1978 Australian Grand Prix

The 1978 Australian Grand Prix was a Formula 5000 race held at Sandown International Raceway.

It was the forty third Australian Grand Prix held and it was the Golden Anniversary AGP with the first being run in 1928.

Jon Davison started on pole alongside Kiwi Graham McRae in his own designed and built McRae GM3. McRae bolted away from the start and was never headed, winning easily.

The race was marred by several crashes. Garrie Cooper broke his leg in a high speed crash on the back straight, destroying his own designed Elfin MR8 in the process. Earlier his team mate Vern Schuppan had tangled with a car in turn 1 and had to retire. Late in the race Alan Hamilton badly crashed his Lola T430 under the old Dunlop Bridge coming onto the main straight. Hamilton was taken to hospital with head injuries but made a full recovery.

After the race, McRae was awarded the Lex Davison Trophy for winning from 5 time World Champion Juan Manuel Fangio. Following this, Fangio and Australia's 3 time world champ, Jack Brabham had a spirited 3 lap demonstration/race swapping the lead many times. Fangio was driving his old Mercedes-Benz W196 while Brabham (net yet Sir Jack) drove his own Brabham BT19.

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