South Pacific Touring Series
Encyclopedia
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. Up until 1972 it was run for Group E Series Production sedans
and from 1973 onwards (like the Bathurst 1000
endurance race) it switched to the new Australian Group C Touring Car
regulations.
The series' position on the racing calendar meant that it was the first title up for grabs by the Ford and Holden teams every year. Winners of the series included famous touring car drivers such as Allan Moffat
, Colin Bond
, John Goss
and nine times Bathurst winner Peter Brock
.
Harry Firth's
Holden Dealer Team
won the title four times (1971, 1973–1975). By the mid-1970s however the South Pacific Touring Series was in decline and after the 1975 series it was allowed to die a natural death.
Touring car
A touring car, or tourer, is an open car seating five or more. Touring cars may have two or four doors. Often, the belt line is lowered in the front doors to give the car a more sportive character. They were often fitted with a folding roof and side curtains. Engines on early models were either in...
series held during the 1970s and run in conjunction with the famous open-wheeler 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...
.
The South Pacific Series was held between 1970 and 1975 during the month of February. Up until 1972 it was run for Group E Series Production sedans
Group E Series Production Touring Cars
Group E Series Production Touring Cars was an Australian motor racing category for production based sedans competing with limited modifications. It was current from 1964 to 1972....
and from 1973 onwards (like the Bathurst 1000
Bathurst 1000
The Bathurst 1000 is a touring car race held annually at Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia...
endurance race) it switched to the new Australian Group C Touring Car
Group C (Australia)
In relation to Australian motorsport, Group C refers to either of two sets of regulations devised by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport for use in Australian touring car racing from 1965 to 1984...
regulations.
The series' position on the racing calendar meant that it was the first title up for grabs by the Ford and Holden teams every year. Winners of the series included famous touring car drivers such as 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...
, 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...
, John Goss
John Goss (race driver)
John Goss is the only Australian racing driver to win Australia's two most prestigious races, the Bathurst 1000 , and the Australian Grand Prix .-Early career:...
and nine times Bathurst winner Peter Brock
Peter Brock
Peter Geoffrey Brock, AM otherwise known as "Peter Perfect", "The King of the Mountain" or simply as "Brocky" was one of Australia's best-known and most successful motor racing drivers. Brock was most often associated with Holden for almost 40 years, although he raced vehicles of other...
.
Harry Firth's
Harry Firth
Harry L. Firth is an Australian former racing driver and team manager. Firth was a leading race and rally driver during the 1950s and 1960s and continued as an influential team manager well into the 1970s...
Holden Dealer Team
Holden Dealer Team
The Holden Dealer Team was Holden’s semi-official racing team from 1969 until 1987, primarily contesting Australian Touring Car events but also rallying, rallycross and sports sedans during the 1970s...
won the title four times (1971, 1973–1975). By the mid-1970s however the South Pacific Touring Series was in decline and after the 1975 series it was allowed to die a natural death.