Holden VC Commodore 1981 Bathurst – Warren Cullen & Alan Jones #12

The 1981 Bathurst 1000 was held on 4 October 1981 at the Mount Panorama Circuit. The race was open to cars eligible to the locally developed CAMS Group C touring car regulations with three engine configuration based classes, a system used uniquely for this race.
History was made at Bathurst in 1981. For the first time in the race’s history, a reigning Formula One World Driver’s Champion drove in the Bathurst 1000. This honour fell to Australia’s own 1980 World Champion Alan Jones who co-drove with Warren Cullen in Cullen’s Holden VC Commodore.
Warren Cullen and Alan Jones qualified in 20th position on the grid for the Great Race.
For the first time the race did not go the full race distance as on lap 121, a six car accident blocked the track at McPhillamy Park Corner. The Ford Falcon of Dick Johnson and John French were leading the race at the time of the accident and were declared the winners. Bob Morris and John Fitzpatrick, also driving a Falcon finished second. A lap down in third was Allan Moffat and Derek Bell driving a Mazda RX-7.
Warren Cullen and Alan Jones only completed 48 laps, succumbing to an overheating engine and losing oil pressure, ultimately not finishing the race.
According to the regulations, the race was declared based on the timesheets as the race leader, at the time John French, completed lap 120. This was done so that crashed vehicles can be included in the results. This was particularly significant in this instance as a significant number of the vehicles involved held high race position.

Code: 18806