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Originally Posted by rdmdog
Didn't HRT start using #1 for the enduro's the same year that CL won the championship too (prior to them being part of the championship).
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Up until 96 the #1 plate had been carried by the winner of the previous year's championship for the whole year. The only exception I can recall was when Jim Richards started using the #1 at the 85 Sandown 500, although 84 winner Dick Johnson had elected not to use it, sticking to 17.
Starting from 96 until 99 when the championship was decided before the enduros, the policy changed and #1 would go to the new holder at the first race after the series, ie the Sandown or Ipswich 500.
At the end of 96 when 2 non championship races were held in New Zealand, Greg Murphy was allowed to keep the #1 plates that had been on the car for the enduros, even though it was Lowndes who had earnt them. Running #1 tied in nicely with series and team sponsor's Mobil 1 branding and in the eyes of the crowd I guess Murphy was #1... and he did win the series.