Aussie Racing Cars

Last updated

Aussie Racing Cars
Category Silhouette racing car
Country Australia
Inaugural season2001
Engine suppliersYamaha FJR1300
Tyre suppliers Kumho Tires
Drivers' championJoel Heinrich
Official website Official website of Aussie Racing Cars
Motorsport current event.svg Current season
The first lap of an Aussie Racing Cars race at Sydney Motorsport Park in 2015 Aussie Racing Cars Sydney 2015.jpg
The first lap of an Aussie Racing Cars race at Sydney Motorsport Park in 2015

Aussie Racing Cars (ARC), currently known as the Battery World Aussie Racing Cars under sponsorship, [1] is an Australian motor racing category. ARC is a motorcycle powered silhouette racing car class created by former touring car racing driver Phil Ward and influenced by the American Legends category. Aussie Racing Cars was developed as a Major National Category supporting the V8 Supercars under an exclusive Category Management Agreement (CMA) with the Confederation of Australian Motorsport (CAMS).

Contents

History

Initially, the cars were based on caricatures of 1940 Ford Coupe and FJ Holden body styles. In 2007, a new era of Aussie Race Car emerged with the design and launch of the Toyota Aurion bodied Aussie Race Car. This new car extended the wheelbase and track on the first generation cars improving performance significantly. Respected design engineer Russell Mapplebeck led the engineering project alongside James Ward and Blake Hammond. The process to design and build the first "New Age" Aussie Race Car paved the way for future body models, also designed by Mapplebeck, based on the Mercedes-Benz, Holden Cruze, and later the Camaro and Mustang.[ citation needed ]

The category contests an annual Aussie Racing Car Series which is approved by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport as a National Series. [2] Over its 20-year history the category has supported the biggest motorsports events in Australia including the Adelaide 500, Gold Coast Indy 300, F1 Australian Grand Prix and Bathurst 1000.[ citation needed ]

The Hampton Downs round of the 2016 season hosted the inaugural Trans-Tasman Women's Challenge. Charlotte Poynting was chosen to represent Team Australian, and was up against Alyssa Clapperton of Team New Zealand. In Race 3 Poynting, who started 9th on the grid, raced through the field to win by 2.5 seconds, becoming the first ever woman to win a race in the Aussie Racing Cars category.[ citation needed ]

Cars

Holden VY Commodore Aussie Racing Car of James Ward.jpg
A Holden VY Commodore-bodied Aussie Racing Car.
Toyota Aurion Aussie Racing Car of Brad Ward.jpg
A Toyota Aurion-bodied Aussie Racing Car.
Euro GT Aussie Racing Car of Sean Ross.JPG
A "Euro GT"-bodied Aussie Racing Car.
Holden Cruze ARC of Brendon Pingel 2013.JPG
A Holden Cruze-bodied Aussie Racing Car.
Chevrolet Camaro bodied Aussie Racing Car.jpg
A Chevrolet Camaro-bodied Aussie Racing Car.

The Aussie Racing Car combines current racing technology and performance in a one-design class where all cars are mechanically identical with strict rules in place to maintain that position. Various body styles are permitted. Originally only 1940 Ford Coupé and Holden FJ body styles were available, with Ford AU Falcon and Holden VY Commodore styles, which replicate V8 Supercars, later made available. A Toyota Aurion body shape was launched in 2008, [3] followed by a Holden Cruze in 2012 [4] and a Mercedes-Benz inspired "Euro GT" in 2013. [5] Nissan Altima, [6] Ford Mustang, [7] and Chevrolet Camaro were added in 2014. [7] Hyundai Elantra debuted during the 2015 series. [8]

