Allan Grice’s European program for 1986 didn’t get off to the best start when a major sponsor pulled out and a plan to have top Australian drivers join him failed to occur.
The 1986 season was a momentous one for Grice due to his European program and his successful Bathurst 1000 campaign bankrolled by Graeme Bailey.
Coming up to 40-years since a group of Australians took on the European Touring Car Championship, it was a remarkable effort for Grice particularly due to his plans being scuppered leading in.
The ‘Prince of the Privateers’ had come to agreement with Australian beer brand Fosters to sponsor his effort and the plan was to have a rotation of his star touring car rivals to co-drive alongside.
It was a solid plan until Peter Brock announced his own part-campaign with his Mobil Holden Dealer Team concern, leaving Grice with no sponsorship deal.
Grice and the Les Small-led Roadways team didn’t halt their plans, but instead committed to running the majority of ETCC rounds featuring an array of pay drivers.
Australian ex-pat Alan Docking provided the base for the team using his Formula 3 workshop.
Entered as the Australian National Motor Racing Team, Grice shocked the Europeans as soon as he hit the track by his no compromising style.
An example of this was by rubbing panels with all three Tom Walkinshaw Racing Rover Vitesses, with Grice displaying the potential of the Holden VK Commodore by pacing Brock in all sessions.
Although DNFs were scored at the first three races, Grice had proved the VK Commodore package was competitive against Europe’s best.
Hockenheim solidified this when Grice challenged the RAS Sport Volvo 240 Turbos for the lead, but a lapped Golf got in the way of the Australian.
After a 15th at the Nurburgring, Brock and Grice’s efforts were combined for a tilt on the prestigious King’s Cup.
The combined effort didn’t extend to support from the MHDT, with Grice’s team stealing a seat from a TWR show car after the crew wasn’t able to borrow Brock’s spare.
The King’s Cup was secured, with Grice alongside Belgian Michel Delcourt and the allegedly drunk Alex Guyaux.
Teaming with Mark Galvin, Grice failed to get a solid finish at Silverstone’s Tourist Trophy, didn’t finish the next two races at Zolder with Delcourt and Jarama alongside Ferdinand de Lesseps.
Saving the best for last, Grice completed his program at Estoril where he, David Kennedy and Martin Birrane.
Although the Commodore was competitive, it never received another chance to consistently take on Europe and it entered at the perfect time.
Turbocharging was still being developed, Ford didn’t have the Sierra, BMW was working on the M3 and Group A had hit a sweet spot.
From 1987 onwards, the Holden Commodore continued to be left behind until the close of the Group A regulations in 1992.
Grice further emphasised the importance of his European trip by winning Bathurst using a Bailey’s Commodore, but bringing the learnings from Europe to dominate the race.
Due to the totally different regulations in touring car racing worldwide and the demise of the local manufacturing industry, this is a part of motorsport history unlikely to repeat itself.