The late factory Toyota driver Peter Williamson will be remembered with a special tribute at the Coates Hire Sydney 500.
A Bathurst 1000 class winner in 1979 and 1981, Williamson, who died in April this year aged 78, became a cult figure among motorsport fans after pioneering the racecam concept which brought a new aspect to television coverage.
A collection of Toyota race cars campaigned by the former Mount Panorama regular in the 1970s and 1980s will conduct a parade lap ahead of Saturday afternoon’s opening Toyota 86 Racing Series race at Sydney Olympic Park.
Four Group C Celica GTs campaigned from 1977-1981, including the original racecam Chickadee car headline the parade alongside a 1984-1987 Group A Celica Supra (1984-1987) Williamson once shared with Mark Skaife.
In conjunction with the parade a special Peter Williamson trophy’s been created and will be awarded to the Toyota 86 Racing Series round winner.
The series’ three guest cars driven by Matt Brabham, Jonathon Webb and Alex Davison will also be resplendent in iconic liveries utilised by Williamson.
Brabham’s entry will feature the striking yellow, green and red colours of the 1979-1980 Toyota Celica GT.
Webb’s car will display the famous green Toyota Dealer Team colours from 1980-1981, while Davison will run a version of the Orange colour scheme from the Group A Celica Supra from 1984-1987.
The tribute has been put together by motor racing enthusiast Chris O’Connor, who owns three of the five cars due participate in the parade.
“Peter and I had been good friends for a long time and I figured this would be a fitting tribute,” said O’Connor.
“Owning his cars wasn’t enough, he needed more than that to be remembered by.
“I saw something on social media from one of his (Peter’s) daughters and she captured it quite well by saying that he would have been ‘chuffed” (by the tribute put together).”
Williamson’s family including his wife and four children are expected to feature in the parade on Saturday.
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