Motorsport Australia joins the wider motorsport community in honouring the life of Alan Hamilton, who has passed away at the age of 82. 

Hamilton’s legacy in Australian motorsport is deeply intertwined with Porsche, a brand he and his family helped establish in the country. His father, Norman Hamilton, was instrumental in bringing Porsche to Australia in 1951, making it only the second market outside Europe. Alan followed in his father’s footsteps, formally joining the business in 1962, where he played a key role in expanding Porsche’s presence and reputation in Australia. 

Beyond his contributions off the track, Hamilton was a highly accomplished racer in his own right. His motorsport journey began behind the wheel of a 1954 VW Beetle before progressing to a series of Porsche sports cars, including the iconic 904/8 Bergspyder, the 906, and various 911 models. His most notable near-triumph came in 1969 when he narrowly missed out on the Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC) title by just a single point, driving a Porsche 911 T/R against the Ford Mustangs of the era. 

Hamilton’s influence extended to the country’s greatest endurance race, the Bathurst 1000. He was part of Ford’s legendary 1-2 finish in the 1977 race, co-driving the second-placed Moffat Ford Dealers Falcon alongside Colin Bond. Across his three starts in the Great Race, Hamilton also raced with Allan Moffat in the factory Ford team and later with Bob Skelton’s Torana squad. 

A four-time Australian Hillclimb Champion, Hamilton’s driving career was cut short after a major crash in the 1978 Australian Grand Prix at Sandown. However, his passion for the sport never wavered, and he remained actively involved. His influence found success of drivers such as Alfie Costanzo in the Gold Star Championship, while his stable of race-winning Porsche cars became synonymous with Australian motorsport, driven by the likes of Moffat, Colin Bond, and Alan Jones. 

Motorsport Australia CEO, Sunil Vohra, acknowledged Hamilton’s profound impact on the sport, both as a competitor and a key figure in Australian motorsport history. 

“Alan Hamilton was a true figure of Australian motorsport, whose contributions extended well beyond the driver’s seat,” Vohra said. 

“His efforts in establishing and growing Porsche’s footprint in Australia were remarkable, but it was his skill behind the wheel that cemented his legacy in our sport. To come within a single point of winning an Australian Touring Car Championship in a Porsche 911 was an extraordinary achievement. 

“Alan was also a fierce competitor at some of Australia’s most prestigious events, including the Bathurst 1000 and the Australian Grand Prix. His presence will be deeply missed, but his contributions to motorsport in this country will not be forgotten.” 

Motorsport Australia extends its deepest condolences to Alan Hamilton’s family and friends during this time.