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Larry Perkins

Nationality Australian
Formula One World Championship career
Active years	1974, 1976 - 1977
Teams	Amon, Boro, Brabham, BRM, Surtees
Races	15 (11 starts)
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podiums	0
Career points	0
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0
First race	1974 German Grand Prix (DNQ) / 1976 Spanish Grand Prix (13th)
Last race	1977 Belgian Grand Prix (12th) / 1977 French Grand Prix (DNQ)

Larry Clifton Perkins (born 18 March 1950 in Cowangie, Victoria) is a former racing driver and current V8 Supercar team owner from Australia. The son of racing driver Eddie Perkins (winner of the 1955 RedeX Round Australia Trial), Larry developed a love for cars from a young age. From racing in Formula One in the 1970s, to driving in Australia in V8 Supercars. He retired from driving in 2003, aged 53, and now owns his own V8 Supercar team. He is well known for his very outgoing and humorous personality. His nickname is "LP", but he is often referred to as "Larrikin Larry".

After winning the Australian Formula 2 Championship in 1972, Perkins travelled to Europe where he won the European Formula Three Championship. He also raced in Formula One during the 1974, 1976 and 1977 seasons. After failing to secure a permanent drive in the series he returned to Australia and picked up where he left off almost instantly, winning in both Formula 5000 and Touring Cars. In 1988 he returned to Europe to race at the Le Mans 24 Hour with Tom Walkinshaw Racing and finished 4th.

The 1984 Bathurst 1000 winning Holden Commodore

He has won the Bathurst 1000 six times (1982, 1983, 1984, 1993, 1995, 1997), with co drivers such as Peter Brock, Gregg Hansford and in his last two wins, Russell Ingall winning each time in a home-grown Holden Commodore V8. By far his most memorable was the last to first effort in 1995. Less than 50 metres off the start line on Lap 1, Perkins made contact with Craig Lowndes, blowing one of his tyres. He pitted in last place and was lapped while in the pits. From there Perkins staged an amazing comeback, and took the lead with less than 10 laps left, after Glenn Seton's car retired with mechanical problems. Perkins went on to win and be only the second person in the history of the race to win after dropping to last. Perkins has never won an Australian Touring Car Championship. He retired from racing in 2003, finishing fourth.

In addition to his racing credentials as a driver he is an accomplished automotive engineer and engine-builder having built many race cars for his - and other - racing teams.

He is the father of V8 Supercar driver Jack Perkins. Perkins was inducted into the V8 Supercar Hall of Fame in 2008.

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

Career results

External links

• Larry Perkins Comprehensive Biography and Race Record
• Perkins Motorsport Official Team Site