John French (racing driver)
Encyclopedia
John French is a retired Australian racing driver.
French had a long career throughout the 60s and 70s and the early 80s. He won the 1962 Australian GT Championship
driving a Centaur-Waggott and in 1969 French paired with Allan Moffat
to win the Sandown Three Hour
race in a Ford Falcon GTHO. French was well known as a car dealer of Alfa Romeo
s in his native Brisbane
, the marque which featured most prominently in his professional racing career, he is however best remembered as Dick Johnson's co-driver to win the crash-shortened 1981 Bathurst 1000
.
French had a long career throughout the 60s and 70s and the early 80s. He won the 1962 Australian GT Championship
1962 Australian GT Championship
The 1962 Australian GT Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title for drivers of Appendix K GT cars. The title, which was the third Australian GT Championship, was contested over a single 75 mile race held at the Lakeside circuit, in Queensland, Australia on 8 July 1962.-Results:Note:...
driving a Centaur-Waggott and in 1969 French paired with Allan Moffat
Allan Moffat
Allan George Moffat, OBE is an Australian racing driver known for his four wins in the Australian Touring Car Championship, six wins in the Sandown 500 and his four wins in the Bathurst 1000...
to win the Sandown Three Hour
1969 Datsun Three Hour
The 1969 Datsun Three Hour was an endurance race for production cars. The event was staged at the Sandown circuit in Victoria, Australia on 14 September 1969.- Results :* There were 42 starters in the event, 4 of which are not shown in the above table....
race in a Ford Falcon GTHO. French was well known as a car dealer of Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of cars. Founded as A.L.F.A. on June 24, 1910, in Milan, the company has been involved in car racing since 1911, and has a reputation for building expensive sports cars...
s in his native Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, the marque which featured most prominently in his professional racing career, he is however best remembered as Dick Johnson's co-driver to win the crash-shortened 1981 Bathurst 1000
1981 James Hardie 1000
The 1981 James Hardie 1000 was the 22nd running of the Bathurst 1000 touring car race. It was held on 4 October 1981 at the Mount Panorama Circuit just outside Bathurst...
.