From the British book 'John Player Motorsport Yearbook 1974' P. 298;
An interesting bit about the Colin Bond HDT Rally Torana competing on the international scene.
"Like Australia's Southern Cross Rally...the Heatway is the country's one chance of ranging its best local drivers against the top internationals. But with Hannu Mikkola & Jim Porter entered for the 1973
event there was little doubt about the outcome, or so it seemed.
Australian Colin Bond, driving a Holden Torana XU1 with co-driver George Shepherd, was quicker than Mikkola on a number of ice stages, & it was only after Bond had gone off the road & dropped to 27th
on the 1st night that the Finn could relax, "& drive at 95%".
After the event, in which the Australian worked through the field to a final 4th place, Mikkola made
himself popular with the local press by saying that if Bond went to Europe - he could quickly get up amongst the top five."
Too bad the HDT Rally squad never got a go in the WRC, like the Group A touring cars in the `80s..
View Garage
