# 1996 Australian Touring Car season

The 1996 Australian Touring Car season was the 37th year of touring car racing in Australia since the first runnings of the Australian Touring Car Championship and the fore-runner of the present day Bathurst 1000, the Armstrong 500.
Two major touring car categories raced in Australia during 1996, Group 3A Touring Cars and Super Touring. Between them there were 26 touring car race meetings held during 1996; a ten-round series for Group 3A Touring Cars, the 1996 Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC); an eight-round series for Super Touring, the 1996 Australian Super Touring Championship (ASTC); a two event series in New Zealand, support programme events at the 1996 Australian Grand Prix and 1996 Bartercard Indycar Australia and two stand alone long distance races, nicknamed 'enduros'.

## Results and standings
### Race calendar

The 1996 Australian touring car season consisted of 26 events.
| Date | Series | Circuit | City / state | Winner | Team | Car | Report |
| 27 Jan | ATCC Round 1 | Eastern Creek Raceway | Sydney, New South Wales | Craig Lowndes | Holden Racing Team | Holden VR Commodore | |
| 4 Feb | ATCC Round 2 | Sandown International Raceway | Melbourne, Victoria | Craig Lowndes | Holden Racing Team | Holden VR Commodore | |
| 25 Feb | ATCC Round 3 | Mount Panorama Circuit | Bathurst, New South Wales | John Bowe | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford EF Falcon | |
| 9–10 Mar | Super Touring Car Race | Albert Park street circuit | Melbourne, Victoria | Geoff Brabham | Paul Morris Motorsport | BMW 318i | |
| 9–10 Mar | TAC Touring Cars | Albert Park street circuit | Melbourne, Victoria | Peter Brock | Holden Racing Team | Holden VR Commodore | |
| 17 Mar | ATCC Round 4 | Symmons Plains Raceway | Launceston, Tasmania | Craig Lowndes | Holden Racing Team | Holden VR Commodore | |
| 30–31 Mar | Super Touring Cars | Surfers Paradise street circuit | Surfers Paradise, Queensland | Greg Murphy | Brad Jones Racing | Audi A4 Quattro | |
| 30–31 Mar | EA Sports Touring Cars | Surfers Paradise street circuit | Surfers Paradise, Queensland | John Bowe | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford EF Falcon | |
| 14 Apr | ATCC Round 5 | Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit | Phillip Island, Victoria | Larry Perkins | Perkins Engineering | Holden VR Commodore | |
| 28 Apr | ATCC Round 6 | Calder Park Raceway | Melbourne, Victoria | Russell Ingall | Perkins Engineering | Holden VR Commodore | |
| 5 May | ATCC Round 7 | Lakeside International Raceway | Brisbane, Queensland | Craig Lowndes | Holden Racing Team | Holden VR Commodore | |
| 19 May | ASTC Round 1 | Amaroo Park | Sydney, New South Wales | Brad Jones | Brad Jones Racing | Audi A4 Quattro | |
| 26 May | ATCC Round 8 | Barbagallo Raceway | Perth, Western Australia | Craig Lowndes | Holden Racing Team | Holden VR Commodore | |
| 2 Jun | ATCC Round 9 | Mallala Motor Sport Park | Adelaide, South Australia | Craig Lowndes | Holden Racing Team | Holden VR Commodore | |
| 17 Jun | ATCC Round 10 | Oran Park Raceway | Sydney, New South Wales | Peter Brock | Holden Racing Team | Holden VR Commodore | |
| 23 Jun | ASTC Round 2 | Lakeside International Raceway | Brisbane, Queensland | Paul Morris | Paul Morris Motorsport | BMW 318i | |
| 14 Jul | ASTC Round 3 | Amaroo Park | Sydney, New South Wales | Brad Jones | Brad Jones Racing | Audi A4 Quattro | |
| 11 Aug | ASTC Round 4 | Mallala Motor Sport Park | Adelaide, South Australia | Greg Murphy | Brad Jones Racing | Audi A4 Quattro | |
| 25 Aug | ASTC Round 5 | Winton Motor Raceway | Benalla, Victoria | Paul Morris | Paul Morris Motorsport | BMW 318i | |
| 8 Sep | Tickford 500 | Sandown International Raceway | Melbourne, Victoria | Craig Lowndes Greg Murphy | Holden Racing Team | Holden VR Commodore | report |
| 22 Sep | ASTC Round 6 | Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit | Phillip Island, Victoria | Greg Murphy | Brad Jones Racing | Audi A4 Quattro | |
| 5–6 Oct | Super Touring | Mount Panorama Circuit | Bathurst, New South Wales | Jim Richards | Volvo Dealer Racing | Volvo 850 | |
| 5–6 Oct | AMP Bathurst 1000 | Mount Panorama Circuit | Bathurst, New South Wales | Craig Lowndes Greg Murphy | Holden Racing Team | Holden VR Commodore | report |
| 27 Oct | ASTC Round 7 | Lakeside International Raceway | Brisbane, Queensland | Paul Morris | Paul Morris Motorsport | BMW 318i | |
| 9 Nov | ASTC Round 8 | Oran Park Raceway | Sydney, New South Wales | Brad Jones | Brad Jones Racing | Audi A4 Quattro | |
| 17 Nov | Pukekohe Mobil Sprints | Pukekohe Park Raceway | Pukekohe, New Zealand | Greg Murphy | Holden Racing Team | Holden VR Commodore | |
| 24 Nov | Wellington Mobil Sprints | Wellington street circuit | Wellington, New Zealand | John Bowe | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford EF Falcon | |

