The Real Mount Panorama
History of the Race Format
Year Competitors Distance
(Laps)
Total Classes No. Description
Phillip Island
1960         500 Miles
(167)
1961         500 Miles
(167)
1962 38 A
B
C
D		 10
5
8
15		 £1251 - £2000 
£1051 - £1250 
£901 - £1050 
Up to £900		 500 Miles
(167)
Mount Panorama
1963 57 A
B
C
D		 13
24
11
9		 Up to £900
£901 to £1000
£1001 to £1200
£1201 to £2000 		 500 Miles
(130)
1964 56 A
B
C
D		 21
14
9
12		 Up to £900
£901 to £1000
£1001 to £1200
£1201 to £2000 		 500 Miles
(130)
1965 55 A
B
C
D		 13
11
14
17		 Up to £920
£921 to £1020
£1021 to £1300
£1301 to £2000		 500 Miles
(130)
1966 54 A
B
C
D		 12
15
20
7		 Up to $1,800
$1,801 to $2,040
$2,041 to $2,700
$2,701 to $4,000		 500 Miles
(130)
According to sources open to me at this time, this (left) is how the grids looked for the 1967 to 1969 races. They may well have formed up like this back in 1960 at Phillip Island, but that remains to be confirmed. In the years to follow they took the form they have today, the more spaced out 2 - 2 formation shown (right).
In 1967 the grid was formed on the basis of Practice times.
1967 60 A
B
C
D
E		 12
12
19
12
5		 Up to $1,800
$1,801 to $2,100
$2,101 to $3,000
$3,001 to $4,500
Over $4,500		 500 Miles
(130)
1968 60 A
B
C
D
E		 10
12
16
17
5		 Up to $1,850
$1,851 to $2,250
$2,251 to $3,000
$3,001 to $4,500
Over $4,500		 500 Miles
(130)
1969 63 A
B
C
D
E		 7
12
18
21
5		 Up to $1,860
$1,861 to $2,250
$2,251 to $3,100
$3,101 to $4,500
Over $4,500		 500 Miles
(130)
1970 60 A
B
C
D
E		 15
6
17
6
16		 Up to $1,960
$1,961 to $2,400
$2,401 to $3,150
$3,151 to $4,100
Over $4,100		 500 Miles
(130)
1971 60 A
B
C
D
E		 8
4
11
23
14		 Up to $2,150
$2,151 to $2,500
$2,501 to $3,150
$3,151 to $4,350
Over $4,350		 500 Miles
(130)
1972 60 A
B
C
D		 14
19
14
13		 Up to 3,000 CP's
3,001 to 9,000 CP's
9,001 to 18,000 CP's
Over 18,000 CP's		 500 Miles
(130)
CP Units were based on Engine Capacity times the Cost Price in Sydney
1973 58 A
B
C
D		 14
12
5
27		 Up to 1,300cc
1301 to 2,000cc
2,001 to 3,000cc
Over 3000cc		 1000 km
(163)
1974 60 A
B
C		 14
13
10
23		 Up to 1,300cc
1301 to 2,000cc
2,001 to 3,000cc
3001 to 6,000cc		 1000 km
(163)
1975 62 A
B
C
D		 15
16
13
18		 Up to 1,300cc
1301 to 2,000cc
2,001 to 3,000cc
3001 to 6,000cc		 1000 km
(163)
1976 60 A
B
C
D		 13
21
11
15		 Up to 1,300cc
1301 to 2,000cc
2,001 to 3,000cc
3001 to 6,000cc		 1000 km
(163)
1977 60 A
B
C		 27
15
18		 3,001 to 6,000cc
2,001 to 3,000cc
Up to 2,000cc		 1000 km
(163)
1978 was the first year of Hardies Heroes a.k.a. the Top Ten Shootout
1978 63 A
B
C		 29
17
17		 3,001 to 6,000cc
2,001 to 3,000cc
Up to 2,000cc		 1000 km
(163)
1979 62 A
B
C
D		 30
12
11
9		 Over 3,000cc
2,001 to 3,000cc
1,601 to 2,000cc
Up to 1,600cc		 1000 km
(163)
1980 60 A
B
C
D		 25
9
14
12		 3,001 to 6,000cc
2,001 to 3,000cc
1,601 to 2,000cc
Up to 1,600cc		 1000 km
(163)
1981 60 A
B
C		 26
13
21		 8 or more Cylinders
6 Cyl and Rotaries
4 or 5 Cylinders		 1000 km
(163)
1982 53 A
B		 41
12		 Over 3,000cc
Under 3,000cc		 1000 km
(163)
1983 55 A
B		 46
9		 Over 3,000cc
Under 3,000cc		 1000 km
(163)
1984 63 A - (Group C)
B - (Group A)		 48
15		 Over 3,000cc
Under 3,000cc		 1000 km
(163)
1985 51 Group C
Group B
Group A		 37
10
4		 Over 3,000cc
2,001 to 3,000cc
Under 2,000cc		 1000 km
(163)
1986 59 Group C
Group B
Group A		 38
13
8		 Over 3,000cc
2,001 to 3,000cc
Under 2,000cc		 1000 km
(163)
1987 48 Group C
Group B
Group A		 30
12
6		 Over 2,500cc
1,601 to 2,500cc
Under 1,600cc		  
1988 48 Group C
Group B
Group A		 34
6
8		 Over 2,500cc
1,601 to 2,500cc
Under 1,600cc		 1000 km
(161)
1989 55 Group C
Group B
Group A		 45
5
5		 Over 2,500cc
1,601 to 2,500cc
Under 1,600cc		 1000 km
(161)
1990 ?????? Group C
Group B
Group A		   ?????? 1000 km
(161)
1991 ?????? Group C
Group B
Group A		   ?????? 1000 km
(161)
1992 47 Group C
Group A		 37
10		   1000 km
(161)
1993 45 V8 Supercar
Super Tourer		 33
12		   1000 km
(161)
1994 45 V8 Supercar
Super Tourer		 45   1000 km
(161)
1995 35 V8 Supercar 32   1000 km
(161)
1996 35 V8 Supercar 35   1000 km
(161)
1997 41 V8 Supercar 41   1000 km
(161)
1998 45 V8 Supercar 46   1000 km
(161)
1999 56 V8 Supercar 56   1000 km
(161)
2000 56 V8 Supercar 56   1000 km
(161)
In 2001, the Top ten Shootout became Top 15 to increase the spectacle and to eclipse other rounds of the Shell Championship series. This has had a negative effect due to the fast guys cars cooling down too much whilst waiting for their laps.
2001 39 V8 Supercar 39   1000 km
(161)
2002 44 V8 Supercar 44   1000 km
(161)
In 2003, the Top Fifteen Shootout returned to it's original Top ten format, much to the appreciation of race fans.
2003 40 V8 Supercar 40   1000 km
(161)