1998 Australian Super Touring Championship

The 1998 Australian Super Touring Championship was the sixth running of a CAMS sanctioned motor racing series in Australia under the Super Touring Car regulations and the fourth to carry the Australian Super Touring Championship name. It began on 5 April 1998 at Calder Park Raceway and ended on 30 August at Oran Park Raceway after eight rounds. The series was promoted by TOCA Australia as the 1998 BOC Gases Australian Super Touring Championship. As in the British Touring Car Championship the race format changed with each meeting now consisting a shorter "sprint" race and a "feature" race, 25% longer than previous races featuring a mandatory two-tyre stop to be taken between 15 and 75% distance. The one exception was the round at Lakeside Raceway where the pit lane was deemed unsuitable.

The Drivers Championship was won by Brad Jones driving an Audi A4 Quattro, the Manufacturers Championship was awarded to Audi and the Teams Championship was won by Audi Sport Australia.

Entry list

The following teams and drivers competed in the 1998 Australian Super Touring Championship.

Team	Car	No	Driver
Audi Sport Australia	Audi A4 Quattro	3	Australia Cameron McConville
4	Australia Brad Jones
14	Australia Trevor Sheumack
TC Motorsport	Peugeot 406	10	New Zealand Tony Newman
Peugeot 405 Mi16	38	New Zealand Dwayne Bewley
AAP Racing	Toyota Carina	11	Australia Milton Leslight
Greenfield Mowers Racing	BMW 320i	12	Australia Cameron McLean
Grid Motorsport	BMW 318i	13	Australia Anthony Robson Australia Craig Bradshaw
Racing Projects	Honda Accord	15	Australia Mark Adderton
Nissan Primera	22	Australia Adam Kaplan
Bob Holden Motors	BMW 318i	16	Australia Bob Holden Australia Trevor Sheumack Australia Justin Mathews Australia Paul Nelson
Carlos Rolfo	BMW 318i	20	Australia Carlos Rolfo Australia Rod Wilson
M-F Racing	Peugeot 405 Mi16	21	Australia Mike Fitzgerald
Novacastrian Motorsport	BMW 320i	30	Australia Troy Searle
Volvo Dealer Racing	Volvo S40	40	New Zealand Jim Richards
Gun Racing	Alfa Romeo 155 TS	45	Australia David Auger
John Henderson Racing	Opel Vectra	56	Australia John Henderson
Triple P Racing	Hyundai Elantra	58	Australia Claude Elias
Knight Racing	Ford Mondeo	60	Australia Warren Luff
88	Australia Peter Hills
89	Australia Paul Pickett Australia Ric Shaw Australia Aaron McGill Australia Kurt Kratzmann New Zealand Dwayne Bewley Australia Mark Zonneveld
Graham Dodd	Honda Accord	69	New Zealand Graham Dodd
Motorsport Developments	Toyota Carina	77	Australia Malcolm Rea
Robert Tweedie	Vauxhall Cavalier	79	Australia Bob Tweedie
Phoenix Motorsport	Toyota Camry	95	Australia Ron Searle

Team and Driver changes

1997 championship winners Paul Morris and BMW left the series as BMW scaled back its touring car operation.
Volvo switched from the 850 to the new S40 for Jim Richards.
Cameron McLean drove the 1997 championship winning BMW switching from the Opel/Holden Vectra he raced in 1997.
Tony Newman upgraded to an ex British Touring Car Championship Peugeot 406.
Mark Adderton switched from the Phoenix Motorsport Toyota Camry to a Honda Accord.

Race calendar

The 1998 Australian Super Touring Championship was contested over eight rounds with two races per round.

