Greg Carr is regarded as if not the best then close to the greatest rallying talent in Australian history and although he didn’t get his chance on the world stage, he continues to be a revered figure.
Carr was part of a golden era in Australian rallying when the factory battle was fierce between Ford, Datsun and at times Holden when the talent in the forests was close to its best.
Impressing during the 1970s in first a Ford Cortina GT, then a Datsun 1600, the Canberran enjoyed immense success in his local Don Capasco Rally, later to turn into the Castrol International Rally winning it sixth consecutive times between 1975 and 1980.
During the mid-1970s, Carr linked up with Gerry Ball’s renowned squad as his socks rose by beating the likes of Sting Blomqvist and Ari Vatanen in the Castrol, plus winning his first Australian Rally Championship Heat in 1974.
His breakout season came in 1976 when he scored four rally victories to get the call up to join the factory Ford squad led by Colin Bond driving one of the legendary Escort BDAs.
Carr won his first ARC round win in the 1977 Bega Valley Rally, but disappointment came at the prestigious Southern Cross Rally when alternator failure forced his retirement while leading late in the event.
More success was to come in 1978 when Carr secured the first of his three ARC titles defeating the strong Howard Marsden-led Datsun squad featuring George Fury and Ross Dunkerton as its driver line-up.
Carr won the Lutwyche Shopping Village Rally in Queensland, the Bega Valley Rally located in New South Wales and the season finale Marchal Rally in Victoria, which proved crucial as he won the title on count back due to winning more events than Dunkerton.
Through the year the first international opportunities came for Carr at the Burmah Rally in Scotland where he scored a credible sixth to win the Man of the Rally Award.
In 1979, Datsun has the edge compared to the Ford leading to Carr finishing equal second alongside team leader Bond, winning just the sole event in Western Australia.
However, he once again impressed on the world stage by scoring a top 10 finish in the United Kingdom’s RAC Rally as a potential factory Ford seat appeared to be on the table. Despite Carr’s superb result, Ford was searching for a driver with pace note and tarmac experience, which neither featured in Australia at that time.
After Ford’s factory team disbanded in 1980, Carr was not a regular through the 1980s until later when he secured a second title in a Alfa Romeo GTV6 in 1987 and two years later took the win driving Lancia’s dominant Delta Integrale.
Retiring from rallying after his third championship year in 1989, Carr finished with the impressive stats of a trio of titles equaled by as many runner up finishes and never was outside the top five in the standings.
This was matched by enviable runs on many of Australia’s leading rallies including the previously mentioned Castrol, six Alpine Rally wins, but never a Southern Cross Rally as his best was a second in 1980 behind Dunkerton and ahead of teammate Vatanen.
The legendary partnership between Carr and co-driver Fred Gocentas provided plenty of superb results including two ARC titles.
Carr continued his day job in the public service and paired it with a role in officialdom at Rally Australia and later the ARC to ensure the safety of events.
Leaving an indelible mark on Australian rallying, Carr beat the leading internationals regularly on home turf and was unlucky not to get his opportunity overseas.