“The Great Race”

First held in 1960, the Bathurst 1000 is a 1,000km endurance touring car race held annually at the infamous Mount Panorama Circuit located in Bathurst, Australia.

The 1986 James Hardie 1000 was held on the 5th of October, 1986. This race was the 26th running of the Bathurst 1000 and was the fourth round of both the 1986 Australian Endurance Championship and the 1986 Australian Manufacturers' Championship.

Cars competing complied with Australian Touring Car regulations, which were based on International Group A touring car rules. There were three categories for the race based on engine capacity; Class A for cars up to 2000cc, Class B for cars 2001-3000cc, and Class C for cars over 3000cc. The Nissan Gazelle of Bruce Stewart and John Giddings competed in Group A against numerous Toyota Corolla's, a turbocharged Fiat Uno and a Ford Escort.

John Giddings, a Nissan Dealer from the New South Wales Southern Highlands, bankrolled the Nissan Gazelle program that Fred Gibson of Gibson Motorsport had developed and raced it to 2nd in class at the 1986 Bathurst 1000. This exact car would later help to launch the career of Mark Skaife in the 1987 Australian Touring Car Championship as the Peter Jackson sponsored entry.

Results

The Gazelle was a brilliant little car. But the race was another one that got away. We should have won the class but the alternator broke. We didn't have a spare. By the time we replaced the battery we were miles behind the class winning Corolla.John Giddings - Australian Muscle Car, March 2018

The 1987 James Hardie 1000 was held on the 4th of October, 1987. The race was the eighth round of the inaugural World Touring Car Championship, open to touring cars complying with FIA Group A regulations.

Cars were divided into three classes conforming to World Touring Car Championship regulations; Class 1 for cars over 2500cc engine capacity, Class 2 for cars 1601cc to 2500cc, and Class 3 for cars 1001cc to 1600cc. The Nissan Gazelle fit into Class 2 and competed against Alfa Romeo 75, BMW M3 and Mercedes Benz 190E.

Results

The 1989 Toohey's 1000 was held on the 1st of October, 1989.

Results