The 1971 Australian Rally Championship was a series of five rallying events held across Australia. It was the fourth season in the history of the competition.
Colin Bond and navigator George Shepheard in the Holden Dealer Team Holden Torana GTR XU-1 were the winners of the 1971 Championship.
The fourth Australian Rally Championship was decided over five events, staged across the Eastern States of Australia with two events in New South Wales and one each in Queensland, Victoria and South Australia.[1] The series was the start of the domination of the Holden Dealer Team Holden Torana GTR XU-1 of Colin Bond and George Shepheard. The Renault R8 Gordinis which had won the previous year were the only team to present any real challenge to the Toranas.
The five events of the 1971 season were as follows.
| Round | Rally | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Classic Rally (VIC) | 20 March 1971 | |
| 2 | Bunbury-Curran Rally (NSW) | 17 April 1971 | |
| 3 | Snowy Mountains Rally (NSW) | 12 June 1971 | |
| 4 | Uniroyal Southern Rally (SA) | 31 July 1971 | |
| 5 | Warana Rally (QLD) | 18 September 1971 |
| Position | Driver | Navigator | Car | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colin Bond | George Shepheard | Torana GTR XU-1 | 36 |
| 2 | Barry Ferguson | Dave Johnson | Torana GTR XU-1 | 59 |
| 3 | Bruce Collier | Lindsay Adcock | Renault R8 Gordini | 60 |
| 4 | Stewart McLeod | Jack Lock | Torana GTR XU-1 | 68 |
| 5 | Bob Watson | Andy Chapman | Renault R8 Gordini | 82 |
| 6 | Peter Haughton | Jim Faulkner | Mitsubishi Colt 1100 | 83 |
| Position | Driver | Navigator | Car | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colin Bond | George Shepheard | Torana GTR XU-1 | 39 |
| 2 | Frank Kilfoyle | Mike Osborne | Torana GTR XU-1 | 47 |
| 3 | Bob Watson | Andy Chapman | Renault R8 Gordini | 57 |
| 4 | Brian Michelmore | Greg Sked | Alfa Romeo 1750 GTV | 59 |
| 5 | Charlie Lund | Murray Coote | Mazda RX-2 | 69 |
| 6 | Greg Smith | Rod Browning | Torana GTR XU-1 | 93 |
| 7 | Peter Janson | Mike Mitchell | Holden Monaro GTS 350 | 94 |
| 8 | Mal McPherson | Jeff Beaumont | Renault R8 Gordini | 95 |
| 9 | Roger Bonhomme | G Thomas | Renault R8 Gordini | 96 |
| 10= | John Connell | Gerry Brameld | Holden Monaro GTS 186 | 110 |
| 10= | John McLean | Laurie Garth | Fiat 124 | 110 |
Final pointscore for 1971 is as follows.[1]
| Position | Driver | Car | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colin Bond | Torana GTR XU-1 | |
| 2 | Bob Watson | Renault R8 Gordini | |
| 3 | Frank Kilfoyle | Torana GTR XU-1 | |
| 4= | Stewart McLeod | Torana GTR XU-1 | |
| 4= | Barry Ferguson | Torana GTR XU-1 | |
| 4= | Mal McPherson | Renault R8 Gordini | |
| Position | Navigator | Car | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Shepheard | Torana GTR XU-1 | |
| 2 | Andy Chapman | Renault R8 Gordini | |
| 3 | Mike Osborne | Torana GTR XU-1 | |
| 4= | David Johnson | Torana GTR XU-1 | |
| 4= | Jeff Beaumont | Renault R8 Gordini | |
| 6 | Jack Lock | Torana GTR XU-1 | |