The Leyland P76 was maligned upon its release, so turning it into a track weapon was probably last on anyone’s mind.
However, then-radio host and future commentator Darrell Eastlake took up the challenge of taming Leyland’s rival to Ford and Holden’s family offering.
Released at the wrong time, specifically when the 1973 oil crisis hit Australian shores, the P76 was famous for its wedge-style design and for the ability to fit a 44 gallon drum in the boot.
Eastlake used a P76 owned by Southport Motors and built into a Group C touring car specifications by Sydney-based racer Garry Cooke.
A radio personality on 4GG Gold Coast, Eastlake’s P76 program attracted support from such companies as BP.
Despite this corporate sponsorship it was a relatively unsuccessful program due mainly to the alloy V8 engine blowing its bottom end consistently due to the frequent oil surge, which plagued this era of touring car racing.
Eastlake got both Colin Bond and Fred Gibson to test the P76, with both complimenting the handling, but agreed it needed more power to be competitive.
Due to a lack of success and funds, Southport Motors pulled the program leaving Eastlake to return to the radio waves.
Eastlake later commentated motorsport events for Channel 9 including Formula 1, Australian Super Touring Championship and IndyCar.
Leyland Australia closed operations in October 1974 before the two-door Force 7 coupe was to be released, a potential replacement for Eastlake’s P76 if the Southport Motors entry had been a success.