The Repco Supercars Championship returns to sprint racing at Sandown of which it has much history alongside its traditional pre-Bathurst 1000 endurance event.
More than 30 years ago, Sandown opened the 1995 Shell Australian Touring Car Championship in what was the usual inclement conditions provided by Melbourne’s temperamental weather.
Veteran Larry Perkins mastered the heavy rain to secure the round victory in what was a masterful display.
There were many changes for 1995 including the due of Holden’s VR Commodore and the Ford EF Falcon, while reigning champion Mark Skaife was absent due to injuries sustained in a scary incident leading up to the Winfield Triple Challenge.
The Shell FIA pair of EF Falcons locked out the front-row as John Bowe scored pole ahead of teammate Dick Johnson.
While qualifying was held in warm weather, heavy rainfall greeted competitors on race day and Bowe called for the events to be cancelled in a pre-race interview.
Jim Richards was the first winner of the day after taking the flag in the Peter Jackson Dash. The noted rain master revelled in the conditions to score an easy win after pulling out the Pole card for the Dash.
Bowe and Johnson returned to the front-row for the opening race, but it was Perkins from the second row leading into Turn 1.
Chaos ensued as the likes of Tomas Mezera, Glenn Seton and most importantly Bowe.
Spinning at Turn 1 after locking behind Perkins in the battle for the lead, Bowe managed to recover to fifth by the end.
This effectively handed Perkins the round win as the conditions improved marginally for the last race of the day and it was Bowe taking the win ahead of the Castrol Commodore.
Perkins walked away with the round victory and championship lead, but finished fourth by in the standings after the finale at Oran Park.