One of the Southern Hemisphere’s most successful drivers of the 1970s, Tasman Series winner Graeme Lawrence, has been confirmed as a last-minute addition to the line-up of motor-racing legends attending the 30thHistoric Leyburn Sprints on 15-16 August.
Lawrence, who shared an international reputation alongside fellow New Zealanders Bruce McLaren, Denny Hulme and Chris Amon, won the 1970 Tasman Series in a diminutive Ferrari 246T against a field of powerful V8 machines and was successful in a variety of other cars during his career.
On his first visit to the small Southern Downs town that hosted the 1949 Australian Grand Prix, Lawrence will join his 1970s rivals Kevin Bartlett and Bruce Allison, plus Dick Johnson, John Bowe, Steve Masterton, Andrew Miedecke, Charlie O’Brien, Colin Bond and Bap Romano as VIP guests. Historic racing identity Bill Westerman also will join the VIP group, in recognition of his role in helping to found the Historic Leyburn Sprints in 1996.
The Sprints will see competition among more than 240 historic, classic and performance cars ranging in vintage from 1924 to modern-day. Off-track attractions will include a Vintage Van Village, Shannons Show ‘n’ Shine, a new Frames of Time: Leyburn's Story in Motion historical exhibition, Motorsport Alley display, charity auction, fun run and market stalls.
Lawrence raced in New Zealand, Great Britain, the United States, Australia, Singapore and Malaysia. As well as the ex-Amon Ferrari, his cars included McLaren, Brabham and fearsomely-powerful Lola F5000s.
Sprints President Tricia Chant welcomed Graeme Lawrence as the first NZ driver to join the VIP ranks.
“Graeme is a huge name from a golden era of trans-Tasman motor-racing and I’m sure many Sprints visitors will be keen to meet him at the daily autograph sessions. We’re delighted he’s joining such an illustrious gathering of drivers,” she said.
This year’s VIP drivers include grand prix and Bathurst winners, plus touring car, sports car and rally champions.
Bruce Allison, raced Lola F5000s in Australia, USA, UK and NZ, took pole position for the 1975 AGP. In the UK Shellsport International series for Formula 1, F5000, Formula 2 and Formula Atlantic, took four podiums, three poles and the Grovewood Award for most promising Commonwealth driver.
Kevin Bartlett started racing in 1958 in his mother’s Morris Minor and became a popular hero for his skill and bravery, nicknamed Big Rev Kev. Won two Australian Drivers Championships, one Bathurst 1000 and Macau Grand Prix. Set the first 100mph lap of Mount Panorama in 1967 in a Repco Brabham Climax BT11A, but most famous for his Channel Nine Z28 Camaro.
John Bowe AM, Supercars Hall of Famer, two Australian Drivers Championships, one Australian Touring Car Championship, Australian Sports Car Championship, two Bathurst 1000s, six Touring Car Masters and Bathurst 12-Hour. Contested five Australian Grands Prix, in 1984 at Calder qualifying in second ahead of Formula 1 stars Keke Rosberg, Andrea de Cesaris and Lucio Cesario.
Colin Bond OAM, Supercars Hall of Famer, one of Australia’s most versatile and successful drivers. Three Australian Rally Championships, one Australian Touring Car Championship, the only driver to win both titles. Won the 1969 Hardie-Ferodo 500 with Holden Dealer Team, part of Alan Moffat’s famous Bathurst 1-2 Ford finish, raced many different cars and his own teams.
Dick Johnson AM, Supercars Hall of Famer, won Bathurst three times, five Australian Touring Car Championships and named a Queensland Q150 Icon in 2009.
Graeme Lawrence, won 1970 Tasman Series in Ferrari 246T, Tasman regular from 1969 to 1975 winner Singapore GP (3 times), Malaysian GP, raced in NZ, Australia, USA, UK, Singapore, Malaysia in Brabham, McLaren, Lola, Ferrari.
Steve Masterton, quick touring car privateer in XE Ford Falcon and Ford Capri, wearing iconic Masterton Homes livery. The 1984 Bathurst XE Falcon is currently under restoration in Sydney.
Andrew Miedecke a decade in single-seaters in Australia, NZ, UK, Macau and Malaysia before touring cars from 1987 with OXO Ford Sierra Cosworth. Joined Team Brock’s in a Mobil 1 Sierra RS500 in 1990, wound back racing to focus on business, but later took up Touring Car Masters and tarmac rallying. Won Targa Tasmania 1994.
Charlie O’Brien until 2003 was the youngest driver to win a round of the Australian Touring Car championship. Incredibly versatile, raced in Australia, NZ and the USA in touring cars, single-seaters, sports cars and even utes. Contested the Australian Grand Prix in a Ralt RT4.
Bap Romano widely experienced driver but known best for his spectacular Group C sports car, the Romano WE84, formerly the Kaditcha Cosworth built by ex-McLaren engineer Barry Lock. Romano had notorious crash in the car in the opening round of the 1986 Australian Sports Car Championship at Amaroo Park in Sydney but still appears regularly in the car.
Bill Westerman, respected stalwart of the Queensland historic racing scene, life member and former President of the Historic Racing Car Club of Queensland, co-founder of the Historic Leyburn Sprints in 1996. Widely regarded as a motorsport event organiser and competitor.