Cars are constructed on a purpose-built steel tubular space frame chassis with integral roll cage construction designed and approved to stringent engineering specifications. The lightweight composite body is a designed caricature of its full-size counterpart featuring opening doors, boot and lift off front section. Powered by a 1.3L 125 bhp (93 kW) twin cam 16 valve engine sourced second-hand from used Yamaha FJR1300 motorcycles that revs to 11500 rpm. The 515 kg all up weight provides a high power-to-weight ratio that allows the car to reach speeds in excess of 200 km/h. Lap times achieved at Oran Park Raceway are within six seconds of a V8 Supercar. They feature fully adjustable suspension geometry, performance brakes and controlled competition tyres that produce high grip levels. All cars are hand built in the ARC facility and supplied ready to race. [9]

The cockpit layout is purpose built and fitted with a five-point racing harness. The steering requires only one turn lock-to-lock and minimal steering movement during racing. The sequential gear lever is close to the steering wheel and the carbon fibre dash displays the necessary instrumentation. The chassis design incorporates simplicity in suspension adjustment to cater for all drivers' preferences including castor/camber, sway bar, roll centre and ride height etc. Brakes have front to rear bias adjustment. [9]

Series winners

YearChampionBody style
2001Paul Kemal1940 Ford Coupé
2002Mike RussellHolden FJ
2003Mike RussellHolden FJ
2004James WardFord AU Falcon
2005Tim MonteFord AU Falcon
2006Paul KemalFord AU Falcon
2007Brad WardHolden VY Commodore
2008Paul KemalFord AU Falcon
2009Adam GowansToyota Aurion
2010Kyle ClewsHolden VY Commodore
2011Adrian CottrellToyota Aurion
2012Kyle ClewsHolden VY Commodore
2013Maurice Masini [10] Ford AU Falcon
2014Darren ChamberlinToyota Aurion
2015Brendon PingelHolden Cruze
2016James DuckworthNissan Altima
2017 James DuckworthChevrolet Camaro
2018 Joel HeinrichNissan Altima
Holden Cruze
Chevrolet Camaro
2019 Justin RuggierFord Mustang
2020 [11] Josh Anderson [12] Chevrolet Camaro
2021 Kody Garland [13] Ford Mustang
2022 Joshua AndersonFord Mustang
2023Joel Heinrich [14] Ford Mustang
2024Joel Heinrich [15] Ford Mustang
2025 TBDTBD

Circuits

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References

  1. ↑ McCarthy, Dan (27 January 2021). "New Aussie Racing Cars Title Sponsor". Auto Action . Action Media Partners. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  2. ↑ CAMS Bulletin B10/039 "2020 Aussie Racing Car Series" Sporting & Technical Regulations.
  3. ↑ Toyota joins Aussie Racing Cars Super Series, 3 May 2008, www.aussieracingcars.com.au Archived 22 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 14 November 2013
  4. ↑ "Holden enters Aussie Racing Cars with Cruze". Speedcafe . 12 September 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  5. ↑ ARC 'Euro GT' Launched, 31 May 2013, www.aussieracingcars.com.au Archived 3 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 14 November 2013
  6. ↑ Nissan Altima on track in Aussie Racing Cars, www.nissan.com.au Archived 26 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 20 June 2015
  7. 1 2 Stefan Bartholomaeus, Mustang and Camaro join Aussie Racing Cars, Wednesday 8 October 2014, www.speedcafe.com Archived 21 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 20 June 2015
  8. ↑ James Hunt’s son to debut new Aussie Racing Car, www.speedcafe.com Archived 22 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 20 June 2015
  9. 1 2 "Aussie Racing Cars - About The Cars". www.aussieracingcars.com.au. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  10. ↑ "2013 Aussie Racing Cars Super Series Point Score, aussieracingcars.com.au, as archived at web.archive.org". Archived from the original on 14 January 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  11. ↑ "Round 1 Bathurst 12Hr Race Reports". Aussie Racing Cars. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  12. ↑ "2020 Results Tables". Aussie Racing Cars. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  13. ↑ "2021 Results Tables". Aussie Racing Cars. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  14. ↑ "Heinrich Secures Aussue Racing Cars Title". Motorsport Australia . 6 November 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  15. ↑ OBrien, Garry (27 October 2024). "Heinrich wins the 2024 Aussie Racing Cars championship in Surfers". Speedcafe.com. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
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