Four-time Bathurst winner Allan Moffat has died aged 86

Canadian-Australian motorsport legend Allan Moffat has died aged 86 following a six-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

A four-time Bathurst winner and four-time Australian Touring Car Championship winner across the 1970s and early 80s, Moffat was an inductee of both the Supercars and Sport Australia Hall of Fame and a recipient of the Order of the British Empire.

Moffat died shortly after 11am on Saturday November 22, 2025 surrounded by his loved ones, with his family asking for privacy at this time as they grieve.

He will be honoured at the upcoming bp Adelaide Grand Final which concludes the Supercars calendar on November 27-30.

Allan Moffat’s legendary racing career

Born in Saskatoon, Canada, Moffat moved to Australia with his parents as a 17-year-old student. After starting out in his racing career in the early 60s behind the wheel of a Triumph TR3, his first ATCC entry came in 1965 driving a Lotus Cortina.

After splitting time between Australia and the USA, driving Ford Mustangs for Carroll Shelby in the Trans-Am Series in the latter case, Moffat returned to Australia full time from 1969 as a regular ATCC competitor.

Although initially driving a Ford Mustang Boss 302, its ineligibility for Bathurst due to differing regulations meant Moffat’s Mount Panorama debut came in a Ford works team Falcon XW GTHO.

After a fourth-placed first outing, Moffat took the significantly improved Phase II and Phase III models to back-to-back victories in 1970 and ’71 without a co-driver. In the latter, he also became the first driver to lead the Bathurst 500 from start to finish.

In ’72, ‘Phase IV’ Falcon plans were scuppered following the infamous Supercar scare which led to Moffat finishing ninth, but he bounced back the following year, winning the first 1000km race alongside Ian Geoghegan.

Allan Moffat in the works Ford XW Falcon GTHO at Surfers Paradise International Raceway, 1 November 1970
Although Moffat initially drove a Mustang Boss 302 after his full-time return to Australia in 1969, his Bathurst debut came in a Ford Falcon XW GTHO, shown here at Surfers Paradise in 1970 (Image: Vic Hughes/Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0)

After failing to finish several Bathurst 1000 races, he managed to return to dominance when he won at The Mountain for the final time in 1977 alongside Belgian F1 driver Jackie Ickx.

Moffat holds the distinction of being one of only two drivers to win Bathurst in both its 500-mile and 1000-kilometre formats alongside his long-time friend, rival, and later co-driver Peter Brock.

Aside from his Bathurst victories, Moffat was also the Australian Touring Car Champion in 1973, back-to-back in 1976 and ’77, and finally in 1983.

Allan Moffat remembered as a pioneer with an immeasurable impact on Australian motorsport

In a statement, the Moffat family remembered the legendary driver not just for his accomplishments, but as a mentor and advocate for many. It reads:

Australia has lost one of its sporting legends today with the passing of Allan Moffat OBE.

It is with deep sadness that the Moffat family announces the passing of Allan Moffat OBE, who died peacefully at 11:05 this morning, surrounded by his loved ones, after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Allan Moffat was not only one of Australia’s most successful and admired motor racing drivers, but a towering figure whose influence shaped the nation’s motorsport identity for more than five decades. Revered for his skill, tenacity, and exceptional professionalism, Moffat’s legacy is etched into Australian sporting history.

Born in Canada and proudly embraced by Australia, Moffat became a dominant force domestically and internationally. His career highlights include:

  • Four Bathurst 1000 victories (1970, 1971, 1973, 1977), including the iconic 1977 1–2 formation finish.
  • Four Australian Touring Car Championships (1973, 1976, 1977, 1983).
  • Success on the international stage, including competing in the Trans-Am Series, IMSA, and numerous global touring car events.
  • Long-standing partnerships with Ford and Mazda, contributing to landmark eras in Australian touring car competition.

His contribution to sport was formally recognised when he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). Moffat is also honoured as an inductee of both the Supercars Hall of Fame and the Australian Sports Hall of Fame, cementing his place among the nation’s greatest athletes.

Beyond racing, Allan Moffat dedicated his later years to advocacy work. As a Patron of Dementia Australia, he lent his voice to raising awareness and supporting families affected by the disease. In his honour, the Allan Moffat Foundation continues this important work. His family and friends encourage fans to support the Foundation so that others living with Alzheimer’s can receive the care, support, resources, and hope they deserve.

Allan Moffat leaves behind an extraordinary legacy, not only as a champion driver, but as a respected mentor, advocate, and friend to many. He will be remembered for his unwavering passion, competitive spirit, and the profound impact he had on motorsport in Australia and around the world.

The Moffat family asks for privacy during this time as they grieve the loss of their beloved father, grandfather, and friend.

Supercars chief executive James Warburton also released a statement, saying:

On behalf of the entire Supercars community, we want to express our deepest condolences following the passing of Allan Moffat OBE – one of the true giants of Australian motorsport.

Allan was a pioneer, a champion and an icon whose impact on our sport is impossible to measure. His record speaks for itself: four Australian Touring Car Championships, four Bathurst victories, six Sandown wins, and more than three decades of extraordinary achievement across Australia and around the world. He was a dominant force during one of the most competitive eras in touring car racing, and his legendary rivalry – and friendship – with Peter Brock defined a generation.

But Allan’s legacy reaches far beyond the racetrack. He brought a new level of professionalism to the sport, transforming the role of sponsorship and team management in ways that shaped the modern era of Supercars. His influence can still be felt in the paddock today.

Inducted into the Supercars Hall of Fame in 1999, the Australian Motor Sport Hall of Fame in 2016, and the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2018, Allan’s contribution to motorsport has long been recognised at the highest level.

Today, we remember Allan not only for his remarkable career, but for the passion, spirit and determination he carried into everything he did. He inspired generations of drivers, engineers, teams and fans, and his place in Australian sporting history is everlasting.

Our thoughts are with Allan’s family, friends, and all who knew and admired him. The sport he helped build will forever carry his imprint.

Allan Moffat was one of the greatest we will ever see. He will be deeply missed.

Supercars will honour the memory of Allan Moffat at the Adelaide Grand Final this week.

Deputy Editor

Patrick is an automotive journalist with nearly a decade’s experience across a range of online, print, and broadcast media titles, having road tested over 500 new and classic cars in that time.

After starting out with The Adelaide Hills Weekender Herald newspaper while still studying, he has since contributed to the likes of DriveTribe, Finder, Supercar Blondie, Exhaust Notes Australia, and WhichCar before joining the Retro Rides team. He also launched the car review website Drive Section in 2019 and automotive adventure site Essential Drives in 2024, and has experience in journalism education and academia.

At Retro Rides, Patrick oversees website publishing and content creation. If you have a story you think would be of interest to our audience, he’s your best point of contact at [email protected].

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