Holden VS Commodore 1997 Bathurst Pole Position

1997 was the first year two Bathurst 1000 races were held, when AVESCO (Australian Vee Eight Supercar Company) were in conflict with the Bathurst 1000 organisers, the ARDC (Australian Racing Driver’s Club).
The first race, the 1997 AMP Bathurst 1000 featured a field of Australian and British Supertourers and was won by Geoff and David Brabham in a BMW 320i. Two weeks later the 1997 Primus 1000 Classic was run on October 19th, the battle between the Holden and Ford V8s.
In the Top Ten Shootout on the Saturday, Mark Skaife in the #05 Holden VS Commodore drove an incredible lap time of 2:10.0397, to give Peter Brock the fairy-tale pole position on the front row. Sunday’s race was shaping up to be excellent, with the multitude of Brock fans flocking to watch his last race and start from pole.
Most believed Skaife would start after having shown his pace in qualifying, but the HRT hierarchy rightly decided the fans would prefer to see Brock start (and hopefully finish) the race. From the green light Peter Brock shot away and led Glenn Seton towards Hell Corner. The reaction of the crowd was predictable and entirely appropriate. They roared as Brock was moving away slightly from the field on the opening lap. By the end of the first lap his lead was almost a second and by lap 8 he was lapping traffic.
Brock was leading the race before handing to Mark Skaife on lap 32. Car #05 was back out in the race, all going well until on lap 53 disaster struck, when leading the race by eight seconds over eventual winners Russell Ingall with Larry Perkins. Car #05 suddenly slowed approaching Griffin’s Bend. The cars engine had apparently backfired through the fuel injection system and airbox, setting the wiring harness ablaze.
Skaife limped around the track and only just made it back to the pits, but their race was over. The crew looked under the bonnet for a moment before passing the word. Mark Skaife and Peter Brock had driven well, the car had performed superbly, but the fairytale finish to the great race was not to be.

Item includes certificate and production number plate, mounted to the chassis.