishbone with the driveshaft being fixed length and therefore used as... B Ford |
Total Team |
| 1963 1963 Australian Formula Junior Championship The 1963 Australian Formula Junior Championship was open to racing cars complying with "Australian Formula Junior" regulations. The championship was decided over a single race which was staged at the Warwick Farm Raceway in New South Wales on 8 September 1963... |
Australian Formula Junior Championship Australian Formula Junior Championship The Australian Formula Junior Championship was a short-lived motor racing championship held in Australia for drivers of open-wheel racing cars conforming to Formula Junior regulations. The championship was sanctioned by the Australian governing body CAMS and held for just two years... |
1st | Lotus 22 Lotus 22 The Lotus 22 was a racing car built by Lotus cars in 1962, and a total of 77 cars were built. It was developed from the 1962 Lotus 20, with the major differences that it had disk brakes all round, had a top link to the rear suspension, and had a dry sump engine that was canted over to lower the... Ford |
Total Team |
| 1964 1964 Australian Drivers' Championship The 1964 Australian Drivers' Championship was open to drivers of Racing Cars complying with either the Australian National Formula or with the Australian 1½ Litre Formula.The title was contested over a five round series.... |
Australian Drivers' Championship Australian Drivers' Championship The Australian Drivers' Championship is a motor racing championship which has been contested annually since 1957 by drivers of cars complying with Australia's premier open-wheeler racing category as determined by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport. Since 2005 this category has been Formula... |
4th | Lotus 32 Lotus 32 The Lotus 32 was a Formula 2 racing car built by Team Lotus in 1964. It was developed from the Lotus 27 Formula Junior model. 12 cars were produced, but only 4 competed in the Ron Harris Team Lotus entrants . Jim Clark drove the Lotus 32 to win the 1964 Formula 2 Championship... Ford |
Total Team |
| 1965 1965 Tasman Series The 1965 Tasman Series was the second Tasman Series season. It began on 9 January 1965 and ended on 1 March after seven races.-Races:- Standings :... |
Tasman Series Tasman Series The Tasman Series was a motor racing series held from 1964 to 1975, in Australia and New Zealand, and named after the Tasman Sea between the two countries... |
14th | Lotus 32 Lotus 32 The Lotus 32 was a Formula 2 racing car built by Team Lotus in 1964. It was developed from the Lotus 27 Formula Junior model. 12 cars were produced, but only 4 competed in the Ron Harris Team Lotus entrants . Jim Clark drove the Lotus 32 to win the 1964 Formula 2 Championship... Ford |
Total Team |
| 1965 1965 Australian Drivers' Championship The 1965 Australian Drivers' Championship was a CAMS sanctioned national motor racing title for drivers of cars conforming to Australian National Formula regulations. The title was contested over a six race series with the winner awarded the 1965 CAMS Gold Star.... |
Australian Drivers' Championship Australian Drivers' Championship The Australian Drivers' Championship is a motor racing championship which has been contested annually since 1957 by drivers of cars complying with Australia's premier open-wheeler racing category as determined by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport. Since 2005 this category has been Formula... |
3rd | Lotus 32 Lotus 32 The Lotus 32 was a Formula 2 racing car built by Team Lotus in 1964. It was developed from the Lotus 27 Formula Junior model. 12 cars were produced, but only 4 competed in the Ron Harris Team Lotus entrants . Jim Clark drove the Lotus 32 to win the 1964 Formula 2 Championship... Ford |
Total Team |
| 1965 1965 Australian 1½ Litre Championship The 1965 Australian 1½ Litre Championship was a CAMS sanctioned national motor racing title for drivers of Racing Cars complying with the Australian 1½ Litre Formula. The title was contested over a single 20 lap race at the Mount Panorama Circuit, Bathurst, New South Wales on 19 April 1965. The... |
Australian 1½ Litre Championship Australian 1½ Litre Championship The Australian 1½ Litre Championship was a CAMS sanctioned national motor racing title contested annually from 1964 to 1968. It was open to drivers of cars complying with the Australian 1½ Litre Formula which specified open wheel racing cars fitted with unsupercharged engines using commercially... |
2nd | Lotus 32 Lotus 32 The Lotus 32 was a Formula 2 racing car built by Team Lotus in 1964. It was developed from the Lotus 27 Formula Junior model. 12 cars were produced, but only 4 competed in the Ron Harris Team Lotus entrants . Jim Clark drove the Lotus 32 to win the 1964 Formula 2 Championship... Ford |
Total Team |
| 1966 1966 Tasman Series The 1966 Tasman Series was the third Tasman Series season. It began on 8 January 1966 and ended on 7 March after eight races.-Races:- Standings :... |
Tasman Series Tasman Series The Tasman Series was a motor racing series held from 1964 to 1975, in Australia and New Zealand, and named after the Tasman Sea between the two countries... |
