1973 Rounds 5-8
Australia

Matich and Walker lead the opening lap.

After the fast and furious four rounds in New Zealand, the teams then made the long trek across the Tasman to Australia and north to Surfers Paradise. The already overworked crews are at their busiest during and after this hop and Frank Matich was hoping to be able to take advantage of this fact to be able to step into a brand new Matich A51 at the circuit. Unfortunately the car was not ready in time and Matich was little better off than the rest. Lawrence's Surtees had finally arrived from England and had been assembled for this meeting, but Oxton and some of the other New Zealanders had abandoned the series. Noyes and McConnell, had also disappeared from the scene, but there were some Australians to take their place. Johnnie Walker in the Matich A50 Repco, Garrie Cooper's Elfin MR5 Repco and Gary Campbell's Lola T330 Chevrolet.

Matich seems to have a dramatic recovery when he returns to Australian soil and this year was no different. He dominated practice, then led the race from start to finish. McRae had missed a gear at the start and was back in the midst of a spectacular battle for second involving Walker, Stewart, McCormack and Bartlett.

McCormack had to pit for a check after having been off the circuit. Campbell and Rollinson both went out with overheating in the hot Queensland sun. McRae battled to the head of his group to take second, ahead of Walker, Bartlett, Stewart, Posey and Thompson. Bartlett then stopped with a puncture, giving Stewart the clear run he needed to catch and pass Walker, while Thompson stopped out on the circuit with overheating problems. Behind Matich, the victor, came McRae, Stewart, Walker, Posey and McCormack.

The meeting had been marred by the near-disastrous crash of Warwick Brown when a tyre on his Lola suddenly deflated on a warm up lap just before the race. The bouncing and rolling Lola destroyed itself at some 120mph, but Brown was fortunate enough to survive with broken legs and other less serious injuries.

Date: 4th February 1973
Venue: Surfers Paradise

50 laps of 3.21kms (160.5kms)

After Surfers, McRae had 27 Tasman points to Matich's 18 and most people felt that Matich would take his usual Warwick Farm win and close the gap, perhaps equal McRae if the Champ didn't finish, but it was not to be. Once again it was the rain which upset the calculations, and once again it was Steve Thompson, his Chevron, and his Firestone tyres which stood out. Thompson was quickest on the wet practice day and just walked away with the race with a minimum of fuss.

Walker and Stewart were fighting out second in the opening laps, followed by McRae, Posey and Matich, in a position most unfamiliar to him on his home circuit.

Just past one-third distance Stewart spun in the Esses in his efforts to get past Walker, while Matich meanwhile had found his wet weather feet and passed first Posey then a few laps later McRae as well. His team-mate Walker let him through to second when the time came, then applied himself to covering 'the boss' from the rear. He was mainly intent in keeping McRae as far down the list as possible to give Matich a chance to gain on series points.

Date: 11th February 1973
Venue: Warwick Farm

45 laps of 3.62kms (162.9kms)

Round Seven: SANDOWN

The penultimate round at Sandown Park in Victoria proved to be the clincher for McRae. Matich and McCormack put on a brilliant display to lead from McRae with Stewart fourth, Rollinson fifth, then Walker and Bartlett, but it was not to last. Matich had a leaking radiator which spilled glycol-water mixture under his rear wheels and made the car difficult to drive. McCormack had already succumbed to McRae's onslaught and the crowd were treated to an all-to-brief dust up between Matich and McRae, before Matich had the first of four spins that were to put him out of contention for a major place.

Rollinson leads Cooper, Walker, Thompson and Bartlett.