Rd.	Race	Race title	Circuit	Location / state	Date	Winner	Team	Car
NC	1	Australia Australian Grand Prix support	Albert Park Circuit	Melbourne, Victoria	6–7 Mar	Cameron McConville	Audi Sport Australia	Audi A4 Quattro
2	Australia Australian Grand Prix support	Albert Park Circuit	Melbourne, Victoria	6–7 Mar	Cameron McConville	Audi Sport Australia	Audi A4 Quattro
1	1	Australia Calder Park	Calder Park Raceway	Melbourne, Victoria	4–5 Apr	Cameron McConville	Audi Sport Australia	Audi A4 Quattro
2	Australia Calder Park	Calder Park Raceway	Melbourne, Victoria	4–5 Apr	Cameron McConville	Audi Sport Australia	Audi A4 Quattro
2	1	Australia Oran Park	Oran Park Raceway South Circuit	Sydney, New South Wales	26–27 Apr	Brad Jones	Audi Sport Australia	Audi A4 Quattro
2	Australia Oran Park	Oran Park Raceway South Circuit	Sydney, New South Wales	26–27 Apr	Brad Jones	Audi Sport Australia	Audi A4 Quattro
3	1	Australia Phillip Island	Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit	Phillip Island, Victoria	16–17 May	Cameron McConville	Audi Sport Australia	Audi A4 Quattro
2	Australia Phillip Island	Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit	Phillip Island, Victoria	16–17 May	Jim Richards	Volvo Dealer Racing	Volvo S40
4	1	Australia Eastern Creek	Eastern Creek Raceway	Sydney, New South Wales	6–7 Jun	Jim Richards	Volvo Dealer Racing	Volvo S40
2	Australia Eastern Creek	Eastern Creek Raceway	Sydney, New South Wales	6–7 Jun	Brad Jones	Audi Sport Australia	Audi A4 Quattro
5	1	Australia Lakeside	Lakeside International Raceway	Brisbane, Queensland	27–28 Jun	Brad Jones	Audi Sport Australia	Audi A4 Quattro
2	Australia Lakeside	Lakeside International Raceway	Brisbane, Queensland	27–28 Jun	Brad Jones	Audi Sport Australia	Audi A4 Quattro
6	1	Australia Mallala	Mallala Motor Sport Park	Mallala, South Australia	18–19 Jul	Brad Jones	Audi Sport Australia	Audi A4 Quattro
2	Australia Mallala	Mallala Motor Sport Park	Mallala, South Australia	18–19 Jul	Cameron McConville	Audi Sport Australia	Audi A4 Quattro
7	1	Australia Winton	Winton Motor Raceway	Benalla, Victoria	8–9 Aug	Cameron McConville	Audi Sport Australia	Audi A4 Quattro
2	Australia Winton	Winton Motor Raceway	Benalla, Victoria	8–9 Aug	Cameron McConville	Audi Sport Australia	Audi A4 Quattro
8	1	Australia Oran Park	Oran Park Raceway	Sydney, New South Wales	29–30 Aug	Cameron McConville	Audi Sport Australia	Audi A4 Quattro
2	Australia Oran Park	Oran Park Raceway	Sydney, New South Wales	29–30 Aug	Brad Jones	Audi Sport Australia	Audi A4 Quattro
NC	1	Australia AMP Bathurst 1000	Mount Panorama Circuit	Bathurst, New South Wales	4 Oct	Rickard Rydell & Jim Richards	Volvo S40 Racing	Volvo S40

Championship standings

Drivers Championship

Points were awarded 15-12-10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 based on the top ten race positions in each race. There was a bonus point allocated for pole position.