### Formula 1 Super Touring support race

This meeting was a support event of the 1996 Australian Grand Prix.
| Driver | No. | Team | Car | Race 1 | Race 2 |
| Geoff Brabham | 83 | BMW Motorsport Australia | BMW 320i | 1 | 1 |
| Paul Morris | 1 | BMW Motorsport Australia | BMW 320i | 2 | 2 |
| Jim Richards | 77 | Ross Palmer Motorsport | Ford Mondeo | 5 | 3 |
| Brad Jones | 3 | Brad Jones Racing | Audi A4 Quattro | 4 | 4 |
| Greg Murphy | 4 | Brad Jones Racing | Audi A4 Quattro | 3 | 5 |
| Peter Brock | 05 | Volvo Cars Australia | Volvo 850 | 6 | 6 |
| Steven Richards | 34 | Garry Rogers Motorsport | Alfa Romeo 155 | 8 | 7 |
| Mark Adderton | 96 | Phoenix Motorsport | Peugeot 405 Mi16 | 9 | 8 |
| Paul Nelson | 15 | Bob Holden Motors | BMW M3 | DNF | 9 |
| Justin Mathews | 16 | Bob Holden Motors | BMW 318i | 11 | 10 |
| Cameron McLean | 12 | Greenfield Mowers Racing | BMW 318i | DNF | 11 |
| Peter Hills | 88 | Knight Racing | Ford Sierra | 13 | 12 |
| John Mann | 31 | Craig Lawless | Peugeot 405 Mi16 | 14 | 13 |
| Geoff Full | 95 | Phoenix Motorsport | Peugeot 405 Mi16 | 7 | DNF |
| Bob Holden | 13 | Bob Holden Motors | BMW M3 | 12 | DNF |
| Les May | 20 | Les May Racing | BMW M3 | 10 | DNF |

