Matich A50 at the Speed on Tweed in 2007. |
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Category | Australian Formula 1 / Formula 5000 |
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Constructor | Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation |
Designer(s) |
Frank Matich Henry Nehrybecki |
Technical specifications | |
Chassis | Aluminium and Titanium monocoque |
Suspension (front) | Independent with upper and lower wishbones and inclined coil spring/shock units |
Suspension (rear) | Independent with single upper link and radius rod, twin tower links and radius rod, inclined coil spring/shock units |
Axle track | Front: 1,549 mm (61.0 in) Rear: 1,625 mm (64.0 in) |
Wheelbase | 2,610 mm (103 in) |
Engine | Repco-Holden, Ford 4,998 cc (305.0 cu in), (Repco Holden) 90° V8, NA, mid-engine, longitudinally mounted |
Transmission | Hewland DG300 5-Speed manual |
Weight | 625 kg (1,378 lb) |
Tyres | Goodyear |
Competition history | |
Notable drivers |
Frank Matich John Goss Jim Richards Johnnie Walker |
Debut | 1971 Australian Grand Prix (A50) |
The Matich name was applied to a series of sports racing cars and open wheel racing cars produced in Australia between 1967 and 1974 under the direction of Sydney-based racing driver and engineer Frank Matich.
The Matich SR3 was a Group A Sports Car built for Matich by Bob Britton in 1967. It was powered by an Oldsmobile V8 engine and was driven to victory by Matich in the 1967 Australian Tourist Trophy, Australia's premier sports car race of that year. Later in the year, Matich raced in both the US Can-Am series and in Australia, with two SR3s fitted with 4.4-litre Repco V8 engines. Matich won the 1968 Australian Tourist Trophy with a Repco powered SR3.
The Matich SR3 in the pits at Surfers Paradise in mid-1968
Re-bodied Matich SR3 in 2010
A completely new design, the Matich SR4, was produced with designer-frabricator Henry Nehrybecki for 1969 utilising a quad cam Repco 740 V8. Matich dominated the inaugural Australian Sports Car Championship in that year, winning all three heats with the SR4.
Matich in the SR4 at Surfers Paradise in May 1969
The Matich SR4 in 2013
Repco Brabham 760 series 5-litre quad cam V8 engine in the Matich SR4 in 2012
The SR4B was a sports racing car of circa 1969 which was powered by a Ford Twin Cam engine. In 1970 it was revised, renamed as the Matich SR5 and fitted with a Waggott 2.0-litre powerplant.