Colour	Result
Pos Driver Car Calder Oran Park Phillip Is. Eastern Cr. Lakeside Mallala Winton Oran Park Pts R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 1 Brad Jones Audi A4 Quattro 3rd 2nd 1st 1st 10th 2nd 2nd 1st 1st 1st 1st 2nd Ret 4th 2nd 1st 191 2 Cameron McConville Audi A4 Quattro 1st 1st 2nd 2nd 1st 4th 3rd Ret 2nd DSQ 2nd 1st 1st 1st 1st 3rd 184 3 Jim Richards Volvo S40 4th 4th 3rd 3rd 2nd 1st 1st 2nd 3rd 3rd 4th 4th 2nd 3rd 4th Ret 161 4 Cameron McLean BMW 320i 2nd 3rd Ret 6th 3rd 3rd 4th Ret 4th 2nd 3rd 3rd 3rd 2nd 3rd 2nd 139 5 Mark Adderton Honda Accord 5th 5th 7th 4th 4th 5th 5th Ret 5th 4th 7th Ret 4th 5th 6th Ret 81 6 Peter Hills Ford Mondeo 6th 7th 10th 8th 6th 7th 7th 7th Ret 5th 5th 5th 5th 6th 5th 6th 70 7 Bob Tweedie Vauxhall Cavalier 7th 6th 9th 9th 7th 9th 10th 9th 10th 8th 6th 8th 7th 9th 8th 11th 43 8 Ron Searle Toyota Camry DNS DNS 6th 5th DNS DNS 6th 5th 8th DSQ Ret DNS Ret DNS 7th 8th 32 9 Troy Searle BMW 320i 18th 11th 5th 6th Ret 3rd Ret 6th Ret DNS 10th Ret 27 10 David Auger Alfa Romeo 155 TS 8th 8th 13th 13th 8th 10th Ret 10th 6th 9th 13th 9th 8th Ret 11th 9th 25 11 Justin Mathews BMW 318i 9th 8th 8th 4th 7th 10th 11th 12th 21 12 Adam Kaplan Nissan Primera 12th 7th 9th 6th 8th 6th Ret 11th Ret 13th 19 13 Trevor Sheumack BMW 318i Audi A4 Quattro 5th Ret Ret 4th 14 14 Anthony Robson BMW 318i 9th 11th Ret DNS 11th Ret 10th 10th 6th 7th Ret 12th 13 15 Mark Zonneveld Ford Mondeo 10th 8th Ret 5th 10 16 John Henderson Opel Vectra 4th DNS DNS DNS Ret Ret 8 17 Kurt Kratzmann Ford Mondeo 9th 7th 6 17 Paul Pickett Ford Mondeo 10th 9th 8th 12th 6 19 Dwayne Bewley Peugeot 405 Mi16 Ford Mondeo Ret 10th Ret DNS 12th 7th 5 20 Rod Wilson BMW 318i 12th 7th 4 20 Tony Newman Peugeot 406 Ret DNS 11th Ret DNS DNS 9th 11th Ret Ret 9th Ret 4 20 Bob Holden BMW 318i 11th 10th 9th 10th 4 23 Aaron McGill Ford Mondeo 12th 8th 3 24 Graham Dodd Honda Accord Ret Ret 14th 10th 1 Carlos Rolfo BMW 318i 15th 17th 11th Ret Ret DNS Ric Shaw Ford Mondeo 11th Ret Paul Nelson BMW 318i 13th 14th Craig Bradshaw BMW 318i 14th 14th Claude Elias Hyundai Elantra 17th 15th Milton Leslight Toyota Carina Ret DNS 16th 16th Ret DNS DNS DNS Malcolm Rea Toyota Carina Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret DNS Mike Fitzgerald Peugeot 405 Mi16 Ret DNS Warren Luff Ford Mondeo DNS DNS Pos Driver Car Calder Oran Park Phillip Is. Eastern Cr. Lakeside Mallala Winton Oran Park Pts	ColourResult GoldWinner SilverSecond place BronzeThird place GreenPoints classification BlueNon-points classification Non-classified finish (NC) PurpleRetired, not classified (Ret) RedDid not qualify (DNQ) Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ) BlackDisqualified (DSQ) WhiteDid not start (DNS) Withdrew (WD) Race cancelled (C) Blank Did not practice (DNP) Did not arrive (DNA) Excluded (EX)
Pos	Driver	Car	Calder	Oran Park	Phillip Is.	Eastern Cr.	Lakeside	Mallala	Winton	Oran Park	Pts
			R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2
1	Brad Jones	Audi A4 Quattro	3rd	2nd	1st	1st	10th	2nd	2nd	1st	1st	1st	1st	2nd	Ret	4th	2nd	1st	191
2	Cameron McConville	Audi A4 Quattro	1st	1st	2nd	2nd	1st	4th	3rd	Ret	2nd	DSQ	2nd	1st	1st	1st	1st	3rd	184
3	Jim Richards	Volvo S40	4th	4th	3rd	3rd	2nd	1st	1st	2nd	3rd	3rd	4th	4th	2nd	3rd	4th	Ret	161
