This season marks the final year of the current Gen2 generation of Australian touring cars just as there was a changing of the guard three decades prior.
In 1992 Group A was on its last legs and began its concluding season of competition this week exactly 30 years ago.
After much bickering and fighting, the eight-season run of Group A was drawing to a close after a spectacular era of competition, which pushed Australia’s best teams to become the global leaders.
Beginning in 1985, BMW was the initial leader spearheaded by Jim Richards, but it soon became apparent turbo power was essential as Robbie Francevic in the ‘flying brick’ Volvo won the title in 1986. However, more firepower was to come.
Dick Johnson switched from his heavy, underpowered Mustang to Ford’s new Sierra Cosworth giving the model its global debut at Calder Park in 1987, the same day as Richards did the BMW M3.
Richards went on to win the title in a close fought battle with young gun Glenn Seton in the turbocharged Nissan DR30 Skyline.
Reliability was a major problem for the DJR Sierras through 1987, but this was dispelled the next year as Johnson and new teammate John Bowe slaughtered the field before taking one of its red rockets to Silverstone to show the Europeans what it was all about.
Johnson continued this form into 1989 as he took another touring car title, but Nissan had a revolutionary contender waiting in the wings.
Meanwhile, Holden continued admirably as the underdog with its V8-powered Commodore after a split with Brock allowed legendary touring car driver and preparer Tom Walkinshaw to form alliance with the ‘Lion’.
This didn’t help in Group A’s technology war, though underdog wins at Bathurst softened the blow.
Starting in the well sorted HR31 Skyline, Richards took another title in 1990 as the revolutionary contender debuted and demonstrated its potency at Mallala 1990 with Mark Skaife behind the wheel.
The four-wheel-drive, four-wheel-steer, twin turbocharged, R32 GT-R redefined the term touring car and went onto achieve either admiration or derision from fans.
Just like Johnson’s Sierras did in 1988, the Gibson Motorsport R32 GT-Rs decimated the field in 1991 as only Tony Longhurst in the upgraded BMW M3 defeated it all season as Richards sealed back-to-back titles.
Which brings us to 1992. Australia was one of the last major championships using the Group A regulations, Super Touring was taking off in Europe at the time with the British Touring Car Championship welcoming manufacturers as diverse as Toyota, BMW, Peugeot, Mazda and GM representative Vauxhall.
CAMS along with ATCC stakeholders had decided to revert to a 5-litre V8 formula for 1993 comprising just Ford and Holden, a successful model witnessed on Bob Jane’s Thunderdome.
Amaroo Park opened up the final Group A season, with many concessions allowed for models other than the GT-R, which had rev limits and weight to slow it down.
Also, a major change and controversial addition was the Peter Jackson Dash for Cash, which also decided pole position. Starting places for the dash were decided by a draw with Richards leading and taking pole, while the quickest driver on Saturday Bowe dropped to fifth.
Brock started alongside and won the start in the opening heat, but the challenge was to keep the GT-Rs, Sierras and pesky M3s behind.
In the end, it was Seton in his Sierra challenging Brock in the Commodore, but it was Holden’s hero taking the first ATCC win for the manufacturer since his victory at Surfers Paradise International Raceway in 1986.
Wet conditions played into the hands of the GT-Rs and Skaife led a Gibson Motorsport 1-2 in the second heat.
Skaife and Nissan closed the Group A chapter in Australia with title victory, which led to a controversial win at the Mountain.
Group 3A was welcomed for the most part in 1993 and started a successful era for touring cars as the championship grew in professionalism as well as popularity into the new millennium.
Gen3 appears to be going in the right direction.