12th | Lotus 32 Lotus 32 The Lotus 32 was a Formula 2 racing car built by Team Lotus in 1964. It was developed from the Lotus 27 Formula Junior model. 12 cars were produced, but only 4 competed in the Ron Harris Team Lotus entrants . Jim Clark drove the Lotus 32 to win the 1964 Formula 2 Championship... Ford |
Total Team |
| 1966 1966 Australian Drivers' Championship The 1966 Australian Drivers' Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title for drivers of racing cars complying with either the Australian National Formula or the Australian 1½ Litre Formula... |
Australian Drivers' Championship Australian Drivers' Championship The Australian Drivers' Championship is a motor racing championship which has been contested annually since 1957 by drivers of cars complying with Australia's premier open-wheeler racing category as determined by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport. Since 2005 this category has been Formula... |
7th | Lotus 39 Lotus 39 The Lotus 39 was a single seat racing car produced by Team Lotus. It was originally intended for use in Formula One, to be powered by the Coventry Climax 1.5 litre flat-16 engine... Climax FPF |
Geoghegan Racing |
| 1967 1967 Tasman Series The 1967 Tasman Series was the fourth Tasman Series season. It began on 7 January 1967 and ended on 6 March after eight races.-Races:Races with a pink background did not contribute to the points standings.- Standings :... |
Tasman Series Tasman Series The Tasman Series was a motor racing series held from 1964 to 1975, in Australia and New Zealand, and named after the Tasman Sea between the two countries... |
7th | Lotus 39 Lotus 39 The Lotus 39 was a single seat racing car produced by Team Lotus. It was originally intended for use in Formula One, to be powered by the Coventry Climax 1.5 litre flat-16 engine... Climax FPF |
Geoghegan Racing |
| 1967 1967 Australian Drivers' Championship The 1967 Australian Drivers' Championship was a CAMS sanctioned national motor racing title for drivers of cars conforming to Australian National Formula or Australian 1½ Litre Formula regulations. The winner of the championship was awarded the 1967 CAMS Gold Star... |
Australian Drivers' Championship Australian Drivers' Championship The Australian Drivers' Championship is a motor racing championship which has been contested annually since 1957 by drivers of cars complying with Australia's premier open-wheeler racing category as determined by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport. Since 2005 this category has been Formula... |
5th | Lotus 39 Lotus 39 The Lotus 39 was a single seat racing car produced by Team Lotus. It was originally intended for use in Formula One, to be powered by the Coventry Climax 1.5 litre flat-16 engine... Repco Repco Repco is an Australian automotive engineering company. Its name is an abbreviation of Replacement Parts Company and it is best known for spare parts and motor accessories.... |
Geoghegan Racing Division |
| 1968 1968 Tasman Series The 1968 Tasman Series was the fifth Tasman Series season. It began on 6 January 1968 and ended on 4 March after eight races. It was won by Jim Clark, driving a Lotus 49T.-Races:- Standings :All scores from points-scoring races were counted... |
Tasman Series Tasman Series The Tasman Series was a motor racing series held from 1964 to 1975, in Australia and New Zealand, and named after the Tasman Sea between the two countries... |
11th | Lotus 39 Lotus 39 The Lotus 39 was a single seat racing car produced by Team Lotus. It was originally intended for use in Formula One, to be powered by the Coventry Climax 1.5 litre flat-16 engine... Repco Repco Repco is an Australian automotive engineering company. Its name is an abbreviation of Replacement Parts Company and it is best known for spare parts and motor accessories.... |
Geoghegan Racing |
| 1968 1968 Australian Drivers' Championship The 1968 Australian Drivers' Championship was a CAMS sanctioned national motor racing title for drivers of cars conforming to Australian National Formula regulations. The title was contested over a six race series with the winner awarded the 1968 CAMS Gold Star.... |
Australian Drivers' Championship Australian Drivers' Championship The Australian Drivers' Championship is a motor racing championship which has been contested annually since 1957 by drivers of cars complying with Australia's premier open-wheeler racing category as determined by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport. Since 2005 this category has been Formula... |
4th | Lotus 39 Lotus 39 The Lotus 39 was a single seat racing car produced by Team Lotus. It was originally intended for use in Formula One, to be powered by the Coventry Climax 1.5 litre flat-16 engine... Repco Repco Repco is an Australian automotive engineering company. Its name is an abbreviation of Replacement Parts Company and it is best known for spare parts and motor accessories.... |
Geoghegan Racing Division |
| 1969 1969 Tasman Series The 1969 Tasman Series was the sixth Tasman Series season. It commenced on 4 January 1969 and ended on 16 February 1969 after seven rounds. It was won by Chris Amon, driving a Ferrari 246T.-Results:-Races:- Standings :... |
