SUNDAY JUNE 16...In front of the series biggest crowd Aussie touring Car
legend Peter Brock took the final round of the 1996 Shell Australian
Touring Car Championships at Sydney's Oran Park.

With the title already decided it was left for champion elect Craig
Lowndes to support his high profile team mate as Brock took all three 20
minute sprints. Fastest Ford on the day was Glen Seton who just failed to
close the points gap between himself and out going champ Tasmanian John
Bowe in the Shell/FAI/Dick Johnson Racing Falcon.

Brock took pole in a wet practice ahead of Seton with Lowndes in his older
Phillip Island crash car in third. Bowe was back in 4th with Wayne
Gardner, and Alan Jones' young teammate Paul Romano having his best
qualifying performance to take sixth.

As the green light went on for race one it was Brock from the fast
starting Seton with Lowndes ahead of Gardner.
Lowndes then took Seton in a fine outbraking manoeuvre at the end of the
long front straight to set up yet another one - two for the factory Holden
team. Seton stayed ahead of Gardner with Bowe just edging out Mark Skaife
for fifth.

Light rain fell as they started for race  two which was virtually a 
mirror of the first. Seton again made a great start to grab second only to
have Lowndes outbrake him again at the end of the straight.
Privateer Steve Richards pulled a demon late move on Calder Park winner
Russell Ingall but ran wide at the exit allowing Alan Jones to drive under
him. It was Brock and Lowndes again in a formation finish with the minor
places exactly the same as race one.

Race three and just for variety it was Lowndes who got the jump on Brock
as if to emphasise the fact that he may have been holding back for the
first two races. Wayne Gardner and Tony Longhurst touched sending
Gardner's team mate Neil Crompton down the escape road at their main
sponsors own corner (things go better? :-))

Larry Perkins and Mark Skaife swapped back and forth for fifth and sixth
as Lowndes cleared out from the pack before what looked like another
worrying diff/rear axle failure. This left the folk hero back in front to
take the perfect three from three. Seton came through for a consistent
second from Skaife and Alan Jones.

So the title went to the rookie Lowndes with Bowe hanging on to take
second from Seton. Another 5 litre rookie in Steven Richards was the
privateer winner with a series of consistent and very professional
performances since his late start to the series.

But the big winner was Bridgestone whose tyres dominated the series.
The teams now have a long Olympic imposed brake before the challenge of
the Enduros at Sandown and Bathurst. Lowndes will team again with New
Zealand's Greg Murphy as Brock renews acquaintances with old team mate
Thomas Merzara 

Of the main Ford teams Dick Johnson has pulled a major surprise in having
U.S Trans Am star Tom Kendall driving with son Steven. Dick will again
team with Bowe and Seton will run last years co-driver David Parsons.
On a personal note thanks again for all those who have e-mailed expressing
their appreciation for these reports. Until Sandown Bye For Now.

RACE 1
DRIVER   TEAM  CAR   TYRE
CRAIG LOWNDES  MOBIL/HOLDEN RACING TEAM   HOLDEN COMMODORE  BS
PETER BROCK MOBIL/HOLDEN RACING TEAM   HOLDEN COMMODORE  BS
GLEN SETON  FORD CREDIT RACING   FORD FALCON BS
WAYNE GARDNER  COCA COLA/WAYNE GARDNER RACING   HOLDEN COMMODORE  D
JOHN BOWE   SHELL/FAI/DICK JOHNSON RACING FORD FALCON D
MARK SKAIFE GIBSON MOTORSPORT HOLDEN COMMODORE  Y
RACE 2
CRAIG LOWNDES  MOBIL/HOLDEN RACING TEAM   HOLDEN COMMODORE  BS
PETER BROCK MOBIL/HOLDEN RACING TEAM   HOLDEN COMMODORE  BS
GLEN SETON  FORD CREDIT RACING   FORD FALCON BS
WAYNE GARDNER  COCA COLA/WAYNE GARDNER RACING   HOLDEN COMMODORE  D
JOHN BOWE   SHELL/FAI/DICK JOHNSON RACING FORD FALCON D
MARK SKAIFE GIBSON MOTORSPORT HOLDEN COMMODORE  Y
RACE 3
PETER BROCK MOBIL/HOLDEN RACING TEAM   HOLDEN COMMODORE  BS
GLEN SETON  FORD CREDIT RACING   FORD FALCON BS
MARK SKAIFE GIBSON MOTORSPORT HOLDEN COMMODORE  Y
ALAN JONES  PACK LEADER RACING   FORD FALCON BS
JOHN BOWE   SHELL/FAI/DICK JOHNSON RACING FORD FALCON D
LARRY PERKINS  TEAM CASTROL   HOLDEN COMMODORE  D

POINTS (FINAL)
CRAIG LOWNDES  423
JOHN BOWE   344
GLEN SETON  308
PETER BROCK 286
LARRY PERKINS  192
Next major 5 litre touring car event is the SANDOWN 500 Sept 8.

-- 
Brett Ramsey