Group C regulations led the way in motorsport during the 1980s both locally in Australia and worldwide, but at totally different ends of the spectrum.
Group C in Australia was the set of touring car regulations about to be replaced by the international Group A regulations. In Europe, Group C defined the futuristic, technologically advanced and aerodynamically advanced sports car regulations led by the likes of Porsche.
The world’s collided somewhat in 1984 when Sandown hosted the final round of the World Sportscar Championship, which is newsworthy now considering Shell V-Power Motorsport Park is targeting a round of the World Endurance Championship in the near-future.
Acting as promoter was the Light Car Club of Australia, but the event proved a major loss and one of local motorsport’s long-time supporters was bankrupt by the end of the decade.
Part of the bid to host the final round was a major refurbishment of Sandown featuring a new infield loop, the moving of the pits to the current location and upgrades to some of the layout.
The new loop has since been derided by many, but removed what was ‘Rothmans Rise’ or the current fast esses approaching Dandenong Road. This meant a hairpin turned the circuit back on itself at Turn 6, zig-zagging its way around to emerge just prior to Dandenong Road (Turn 9).
Of course, this layout debuted at the 1984 Sandown 500 in September ahead of the World Sportscar Championship event in December.
Open to the Group C1 monsters headlined by Porsche’s dominant 956 up against the Lancia LC2/84, the less powerful C2 featuring Tiga, German Gebhardts and the legendary BMW M1 sportscar in Class B.
One IMSA team fielding a Lola T600 Chevrolet took up the challenge, while a special Australia Class for local sourced entries added further interest. These entries included the Romano WE84 Ford-Cosworth, JPS BMW’s turbocharged 320i Sports Sedan, a Re-Car Racing Chevrolet Monza, a JWS C2 Mazda and Bryan Thomson’s troublesome Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC Chevrolet.
Much like Alfa Romeo did prior to the 1987 Bathurst 1000, Lancia failed to make an appearance at Sandown as it had nothing to gain due to the event not awarding manufacturer points and its driver line-up was out of the running for the Drivers’ Championship.
Porsche dominated due to this and spectacularly drove all three of its Rothmans-sponsored 956s down Dandenong Road from the local headquarters to Sandown.
An impressive line-up assembled for Porsche led by Jochen Mass, Jacky Ickx, Derek Bell and Stefan Bellof, with a third entry for 1983 Le Mans winner Vern Schuppan paired alongside 1980 Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship victor Alan Jones.
Also in the field was Jack Brabham in a privateer Porsche 956 fielded by British outfit GTi Engineering, but the factory entries proved far too powerful to topple.
Belloff and Bell dominated proceedings to seal the Drivers’ title as the pair finished three laps clear of teammates Mass and Ickx in what was a six hour affair lasting 206 laps.
Although scheduled to last 257 laps equal to 1000km, FISA had imposed a six hour limit on the race leading to the event falling 51 laps short of the distance.
Former Tickford Racing co-owner Rusty French held the distinction of being the lead Australian in the field, some six laps behind the leader in fifth paired alongside future Formula 1 driver Manfred Winkelhock in a Kremer Racing Porsche.
JPS BMW won the Australia Class in its turbocharged 320i shared by Jim Richards and Tony Longhurst, but were 28 laps down in 14th.
Despite the loss of the first event, another World Sportscar Championship event was held at Sandown four years later in 1988.
Sauber’s C9 had emerged as a key rival to Porsche courtesy of Mercedes-Benz involvement as Jean-Louis Schlesser was joined by Mass to score the win.
Sportscar racing at the top level has never returned to Australia despite rumours of Phillip Island and now Shell V-Power Motorsport Park lasting for the last two decades.