Tasman Series Tasman Series The Tasman Series was a motor racing series held from 1964 to 1975, in Australia and New Zealand, and named after the Tasman Sea between the two countries... |
7th | Lotus 39 Lotus 39 The Lotus 39 was a single seat racing car produced by Team Lotus. It was originally intended for use in Formula One, to be powered by the Coventry Climax 1.5 litre flat-16 engine... Repco Repco Repco is an Australian automotive engineering company. Its name is an abbreviation of Replacement Parts Company and it is best known for spare parts and motor accessories.... |
Geoghegan Racing |
| 1969 1969 Australian Drivers' Championship The 1969 Australian Drivers' Championship was a CAMS sanctioned national motor racing title for drivers of cars conforming to Australian National Formula or Australian 1½ Litre Formula regulations... |
Australian Drivers' Championship Australian Drivers' Championship The Australian Drivers' Championship is a motor racing championship which has been contested annually since 1957 by drivers of cars complying with Australia's premier open-wheeler racing category as determined by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport. Since 2005 this category has been Formula... |
2nd | Lotus 39 Lotus 39 The Lotus 39 was a single seat racing car produced by Team Lotus. It was originally intended for use in Formula One, to be powered by the Coventry Climax 1.5 litre flat-16 engine... Repco Repco Repco is an Australian automotive engineering company. Its name is an abbreviation of Replacement Parts Company and it is best known for spare parts and motor accessories.... |
Geoghegan Racing Division |
| 1970 1970 Australian Drivers' Championship The 1970 Australian Drivers' Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title for drivers of Australian Formula 1 and Australian Formula 2 racing cars... |
Australian Drivers' Championship Australian Drivers' Championship The Australian Drivers' Championship is a motor racing championship which has been contested annually since 1957 by drivers of cars complying with Australia's premier open-wheeler racing category as determined by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport. Since 2005 this category has been Formula... |
1st | Lotus Team Lotus Team Lotus was the motorsport sister company of English sports car manufacturer Lotus Cars. The team ran cars in many motorsport series including Formula One, Formula Two, Formula Ford, Formula Junior, IndyCar and sports car racing... 59B Waggott |
Geoghegan's Sporty Cars |
| 1971 1971 Tasman Series The 1971 Tasman Series was the eighth in the series, beginning on 2 January and ending on 28 February after seven races. It was won by Graham McRae of New Zealand, driving a McLaren M10B Chevrolet.-Races:Additional information sourced from:... |
Tasman Series Tasman Series The Tasman Series was a motor racing series held from 1964 to 1975, in Australia and New Zealand, and named after the Tasman Sea between the two countries... |
15th | Lotus Team Lotus Team Lotus was the motorsport sister company of English sports car manufacturer Lotus Cars. The team ran cars in many motorsport series including Formula One, Formula Two, Formula Ford, Formula Junior, IndyCar and sports car racing... 59B Waggott |
Geoghegan's Sporty Cars |
| 1972 South Pacific Touring Series The South Pacific Touring Series was an Australian touring car series held during the 1970s and run in conjunction with the famous open-wheeler Tasman Series.The South Pacific Series was held between 1970 and 1975 during the month of February... |
South Pacific Touring Series South Pacific Touring Series The South Pacific Touring Series was an Australian touring car series held during the 1970s and run in conjunction with the famous open-wheeler Tasman Series.The South Pacific Series was held between 1970 and 1975 during the month of February... |
8th | Chrysler VH Valiant Charger | Austral Motors |
| 1973 1973 Australian Formula 2 Championship The 1973 Australian Formula 2 Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title open to Australian Formula 2 racing cars. It was the seventh Australian Formula 2 Championship to be awarded by CAMS.... |
Australian Formula 2 Championship | 1st | Birrana 273 Ford | Grace Bros – 5AD City State Racing Team |
| 1973 1973 Australian Drivers' Championship The 1973 Australian Drivers' Championship was a CAMS sanctioned national motor racing title open to drivers of Australian Formula 1 and Australian Formula 2 cars... |
Australian Drivers' Championship Australian Drivers' Championship The Australian Drivers' Championship is a motor racing championship which has been contested annually since 1957 by drivers of cars complying with Australia's premier open-wheeler racing category as determined by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport. Since 2005 this category has been Formula... |
4th | Birrana 273 Ford | Grace Bros – 5AD City State Racing Team |
| 1974 1974 Australian Formula 2 Championship The 1974 Australian Formula 2 Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title for drivers of Australian Formula 2 racing cars. It was the eighth Australian Formula 2 Championship to be awarded by CAMS.-Calendar:... |
Australian Formula 2 Championship | 1st | Birrana 274 Ford | Grace Bros. Levis Racing Team |