People sometimes forget there were actually two Wellington Street Races held in 1987. When the race first took place in 1985, it was given a January date, to coincide with the off-season elsewhere, in order to attract the all-important international teams and drivers.
The January date remained for 1986, and 1987. But then the Wellington race was given a round of the 1987 World Touring Car Championship, held on October 26, as part of a three-race schedule offered to Australasia. The first of these was Bathurst, followed by the Calder Thunderdome, and then Wellington.
But while the October WTCC race has understandably enjoyed a lot of interest over the years, the January street race has been left a little in the shade. But this was also a very significant event, with some impressive international entries, including a pair of TWR Jaguar XJS', which I believe had to be granted special permission to take part, as their homologation had expired.
Of course, the January 1987 race was won by the famous pairing of Peter Brock and Allan Moffat, in the former's HDT VK Commodore, before his famous split with Holden. In January 1987, everything appeared rosy.
These pics were sent to me just recently by Grant Matchett. There are approx 20 in total, and just neat amateur shots of this great event.
The rest of the collection can be viewed here > >
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