4	Cameron McLean	BMW 320i	2nd	3rd	Ret	6th	3rd	3rd	4th	Ret	4th	2nd	3rd	3rd	3rd	2nd	3rd	2nd	139
5	Mark Adderton	Honda Accord	5th	5th	7th	4th	4th	5th	5th	Ret	5th	4th	7th	Ret	4th	5th	6th	Ret	81
6	Peter Hills	Ford Mondeo	6th	7th	10th	8th	6th	7th	7th	7th	Ret	5th	5th	5th	5th	6th	5th	6th	70
7	Bob Tweedie	Vauxhall Cavalier	7th	6th	9th	9th	7th	9th	10th	9th	10th	8th	6th	8th	7th	9th	8th	11th	43
8	Ron Searle	Toyota Camry	DNS	DNS	6th	5th	DNS	DNS	6th	5th	8th	DSQ	Ret	DNS	Ret	DNS	7th	8th	32
9	Troy Searle	BMW 320i			18th	11th	5th	6th	Ret	3rd	Ret	6th			Ret	DNS	10th	Ret	27
10	David Auger	Alfa Romeo 155 TS	8th	8th	13th	13th	8th	10th	Ret	10th	6th	9th	13th	9th	8th	Ret	11th	9th	25
11	Justin Mathews	BMW 318i					9th	8th	8th	4th	7th	10th	11th	12th					21
12	Adam Kaplan	Nissan Primera			12th	7th			9th	6th			8th	6th	Ret	11th	Ret	13th	19
13	Trevor Sheumack	BMW 318i Audi A4 Quattro			5th	Ret											Ret	4th	14
14	Anthony Robson	BMW 318i	9th	11th			Ret	DNS			11th	Ret	10th	10th	6th	7th	Ret	12th	13
15	Mark Zonneveld	Ford Mondeo													10th	8th	Ret	5th	10
16	John Henderson	Opel Vectra			4th	DNS			DNS	DNS							Ret	Ret	8
17	Kurt Kratzmann	Ford Mondeo									9th	7th							6
17	Paul Pickett	Ford Mondeo	10th	9th	8th	12th													6
19	Dwayne Bewley	Peugeot 405 Mi16 Ford Mondeo			Ret	10th			Ret	DNS			12th	7th					5
20	Rod Wilson	BMW 318i															12th	7th	4
20	Tony Newman	Peugeot 406	Ret	DNS	11th	Ret	DNS	DNS					9th	11th	Ret	Ret	9th	Ret	4
20	Bob Holden	BMW 318i	11th	10th											9th	10th			4
23	Aaron McGill	Ford Mondeo							12th	8th									3
24	Graham Dodd	Honda Accord							Ret	Ret							14th	10th	1
	Carlos Rolfo	BMW 318i			15th	17th			11th	Ret	Ret	DNS
	Ric Shaw	Ford Mondeo					11th	Ret
	Paul Nelson	BMW 318i															13th	14th
	Craig Bradshaw	BMW 318i			14th	14th
	Claude Elias	Hyundai Elantra			17th	15th
	Milton Leslight	Toyota Carina	Ret	DNS	16th	16th	Ret	DNS	DNS	DNS
	Malcolm Rea	Toyota Carina									Ret	Ret			Ret	Ret	Ret	DNS
	Mike Fitzgerald	Peugeot 405 Mi16															Ret	DNS
	Warren Luff	Ford Mondeo															DNS	DNS
Pos	Driver	Car	Calder	Oran Park	Phillip Is.	Eastern Cr.	Lakeside	Mallala	Winton	Oran Park	Pts
Gold	Winner
Silver	Second place
Bronze	Third place
Green	Points classification
Blue	Non-points classification
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple	Retired, not classified (Ret)
Red	Did not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
Black	Disqualified (DSQ)
White	Did not start (DNS)
Withdrew (WD)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank	Did not practice (DNP)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Excluded (EX)

Manufacturers Championship

Position	Manufacturer	Points
1	Audi	234
2	Volvo	186

Teams Championship

Position	Team	Points
1	Audi Sport Australia	204
2	Knight Racing	136

TOCA Challenge - Independents Cup

Independents Cup points were awarded on a 15-12-10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis for relative positions achieved by drivers in entries nominated as Independents at each race.

The TOCA Challenge - Independents Cup was won by Cameron McLean in his Greenfield Mowers Racing-entered BMW 320i, scoring 205 points. Second was Mark Adderton on 151 points, and third was Peter Hills on 136 points.