The 1988 Australian Touring Car season was a Dick Johnson Racing benefit as the squad finally got a handle on its Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500s to arguably have the fastest versions in the world.
Team Owner Dick Johnson was joined by John Bowe for the season as the duo dominated the championship to finish a resounding 1-2 after taking victory in all bar one round, which was the sixth event at Lakeside where Tony Longhurst greeted the chequered flag.
After the season was complete, DJR sent both of its drivers and one of its RS500s to the RAC Tourist Trophy at Silverstone to compete against Europe’s best. A round of the European Touring Car Championship, the RAC Tourist Trophy highlighted the pace DJR had gained in the previous 12 months after being humbled at Bathurst in 1987.
Taking pole, a water pump took Johnson and Bowe out of the event as the duo scared the likes of Eggenberger by dominating the early running in addition to setting the fastest lap.
And what does this all have to do with a Holden win?
Well, it was a transitional stage as Larry Perkins upheld the Lion’s honour locally while Tom Walkinshaw Racing set to work in developing a Sierra beater. What emerged was a radical VL in appearance as a divide was apparent between the Australian-based Perkins and Walkinshaw in the UK.
At Bathurst, the Holden factory team failed to finish the race as Ford took victory through Longhurst and Tomas Mezera in the Benson and Hedges entry spearheaded by the returning Frank Gardner.
However, the season ending South Australia Cup provided a happy surprise for Holden fans heading into 1989.
At a tumultuous time for Holden in racing post-Brock split, Perkins won the South Australia Cup leading home teammate and 1967 World Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship winner Denny Hulme in a surprise 1-2.
The Sierra challenge start strong as Johnson and Bowe led from Longhurst, but the Bathurst winner dropped out early. A spin for the second DJR Sierra of Bowe dropped the Tasmanian back and Johnson suffered a fuel pick up problem, similar to the one afflicted him the previous year.
For 1989, Perkins ran as a privateer with Win Percy being installed to head Holden’s program by Walkinshaw.