### TAC Touring Cars

This meeting was a support event of the 1996 Australian Grand Prix.
| Driver | No. | Team | Car | Race 1 | Race 2 |
| Peter Brock | 05 | Holden Racing Team | Holden VR Commodore | 2 | 1 |
| John Bowe | 1 | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford EF Falcon | 3 | 2 |
| Glenn Seton | 30 | Glenn Seton Racing | Ford EF Falcon | 1 | 3 |
| Russell Ingall | 8 | Perkins Engineering | Holden VR Commodore | 7 | 4 |
| Mark Skaife | 2 | Gibson Motorsport | Holden VR Commodore | DNF | 5 |
| Steven Richards | 32 | Garry Rogers Motorsport | Holden VR Commodore | 13 | 6 |
| Wayne Gardner | 4 | Wayne Gardner Racing | Holden VR Commodore | DNF | 7 |
| Steve Ellery | 52 | Steven Ellery Racing | Ford EF Falcon | 11 | 8 |
| Neil Crompton | 7 | Wayne Gardner Racing | Holden VR Commodore | DNF | 9 |
| Dick Johnson | 17 | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford EF Falcon | 19 | 10 |
| Tony Longhurst | 25 | Longhurst Racing | Ford EF Falcon | 10 | 11 |
| Terry Finnigan | 27 | | Holden VP Commodore | 22 | 12 |
| Alan Jones | 301 | Alan Jones Racing | Ford EF Falcon | 5 | 13 |
| John Faulkner | 46 | John Faulkner Racing | Holden VR Commodore | 8 | 14 |
| David Parsons | 55 | David Parsons | Holden VR Commodore | 16 | 15 |
| Mark Poole | 38 | James Rosenberg Racing | Holden VR Commodore | 24 | 16 |
| Trevor Ashby | 3 | Lansvale Racing Team | Holden VP Commodore | DNF | 17 |
| Chris Smerdon | 39 | Challenge Motorsport | Holden VR Commodore | 23 | 18 |
| Peter McLeod | 50 | | Holden VR Commodore | 25 | 19 |
| Malcolm Stenniken | 14 | | Holden VR Commodore | 21 | 20 |
| Bob Jones | 43 | Bob Jones Racing | Holden VP Commodore | 20 | 21 |
| John Trimbole | 47 | Daily Planet Racing | Ford EB Falcon | 18 | 22 |
| Larry Perkins | 11 | Perkins Engineering | Holden VR Commodore | 6 | 23 |
| Craig Lowndes | 15 | Holden Racing Team | Holden VR Commodore | 4 | DNF |
| Paul Romano | 201 | Alan Jones Racing | Ford EF Falcon | 15 | DNF |
| Max Dumesny | 75 | John Sidney Racing | Ford EF Falcon | 12 | DNF |
| Mark Larkham | 10 | Larkham Motor Sport | Ford EF Falcon | 14 | DNF |
| Peter Doulman | 29 | M3 Motorsport | Holden VP Commodore | 9 | DNF |
| Wayne Russell | 62 | | Holden VP Commodore | DNF | DNF |
| Kevin Heffernan | 74 | PACE Racing | Holden VP Commodore | 17 | DNF |

### Champ Car Super Touring support race

This meeting was a support event of the 1996 Bartercard Indycar Australia.
| Driver | No. | Team | Car | Race 1 | Race 2 |
| Greg Murphy | 4 | Brad Jones Racing | Audi A4 Quattro | 2 | 1 |
| Jim Richards | 77 | Ross Palmer Motorsport | Ford Mondeo | 5 | 2 |
| Charlie O'Brien | 10 | BMW International | BMW 318i | 1 | 3 |
| Peter Brock | 05 | Volvo Cars Australia | Volvo 850 | 4 | 4 |
| Cameron McLean | 12 | Greenfield Mowers Racing | BMW 318i | | 5 |
| Kevin Schwantz | 97 | Phoenix Motorsport | Peugeot 405 Mi16 | 3 | 6 |
| Geoff Full | 95 | Phoenix Motorsport | Peugeot 405 Mi16 | 7 | 7 |
| Stephen Voight | 18 | | BMW M3 | | 8 |
| Justin Mathews | 16 | Bob Holden Motors | BMW 318i | 9 | 9 |
| Paul Pickett | 58 | Triple P Racing | Hyundai Lantra | | 10 |
| Miles Pope | 36 | BMW International | BMW 318i | | 11 |
| Kurt Kratzmann | 33 | | Ford Sierra | | 12 |
| Bob Holden | 13 | Bob Holden Motors | BMW M3 | | 13 |
| Paul Nelson | 15 | Bob Holden Motors | BMW M3 | | 14 |
| Steven Richards | 34 | Garry Rogers Motorsport | Alfa Romeo 155 | 8 | 15 |
| Geoff Brabham | 83 | BMW Motorsport Australia | BMW 318i | DNF | DNF |
| Paul Morris | 1 | BMW Motorsport Australia | BMW 318i | 6 | DNF |
| Brad Jones | 3 | Brad Jones Racing | Audi A4 Quattro | DNF | DNS |

