The Seton-Brock AGP record that still stands
The Repco Supercars Championship will make its 25th appearance at Melbourne’s Albert Park next weekend.
Supercars will race for points for the third time at the Grand Prix venue, which will host its first full event since 2019.
It was at the very first Albert Park in 1996 that a record that still stands today was set.
A 30-car field lined up at Albert Park for the non-championship round.
Three rounds had already been held in 1996, and rookie Craig Lowndes had made his presence felt.
Lowndes won the first two rounds in Sydney and Sandown, with reigning champion John Bowe winning the Bathurst sprint round.
The Race 1 start in 1996 Pic: AN1 Images
However, it was legendary teammate Peter Brock who played a role in setting the record which remains.
Brock engaged in battle with 1993 champion Glenn Seton for the inaugural race win at Albert Park.
Holden hero Brock and Ford fan favourite Seton banged doors on the final lap as they chased victory.
That honour went to Seton, who crossed the line with a winning margin of just 0.184s.
To date, it remains the closest ever winning margin in Albert Park Supercars history.
Seton couldn’t repeat his heroics on the Sunday, with Brock benefiting from a Seton error to win the race.
Supercars last raced at Albert Park in 2019
Bowe, who finished third in the opener, split Brock and Seton, with Russell Ingall and Mark Skaife fourth and fifth.
Lowndes, who would depart at season’s end in pursuit of a Formula 1 career, encountered a topsy-turvy weekend.
The Holden Racing Team rookie finished fourth in leg one, before an incident with Larry Perkins and John Faulkner led to a leg two DNF.
In contrast, the biggest Albert Park Supercars race-winning margin is 10.993s when Jamie Whincup beat home Greg Murphy in 2011.
Will either record be broken next weekend?
Find out at the Beaurepaires Melbourne 400 on April 7-10.
