Australian Formula Ford Championship

Last updated

Australian Formula Ford Championship
Category Open Wheel Racing
Formula Ford
CountryAustralia
Inaugural season1970
Engine suppliers1.6 litre Ford Duratec
Tyre suppliers Yokohama
Drivers' champion Angelo Mouzouris
Official website formulaford.com.au
Motorsport current event.svg Current season

The Australian Formula Ford Championship is an Australian motor racing competition for drivers of Formula Ford racing cars, held annually since 1970. From 1970 until 1992 it was a national series and from 1993 until 2013 the series was sanctioned by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport as the Australian Formula Ford Championship. [1] From 2014 [2] to 2018 [3] it reverted to national series status. The Australian Formula Ford Championship name was then applied to the series by the Formula Ford Association from 2019. [4]

Contents

Australian Formula Ford is renowned for producing future champions in other categories with many V8 Supercar drivers and Australian international open-wheeler drivers having had a background in the category.

History

The Formula Ford category was established in Great Britain in 1967 and two years later Australia's first Formula Ford race was staged at the Sandown circuit in Victoria. [5] A national series was contested in Australia for the first time in 1970 and then annually through to 1992. In the following year the series was granted national title status by CAMS and officially became the Australian Formula Ford Championship. [6] After having powered Australian Formula Fords since the introduction of the category, the 1600cc Ford “Kent” engine was replaced by the third-generation Ford Fiesta unit for the 2006 Australian Championship. [7] The "Kent" powered cars continued to be raced in various State championships under the "Formula Ford 1600" category name. [8]

The series has served as a stepping stone for many Australian racing drivers who have gone on to greater things in motor racing both in Australia and overseas. Notably, 1971 winner Larry Perkins went on to race in the Formula One World Championship and other winners Russell Ingall, Craig Lowndes, Garth Tander and Jamie Whincup have each gone on to claim V8 Supercar titles. Other graduates of Australian Formula Ford include Brad Jones, Marcos Ambrose, Tomas Mezera, Jason Bright, Steven Richards, David Besnard, Will and Alex Davison, and nine-time Formula One race winner Mark Webber finished third in the F1 World championship on three occasions.

Formula Ford has also proven a popular proving ground for Australian racing car manufacturers. In its early years the series was dominated by Australian designs from Elfin Sports Cars, Bowin Cars, Mawer and Birrana. 1987 to 1997 was dominated by the British marque Van Diemen, winning eleven straight titles. The streak was broken in 1998 by Australian marque Spectrum, built by Borland Racing Developments. Van Diemen faded in the mid-2000s and Australian grids are now almost exclusively filled with Spectrums and French made Mygales.

Once mainly the domain of competitor self-run teams, the modern series is dominated by professional racing teams. Sonic Motor Racing Services and Synergy Motorsport both field multi-car teams, while some of those and Spectrum works team Borland Racing Developments also compete in the Victorian Formula Ford championship.

Australian Formula Ford Series

In August 2013 the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport announced that the Australian Formula Ford Championship would be discontinued at the end of 2013. [9] The Formula Ford Association subsequently announced that approval had been obtained from CAMS to organize a national series for 2014. [10] It was contested over six rounds and was officially known as the Australian Formula Ford Series. [11] “Kent” powered cars were re-introduced for the 2014 series. [12]

During the 2016 season, the championship ran one event at a race meeting sanctioned by the Australian Auto Sport Alliance. [AASA]

In 2017, the Queensland round was run at a "RACERS' sanctioned race meeting.

For 2018 four of the seven rounds will be run at CAMS sanctioned race meetings, two at the AASA sanctioned "AMRS" series, and one at Queensland Raceway again.

The winner of the Australian Formula Ford Series was awarded a "golden ticket" to the INDYCAR Road to Indy Shootout, provided the driver is age-eligible per INDYCAR regulations. If the winner is ineligible (as was the case in 2016 because of age), the driver highest in points eligible for the award will claim the prize. The 2018 Australian Formula Ford winner won the Shootout, and was awarded a 2019 USF2000 ride fully funded by the promoters.

Now the winner is awarded a test in a current gen DJR supercar.

State championships

Formula Ford has also proved to be a very popular category for state level series and championships, including competitions held in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia. In the majority these championships continue to utilise the first-generation Ford Kent engine. State level series have served as a stepping stone for kart racers looking for a cheap entry level into circuit racing before moving into the national series. State series often provided additional cars to the national series.