### EA Sports Touring Cars

This meeting was a support event of the 1996 Bartercard Indycar Australia.
| Driver | No. | Team | Car | Race 1 | Race 2 |
| John Bowe | 1 | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford EF Falcon | 1 | 1 |
| Peter Brock | 05 | Holden Racing Team | Holden VR Commodore | 2 | 2 |
| Russell Ingall | 8 | Perkins Engineering | Holden VR Commodore | 8 | 3 |
| Alan Jones | 301 | Alan Jones Racing | Ford EF Falcon | 4 | 4 |
| Dick Johnson | 17 | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford EF Falcon | 3 | 5 |
| Mark Skaife | 2 | Gibson Motorsport | Holden VR Commodore | 9 | 6 |
| Larry Perkins | 11 | Perkins Engineering | Holden VR Commodore | 5 | 7 |
| Glenn Seton | 30 | Glenn Seton Racing | Ford EF Falcon | 7 | 8 |
| Tony Longhurst | 25 | Longhurst Racing | Ford EF Falcon | 10 | 9 |
| John Faulkner | 46 | John Faulkner Racing | Holden VR Commodore | 13 | 10 |
| Steve Ellery | 52 | Steven Ellery Racing | Ford EF Falcon | 14 | 11 |
| Brad Jones | 4 | Wayne Gardner Racing | Holden VR Commodore | 12 | 12 |
| Mark Poole | 38 | James Rosenberg Racing | Holden VR Commodore | 18 | 13 |
| Mal Rose | 44 | Mal Rose Racing | Holden VR Commodore | 20 | 14 |
| Terry Finnigan | 27 | | Holden VP Commodore | 15 | 15 |
| Neil Crompton | 7 | Wayne Gardner Racing | Holden VR Commodore | DNF | 16 |
| Paul Romano | 201 | Alan Jones Racing | Ford EF Falcon | DNS | 17 |
| Max Dumesny | 75 | John Sidney Racing | Ford EF Falcon | 16 | 18 |
| Steve Reed | 3 | Lansvale Racing Team | Holden VP Commodore | DNF | 19 |
| Kevin Waldock | 28 | Playscape Racing | Ford EF Falcon | 21 | 20 |
| Steven Richards | 32 | Garry Rogers Motorsport | Holden VR Commodore | 11 | 21 |
| Wayne Russell | 62 | | Holden VP Commodore | 22 | 22 |
| Kevin Heffernan | 74 | PACE Racing | Holden VP Commodore | DNF | 23 |
| Mark Larkham | 10 | Larkham Motor Sport | Ford EF Falcon | 17 | DNF |
| Chris Smerdon | 39 | Challenge Motorsport | Holden VR Commodore | 19 | DNF |
| Craig Lowndes | 15 | Holden Racing Team | Holden VR Commodore | 6 | DNF |

