Sun-7 Chesterfield Series

The Sun-7 Chesterfield Series was an Australian touring car racing series staged at Amaroo Park in Sydney, New South Wales from 1971 to 1981. The actual series name varied from year to year, according to the commercial sponsorship secured by the series promoters, the Australian Racing Drivers Club.

Sun-7 Chesterfield Series
CategoryTouring car racing
CountryAustralia
Inaugural season1971
Folded1981
Last Drivers' championAustralia Steve Masterton

Initially run for Group E Series Production Touring Cars the series switched to the new Australian Group C Touring Car regulations in 1973. The series was a precursor to the later AMSCAR touring car series which was run at Amaroo Park from 1982.

History

In 1971 Lakis Manticas won the inaugural "Sun-7" title driving a Morris Cooper S, with points being allocated evenly among the three engine capacity classes.

The tight Amaroo Park circuit suited the Holden Torana GTR XU-1s. Leading Sydney-based Torana drivers, such as the Holden Dealer Team's Colin Bond, Bob Morris, Don Holland and Allan Grice were prominent in the series. John Goss in the McLeod Ford entered Ford Falcon GT and Ford stalwart Fred Gibson were regular front-runners, while Chrysler drivers Leo Geoghegan and Doug Chivas also appeared. Colin Bond won the series three times in a row, from 1972 to 1974.

For 1975 the Sun-7 Rothmans Series was restricted to cars with an engine capacity of under 3 litres, meaning that larger engined cars such as the Holden Torana SL/R 5000 and Ford Falcon GT could no longer compete. In the 3 litre era some of the main contenders included Bo Seton's Ford Capri, Don Holland and Allan Grice in Mazda RX-3's and Bob Morris in a Triumph Dolomite.

For the 1981 series the engine capacity limit of the competing cars was increased from 3.0 litres to 3.5 litres[1] and the following year the 3.5 litre capacity limit was removed for what was now entitled the AMSCAR.[2]

Winners
Colin Bond placed third in the 1981 Better Brakes 3.5 Litre Series in a Ford Capri.[1] The car is pictured in 2005
Year Series name Driver Car Team
1971 Sun-7 Series[3] Australia Lakis Manticas[4] Morris Cooper S British Leyland Works Team
1972 Sun-7 Series[5] Australia Colin Bond[6] Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 Holden Dealer Team
1973 Sun 7 Better Brakes Gold Medal Series[7] Australia Colin Bond[8] Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1 Holden Dealer Team
1974 Sun-7 Chesterfield Series[9] Australia Colin Bond[10] Holden LJ Torana GTR XU-1
Holden LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34		 Holden Dealer Team
1975 Sun-7 Rothmans Series[11] Australia Barry Seton[12] Ford Capri GT 3000 Mk.I[12]
1976 Rothmans Sun-7 Series[13] Australia Allan Grice[13] Mazda RX-3[13] Mazda House Racing[13]
1977 Sun-7 Rothmans Touring Car Series[14] Australia Barry Seton[15] Ford Capri V6[15]
1978 Rothmans Sun-7 Series[16] Australia Peter Williamson[16] Toyota Celica[16]
1979 Better Brakes Under 3 Litre Series[17] Australia Barry Seton[17] Ford Capri[17]
1980 Better Brakes Touring Car Series[18] Australia Barry Seton[18] Ford Capri[18]
1981 Better Brakes 3.5 Litre Series[1] Australia Steve Masterton[1] Ford Capri V6[1]

Multiple winners

By driver
Wins Driver Years
4 Australia Barry Seton 1975, 1977, 1979, 1980
3 Australia Colin Bond 1972, 1973, 1974

By manufacturer
Wins Manufacturer
5 Ford
3 Holden

References
  1. Better Brakes 3.5 Litre Series, Australian Motor Racing Yearbook, 1981/82, pages 188 to 189
  2. Better Brakes AMSCAR, Australian Motor Racing Yearbook, 1982/83, page 198
  3. Peter Wherrett, Holland takes Sun-7 opener, Racing Car News, April 1971
  4. Racing Car News, October 1971
  5. David Hassall, Into the Lion's Den, Brocky, 2009
  6. Racing Car News, October 1972
  7. Official Programme, Sun 7 Better Brakes Gold Medal Series, Amaroo Park Raceway, Sunday 18 Aug. 1973
  8. Sydney Morning Herald - 19 August 1973 - pg 15
  9. Falcon GT By The Years: 1974, www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au Retrieved on 25 June 2019
  10. Bob Morris's LJ XU-1 Torana, www.bowdensown.com.au Retrieved via web.archive.org on 24 February 2014
  11. Official Programme, Sun 7 Rothmans Series, Amaroo Park Raceway, Sunday 20 July 1975
  12. Amaroo Park 3-Litre Series, Australian Competition Yearbook, 1976 Edition, pages 82 to 84
  13. Rothmans Sun-7 Series, Australian Competition Yearbook, 1977 Edition, pages 114 to 120
  14. Programme of Events, Official Programme, Amaroo Park, 14 August 1977, page 5
  15. Seton wins by a point, The Sydney Morning Herald, 15 August 1977, page 22
  16. Rothmans SUN-7 Series, Australian Competition Yearbook Number 8, pages 142 to 143
  17. Motor Racing, The Sydney Morning Herald, 13 August 1979, page 24
  18. Motor Racing, The Sydney Morning Herald, 14 July 1980, page 23
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