V8SP: Peter Fitzgerald (Part 1)

We’re talking to multiple national champion, production car and Porsche icon, and inaugural Bathurst 12 Hour winner Peter Fitzgerald in this week’s episode of the V8 Sleuth Podcast powered by Castrol. Fitzy shares the story of how he became a racing rookie at the age of 27 at the wheel of an ex-Pete Geoghegan Porsche, with a bit of tutelage and advice from Frank Gardner. He shares tales of how he funded his racing - including the deal that funded his first attempt to race at the Bathurst 1000 in 1981 - as well has his side of the infamous tale of how Brad Jones’ dad flagged him down in Albury to secure a pivotal co-drive for his son!

He also shares the story of how he managed to seamlessly switch sponsorship deals from Yokohama to Goodyear, as well as a couple of tales from his victory with Allan Grice and Nigel Arkell in the inaugural Bathurst 12 Hour in 1991. It proved his only victory in the opening era of the race - and he talks about how the win slipped away in 1993 and when the race moved to Eastern Creek in 1995.

We also briefly touch on his touring car racing, including a year in the Benson & Hedges BMW squad as co-driver to Alan Jones and Denny Hulme, netting a Bathurst class podium in the process.

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