Peter McLeod

Peter McLeod (born May 6 1948 in Newcastle, New South Wales), was an Australian racing driver, best known as co-winner of the 1987 Bathurst 1000.

McLeod began his racing career in 1980 at the relatively old age of 32, progressing immediately into touring car racing where in just three seasons to become one of Australia's fastest privately entered touring car racers, and second fastest Mazda RX-7 behind Allan Moffat's factory supported team. By 1981 he had scored his first podium result with a third at the Oran Park 250. His pace and consistency were rewarded in 1983 by winning the 1983 Australian Endurance Championship.

The change to Group A touring car regulations for the Australian Touring Car Championship in 1985 forced McLeod to abandon his RX-7's for Holden Commodores but the conversion was less successful and the less competitive Commodore struggled, failing to match McLeod's previous achievements.

In the just prior to the 1987 James Hardie 1000 McLeod was drafted into the Holden Dealer Team after team driver Neil Crompton could not get his racing licence upgraded in time to compete at the internationally rated race. McLeod joined David Oxton in the team's second car. When the lead car broke down in the early running, Peter Brock and David Parsons took over the car after McLeod complete his first stint in the car. Inspired driving on variable surface as rain plagued the second half of the race, good strategy and a lucky break with safety car procedure and the team clawed their way past the BMW M3s as they failed and into third position behind the flawless 1-2 finish of the Eggenberger Motorsport Ford Sierras.

Months later the Sierras were disqualified for having illegally modified their front wheel arch guards, allowing the team to fit larger tyres than they would otherwise have been able to fit. The win was re-award to Brock, Parsons and McLeod.

McLeod faded out of the scene over the next few racing seasons but returned to the sport in 1994 as McLeod's son Ryan started to make his way into V8 Supercar racing. McLeod co-drove with Ryan McLeod in endurance races from 1994-96 before retiring completely. McLeod has stayed involved in the sport and recently has acted as driver of V8 Supercar's safety car.

Career results