Frank Matich


Frank Matich was an Australian racing car driver. A highly successful motor racing competitor in the 1960s and 1970s, Matich built his own range of Matich sports cars and open wheel cars, mainly to support his own career, but some cars found success with other drivers. In these and other makes he won five Tasman Series races, two Australian Grands Prix, the 1972 Australian Drivers' Championship and a number of other Australian motor racing titles.
In April 1970, Frank Matich was appointed as a Director of Lambretta Pty Ltd, and was to assemble McLaren racing cars in the Lambretta site in Artarmon, Sydney.
Matich, who suffered major electrical burns in a boating accident in 1973, retired from racing in 1974 in order to spend more time with his family and his business. His son Kris Matich became a leading Formula Ford driver in Sydney during the late 1980s.

Career results

A summary of some of his motor racing achievements is given in the table below:
SeasonTitle / SeriesPositionCarEntrant
1958Australian Tourist Trophy4thJaguar C-TypeLeaton Motors Pty Ltd
1959Australian Drivers' Championship15thJaguar D-TypeLeaton Motors
1960Australian Tourist Trophy3rdJaguar D-Type
1961Australian Tourist Trophy2ndJaguar D-Type
1961Australian GT Championship1stJaguar D-TypeTeam Leaton
1962Australian Formula Junior Championship1stElfin FJ-Ford CosworthF Matich
1963Australian Drivers' Championship7thElfin Catalina FordTeam Total
1964Tasman Series10thBrabham BT7A Climax FPFTeam Total
1964Australian Drivers' Championship4thBrabham BT7A Climax FPFTeam Total
1964Australian Tourist Trophy1stLotus 19B Climax FPFTotal Team
1965Tasman Series10thBrabham BT7A Climax FPFTeam Total
1965Australian Drivers' Championship6thBrabham BT7A Climax FPFTeam Total
1966Australian Tourist Trophy1stElfin 400 Traco-OldsmobileLaurie O'Neil
1967Australian Tourist Trophy1stMatich SR3 Traco-Oldsmobile
1968Australian Tourist Trophy1stMatich SR3 RepcoFrank Matich Pty Ltd
1969Australian Sports Car Championship1stMatich SR4 RepcoRothmans Team Matich
1970Tasman Series2ndMcLaren M10A ChevroletRothmans Team Matich
1970Australian Sports Car Championship6thMatich SR4 RepcoRothmans Team Matich
1971Tasman Series2ndMcLaren M10B Repco HoldenRothmans Team Matich
1971SCCA L&M 5000 Continental Championship6thMcLaren M10B Repco HoldenRothmans Team Matich
1971Australian Drivers' Championship8thMcLaren M10C Repco HoldenRothmans Team Matich
1972Tasman Series4thMatich A50 Repco HoldenFrank Matich Pty Ltd
1972Australian Drivers' Championship1stMatich A50 Repco HoldenFrank Matich Racing
1973Tasman Series3rdMatich A50 Repco Holden
Matich A51 Repco Holden		Frank Matich
1973SCCA L&M Championship16thMatich A51 Repco HoldenEarly Racing Ent. Inc.
1974Tasman Series11thMatich A53 Repco HoldenFrank Matich Racing

Complete Tasman Series results

Australian Grand Prix