1932 Australian Grand Prix


The 1932 Australian Grand Prix was a motor race held at the Phillip Island circuit in Victoria, Australia on 14 March 1932. It was the fifth Australian Grand Prix and the fifth to be held at Phillip Island.
The race was organized by the Light Car Club of Australia, formerly known as the Victorian Light Car Club, and was limited to cars having an engine with a piston displacement of 2000cc or less. It was the first Australian Grand Prix to be decided on a straight handicap basis, with the winner being the first car to complete the 31 laps. The two "scratch" competitors had to concede starts ranging up to 29 minutes, equating to an advantage of four laps. The previous practice of cars contesting four classes was discontinued. Weather conditions were reported to be "ideal".
The race, in which there were 18 starters, was won by Bill Thompson driving a Bugatti. Thompson was also awarded the Herald Trophy for recording the fastest time of the race.

Classification

PosNo.DriverEntrantCarHandicapLapsHandicap timeActual time
11Bill ThompsonWoolworth Tyre CoBugatti Type 37A s/cScratch313h 15m 11s2h 40m 11s
212Geoff DisherG DisherSalmson16 min313h 19m 11s3h 00m 07s
35Cyril DickasonAustin Distributors P/LAustin 7 Ulster8 min313h 24m 28s2h 57m 28s
49Mert WrefordM WrefordBugatti Brescia15 min313h 28m 51s3h 08m 51s
53Carl JunkerC JunkerBugatti Type 394 min313h 34m 27s3h 03m 27s
622Bill NorthamJ WallAustin 7 s/c29 min313h 36m 24s3h 30m 24s
720Les JenningsL JenningsMorris Cowley26 min313h 39m 31s3h 30m 31s
818Clarrie MayAustin Distributors P/LAustin 7 s/c26 min313h 40m 36s3h 31m 36s
914Bill WilliamsonW JohnsonRiley18 min313h 58m 07s3h 41m 07s
104Barney DentryG DentryRiley Ulster6 min314h 11m 55s3h 41m 55s
Ret16Graham TuckerRhodes Motor Co. P/LTriumph s/c20 min16
Ret7Harold Drake RichmondH Drake RichmondBugatti Type 3710 min?
Ret2Arthur TerdichAJ TerdichBugatti Type 37A s/cScratch8
Ret15Alan ChamberlainA ChamberlainChamberlain Special19 min4
Ret11Ken HopkinsK HopkinsBugatti Brescia15 min3+
Ret6Bill LoweWH LoweLombard AL310 min3+
Ret19Ken McKinneyK McKinneyAustin 726 min2
Ret8Albert EdwardsA EdwardsAlvis FWD s/c10 min1
DNS 21Jack SidebottomJ SidebottomSinger28 min–
DNS 17Compton JonesHC JonesAustin 1223 min–

Sidebottom's Singer was excluded at scrutineering.
The Austin 12 of Compton Jones was withdrawn after its engine suffered a piston failure during practice.