1951 Australian Grand Prix

Date 5 March 1951

Location Narrogin, Western Australia

Course Temporary street circuit

Course length 7.08 km (4.4 miles)

1951 Australian Grand Prix
Formula Libre race
Race details
Date	5 March 1951
Location	Narrogin, Western Australia
Course	Temporary street circuit
Course length	7.08 km (4.4 miles)
Distance	24 laps, 169.9 km (105.6 miles)
Weather	Sunny
Fastest lap
Driver	John Crouch	Cooper-JAP
Time	3'51
Podium
First	Warwick Pratley	Reed-Ford
Second	Dick Bland	Delahaye
Third	Steve Tillett	MG

The 1951 Australian Grand Prix was a Formula Libre motor race held at a street circuit in Narrogin, Western Australia on 5 March 1951.^[1] The race was held over 24 laps of the 7.1-kilometre (4.4 mi) circuit for a race distance of 170 kilometres (110 mi).^[2][3]

It was the sixteenth Australian Grand Prix and the last to feature a handicap start which saw the slower cars starting ahead of the faster cars according to handicap allowance. The first car over the line was the MG TC special of South Australian Steve Tillett. The Australian Grand Prix title was however to be awarded to the driver setting the fastest outright time, regardless of handicap.^[1] The title was won by Warwick Pratley driving a George Reed built Flathead Ford V8 powered racing car. It would be the last Australian Grand Prix victory by an Australian built car until Frank Matich won the 1971 race at the wheel of a Matich A50. Pratley started the race ten minutes and thirty seconds behind the first car to start the race, the Morgan of Colin Uphill. Pratley won the race by 96 seconds over the Delahaye of Dick Bland. Both Tillett and Pratley were awarded Commonwealth Jubilee Trophies for their victories in what was effectively two races in one.