Series winners and Australian Champions

National Series

John Leffler won the 1973 TAA Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series driving a Bowin P4a and a Bowin P6F (pictured) Bowin P6.png
John Leffler won the 1973 TAA Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series driving a Bowin P4a and a Bowin P6F (pictured)
The Reynard FF83 with which Tomas Mezera won the 1985 Motorcraft Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series Reynard FF83 of Neil Richardson.jpg
The Reynard FF83 with which Tomas Mezera won the 1985 Motorcraft Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series
SeasonSeries nameSeries winner [13] Car
1970 Formula Ford National SeriesRichard Knight Elfin 600 FF
1971 National Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series Larry Perkins Elfin 600 FF
1972 TAA Formula Ford Driver to Europe SeriesBob Skelton Bowin P4a
1973 TAA Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series John Leffler Bowin P4a & Bowin P6F
1974 TAA Formula Ford Driver to Europe SeriesTerry Perkins Elfin 620FF & Titan
1975 TAA Formula Ford Driver to Europe SeriesPaul BernasconiMawer 004
1976 TAA Formula Ford Driver to Europe SeriesRichard Carter Birrana F73
1977 TAA Formula Ford Driver to Europe SeriesJohn Smith Bowin P4A
1978 TAA Formula Ford Driver to Europe SeriesJohn Wright Bowin P4A
1979 TAA Formula Ford Driver to Europe SeriesRussell NordenMawer 004
1980 TAA Formula Ford Driver to Europe SeriesStephen Brook Lola T440
1981 TAA Formula Ford Driver to Europe SeriesPhillip Revell Lola T440
1982 TAA Formula Ford Driver to Europe SeriesJeff Summers Elfin 620B
1983 Formula Ford Driver to Europe SeriesBruce ConnollyGalloway & Van Diemen
1984 Formula Ford Driver to Europe SeriesRon BarnacleRoyale RP31
1985 Motorcraft Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series Tomas Mezera Reynard FF83 [14]
Elwyn 003
1986 Motorcraft Formula Ford Driver to Europe SeriesWarwick RooklynElwyn 003
1987 Motorcraft Formula Ford Driver to Europe SeriesPeter Verheyen Van Diemen RF86
1988Motorcraft Formula Ford Driver to Europe SeriesDavid Roberts Van Diemen RF86
1989 Motorcraft Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series Mark Larkham Van Diemen RF89
1990 Motorcraft Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series Russell Ingall Van Diemen RF90
1991 Motorcraft Formula Ford Driver to Europe SeriesTroy Dunstan Van Diemen RF91
1992 Motorcraft Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series Cameron McConville Van Diemen RF92

Australian Formula Ford Championship

Garry Jacobson (Mygale SJ08a) at the opening round of the 2011 Championship Mygale SJ08a of Garry Jacobson.JPG
Garry Jacobson (Mygale SJ08a) at the opening round of the 2011 Championship
SeasonChampion [13] Car
1993 Craig Lowndes Van Diemen RF93
1994 Steven Richards Van Diemen RF94
1995 Jason Bright Van Diemen RF95
1996 David Besnard Van Diemen RF96
1997 Garth Tander Van Diemen RF95
1998 Adam Macrow Spectrum 06
1999 Greg Ritter Mygale SJ98
2000 Luke Youlden Mygale SJ2000
2001 Will Davison Van Diemen RF01
2002 Jamie Whincup Van Diemen RF01
2003 Neil McFadyen Stealth Van Diemen RF94
2004 David Reynolds Van Diemen RF04
2005 Daniel Elliott Van Diemen RF05
2006 John Martin Spectrum 011
2007 Tim Blanchard Mygale SJ07A
2008 Paul Laskazeski Spectrum 011b
2009 Nick Percat Mygale SJ07A
2010 Chaz Mostert Spectrum 012
2011 Cam Waters Mygale SJ10A
2012 Jack Le Brocq Mygale SJ12A
2013 Anton de Pasquale Mygale SJ13A

Australian Formula Ford Series

SeasonSeries winnerCar
2014 Thomas Randle [15] Mygale SJ13A
2015 Cameron Hill Mygale SJ10A
2016 Leanne Tander Mygale SJ10A
2017 Max VidauMygale SJ10A
2018 Hunter McElrea Mygale SJ10A

Australian Formula Ford Championship

SeasonChampionCar
2019 Angelo Mouzouris [16] Mygale SJ18A
2020 Not contested [17]
2021 Thomas SargentMygale SJ13A
2022 Valentino Astuti [18] Mygale SJ15A
2023 Matthew HillyerMygale SJ18A

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References

  1. ↑ "Australian Titles, 2016 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, as archived at web.archive.org" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 January 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  2. ↑ 2014 Australian Formula Ford Series Sporting Regulations, docs.cams.com.au, as archived at web.archive.org
  3. ↑ 2018 FFA NATIONAL FORMULA FORD SERIES SPORTING REGULATIONS, formulaford.org.au, as archived at web.archive.org
  4. ↑ "2019 Australian Formula Ford Association Championship Sporting Regulations, formulaford.org.au, as archived at web.archive.org" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 May 2019. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  5. ↑ History Archived 13 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from www.formulaford.com.au on 25 September 2009
  6. ↑ CAMS Manual of Motor Sport > About CAMS > Australian Titles Archived 3 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from www.camsmanual.com.au on 25 September 2009
  7. ↑ What is Formula Ford Archived 22 November 2009 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from www.formulaford.com.au on 25 September 2009
  8. ↑ A quick Overview of Kent Formula Ford Archived 13 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from www.formulaford1600.com.au on 25 September 2009
  9. ↑ National Formula Ford Championship to be axed, Tuesday 27 August 2013, www.speedcafe.com Retrieved on 11 October 2013
  10. ↑ 2014 Formula Ford National Series is all go, 8 November 2013, formulaford.org.au Retrieved on 27 November 2013
  11. ↑ 2014 Australian Formula Ford Series Sporting Regulations, formulaford.org.au Retrieved on 28 April 2014
  12. ↑ Formula Future Locked, The Racing Magazine, Number 11, Australian Motor Racing Pty Ltd, page 6
  13. 1 2 Records & Stats Archived 18 December 2006 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from www.formulaford.com.au on 26 September 2009
  14. ↑ Reynard Owners Listings Archived 17 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 24 August 2011
  15. ↑ 2014 Australian FORMULA FORD SERIES, formulaford.org.au, as archived at web.archive.org
  16. ↑ "2019 Pointscores, Australian Formula Ford Championship, www.formulaford.org.au, as archived at web.archive.org". Archived from the original on 12 January 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  17. ↑ "Mat Coch, COVID claims Australian Formula Ford Championship, Tuesday 15th September 2020, www.speedcafe.com, as archived at web.archive.org". 15 September 2020. Archived from the original on 16 September 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  18. ↑ Thomas, Miles (30 October 2022). "VALENTINO ASTUTI SECURES THE 2022 FORMULA FORD SERIES TITLE". Auto Action. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
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