1987 Monza 500

The 1987 Monza 500 was the first round of the inaugural World Touring Car Championship. The race was held for cars eligible for Group A touring car regulations. It was held on March 22, 1987, at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, in Monza, Italy.

1987 Monza 500

Race details
Round 1 of 11 in the 1987 World Touring Car Championship at Autodromo Nazionale di Monza in Monza, Italy.
Date	22 March, 1987
Location	Monza, Italy
Course	Autodromo Nazionale di Monza 5.800 kilometres (3.604 mi)
Laps 87 Pole position Driver Andy Rouse Andy Rouse Engineering Time 1:57.500 Podium First Allan Moffat John Harvey Allan Moffat Racing Second Georges Bosshard José Ángel Sasiambarrena CiBiEmme Sport Third Peter Oberndorfer Franz Klammer Marko AMG Fastest Lap Driver Andy Rouse Andy Rouse Engineering Time 1:59.120

The race was won by Australian drivers Allan Moffat and John Harvey, driving a V8 powered Holden VL Commodore SS Group A, after the BMW M3s of Schnitzer Motorsport, CiBiEmme Sport and Bigazzi (all running under the BMW Motorsport banner) which had finished in the top six positions on the road were disqualified for being approximately 50 kg (110 lb) underweight through the use of kevlar body panels. The M3s had initially passed through post race scrutineering, but a privateer BMW team protested when their M3, which had been built by BMW Motorsport, was found to be 50 kg heavier than the works cars.[1]

The leading car eligible for championship points was the Alfa Romeo 75 of Walter Voulaz and Marcello Cipriani which finished 7th outright, some 7 laps behind Moffat and Harvey.

The expected challenge from the Eggenberger Motorsport team and their brand new Ford Sierra RS Cosworth turbo's failed to materialise. The Texaco sponsored, Swiss built Ford's failed to pass scrutineering when they appeared with a non-homologated engine management system. As there was no way to change the system at that late stage, Reudi Eggenberger withdrew his cars from the event. The new Sierra turbo's did show speed though with British driver Andy Rouse claiming pole position for the race in his RS Cosworth.

Holden VL Commodore SS Group A of Allan Moffat & John Harvey, winner of the 1987 Monza 500, on display at the Historic Sandown 2009