### Bathurst 1000 Super Touring support race

This meeting was a support event of the 1996 AMP Bathurst 1000.
| Driver | No. | Team | Car | Race 1 | Race 2 | Race 3 |
| Jim Richards | 05 | Volvo Cars Australia | Volvo 850 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Brad Jones | 3 | Brad Jones Racing | Audi A4 Quattro | 3 | 9 | 2 |
| Paul Morris | 1 | BMW Motorsport Australia | BMW 318i | 4 | DNS | 3 |
| Craig Baird | 10 | BMW Motorsport Australia | BMW 318i | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Geoff Brabham | 83 | BMW Motorsport Australia | BMW 318i | 7 | 3 | 5 |
| Tamara Vidali | 4 | Brad Jones Racing | Audi A4 Quattro | 5 | 4 | 6 |
| Geoff Full | 95 | Phoenix Motorsport | Peugeot 405 Mi16 | DNF | DNF | 7 |
| Justin Mathews | 16 | Bob Holden Motors | BMW 318i | 10 | DNS | 8 |
| Bob Tweedie | 36 | BMW International | BMW 318i | 9 | 6 | 9 |
| Kurt Kratzmann | 33 | | Ford Sierra | 11 | 8 | 10 |
| Bob Holden | 13 | Bob Holden Motors | BMW M3 | DNS | DNS | 11 |
| Stephen Voight | 28 | | BMW M3 | 8 | 5 | 12 |
| Paul Nelson | 16 | Bob Holden Motors | BMW 318i | DNS | 7 | DNS |
| Mark Adderton | 96 | Phoenix Motorsport | Peugeot 405 Mi16 | 6 | 10 | DNS |
| Dennis Rogers | 13 | Bob Holden Motors | BMW M3 | 12 | DNS | DNS |
| Ross Jones | 58 | Triple P Racing | BMW 318iS | DNS | DNS | DNS |

### Mobil New Zealand Sprints

This was a two event invitational series held in New Zealand late in 1996. Seven teams (two of them with just a single car) were freighted to New Zealand and held three races at each of two events held at Pukekohe Park Raceway and a Wellington street circuit. Points were allocated 20–16–14–12–10–8–6–4–2–1 for each of the six races.
| Driver | No. | Team | Car | Pukekohe | Pukekohe | Pukekohe | Wellington | Wellington | Wellington | Total |
| Driver | No. | Team | Car | Race 1 | Race 2 | Race 3 | Race 1 | Race 2 | Race 3 | Total |
| Greg Murphy | 1 | Holden Racing Team | Holden VR Commodore | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 102 |
| John Bowe | 18 | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford EF Falcon | 7 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 88 |
| Glenn Seton | 30 | Glenn Seton Racing | Ford EF Falcon | 2 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 64 |
| Paul Radisich | 6 | Alan Jones Racing | Ford EF Falcon | 4 | DNS | DNF | 4 | 4 | 2 | 52 |
| Dick Johnson | 17 | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford EF Falcon | 6 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 41 |
| Neil Crompton | 4 | Wayne Gardner Racing | Holden VR Commodore | DNF | DNS | DNS | 3 | 2 | 5 | 40 |
| Larry Perkins | 11 | Perkins Engineering | Holden VP Commodore | Ret | 8 | 5 | 2 | Ret | 7 | 36 |
| Russell Ingall | 8 | Perkins Engineering | Holden VR Commodore | 8 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | Ret | 32 |
| Tony Longhurst | 25 | Longhurst Racing | Ford EF Falcon | 9 | 5 | 2 | 12 | 9 | Ret | 30 |
| Peter Brock | 05 | Holden Racing Team | Holden VR Commodore | 3 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 7 | Ret | 27 |
| Alan Jones | 9 | Alan Jones Racing | Ford EF Falcon | 5 | 3 | Ret | 9 | Ret | DNS | 26 |
| Wayne Gardner | 7 | Wayne Gardner Racing | Holden VR Commodore | DNF | DNS | DNS | 11 | 8 | 6 | 12 |