Australian Formula 3

Last updated

Australian Formula 3
CollinsWilliamsWakefieldF3.jpg
Category Open Wheel Racing
Formula 3
CountryAustralia
Inaugural season1964 (first era)
1999 (modern era)
Folded1977 (first era)
Drivers23
Teams10
Constructors Dallara
Mygale
Engine suppliers2.0 litre Inline 4
Tyre suppliers Hankook
Last Drivers' champion Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Magro
Official website formula3.com.au
Motorsport current event.svg Current season

Australian Formula 3 has been the name applied to two distinctly different motor racing categories, separated by over twenty years.

Contents

The original Australian Formula 3 was introduced in 1964 based on the FIA Formula 3 of the period and intended as a cost-efficient open wheel category to run at state level for amateur racers. It was discontinued at the end of 1977.

Formula 3 was reintroduced to Australia in 1999, again based on FIA Formula 3. An Australian Formula 3 Championship was sanctioned by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport for the first time in 2001. From 2005 to 2014 the Australian Drivers' Championship title (CAMS Gold Star) was also awarded to the winner of the championship. For 2015 the series reverted to the single title of Australian Formula 3 Championship. Following the withdrawal of national championship status, an Australian Formula 3 Premier Series has been contested since 2016.

History – The First Era

Elfin 623 AF3 car of 1972-1974 Elfin623.jpg
Elfin 623 AF3 car of 1972–1974

The Australian Formula 3 category was introduced by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport in 1964 as the fourth tier of formula car racing in Australia, below the Australian National Formula, the Australian 1½ Litre Formula and Australian Formula 2. Initially the formula was as per FIA Formula 3, [1] with cars restricted to using production based engines of under 1000cc capacity with overhead camshafts not permitted. [2] For 1969 the engine capacity limit was increased to 1100cc and the prohibition on overhead camshafts was removed. 1972 saw the engine capacity limit lifted to 1300cc. 1977 was to be the last year of the first era of Australian Formula 3 as the category was discontinued at the end of the season. [3] Formula 3 was never run under national championship status, although there were State Championships and the Stillwell Series. [4]

History – The Modern Era

Bruno Senna drives a Dallara F304 F3 car during a support race at the 2006 Australian GP Bruno Senna 2006 Australian Grand Prix-3.jpg
Bruno Senna drives a Dallara F304 F3 car during a support race at the 2006 Australian GP

The modern era began when 2 Litre Formula 3 cars were introduced into Australia in 1999, competing alongside 1600cc Australian Formula 2 cars in the Australian Formula 2 National Series. [5] In the following year CAMS introduced FIA specifications for Formula 3 cars in Australia and Formula 3 drivers now had their own Formula 3 National Series. [6] Agreement was reached with CAMS to grant National Championship status to the Formula 3 Series for 2001 [7] and it officially became the Australian Formula 3 Championship in that year. [8] By the 2005 season CAMS had decreed that Australian Formula 3 was now Australia's premier open-wheel racing car class (displacing Formula 4000) and as such the Australian Drivers' Championship title (and the associated CAMS Gold Star) would be awarded on the results of the Australian Formula 3 Championship. [9]

List of Champions

Following the running of a National Series in 1999 and 2000, official national title status was granted by the Confederation of Australian Motorsport from 2001 onwards. From 2005 to 2014 the winner of the Australian Formula 3 Championship was also awarded the CAMS Gold Star and the Australian Drivers' Championship title. In 2015 CAMS stripped the Gold Star Award from the Australian Formula 3 Championship citing low grid numbers. With the loss of national championship status for 2016 the series was renamed the Australian Formula 3 Premier Series. Aligning with the Australian Motor Racing Series from 2019 the series returned to National Championship status.

Paul Stephenson 1999 Australian F3 National Series Champion 99AustF3champion.gif
Paul Stephenson 1999 Australian F3 National Series Champion
Ben Clucas (Dallara F304), winner of the 2006 championship 84 2006 Aust F3 C'Ship, Ben Clucas (UK), Dallara F304.JPG
Ben Clucas (Dallara F304), winner of the 2006 championship
Ben Barker (Dallara F307), winner of the 2010 championship. Dallara F307 of Ben Barker.jpg
Ben Barker (Dallara F307), winner of the 2010 championship.
Jon Collins (Dallara F311), winner of the 2015 championship Jon Collins Winton 2015.jpg
Jon Collins (Dallara F311), winner of the 2015 championship

Australian Formula 3 National Series

SeasonSeries WinnerVehicleTeam
1999 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Paul Stephenson [10] Dallara F396 – TOM'S Toyota Titan
2000 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Paul Stephenson [11] Dallara F396 – TOM'S Toyota Titan

Australian Formula 3 Championship

SeasonChampion [8] VehicleTeam
2001 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Peter Hackett Dallara F301 – Alfa Romeo Piccola Scuderia
2002 Flag of Australia (converted).svg James Manderson Dallara F301 – Spiess Opel Team BRM
2003 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Michael Caruso Dallara F301 – Novamotor Fiat Piccola Scuderia
2004 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Karl Reindler Dallara F301 – Spiess Opel Team BRM

Australian Formula 3 Championship / Australian Drivers' Championship

SeasonChampion [8] VehicleTeam
2005 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Aaron Caratti Dallara F304 – Sodemo Renault Insight F3
2006 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ben Clucas Dallara F304 – Sodemo Renault Team BRM
2007 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tim Macrow Dallara F304 – Spiess Opel Cooltemp Racing/Scud Racing
2008 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Winslow Dallara F307 – HWA-Mercedes-Benz Astuti Motorsport/Team BRM
2009 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Joey Foster Dallara F307 – HWA-Mercedes-Benz Team BRM
2010 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ben Barker Dallara F307 – HWA-Mercedes-Benz Team BRM
2011 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Chris Gilmour Dallara F307 – HWA-Mercedes-Benz Gilmour Racing
2012 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Winslow Dallara F307 – HWA-Mercedes-Benz R-Tek Motorsport
2013 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tim Macrow Dallara F307 – HWA-Mercedes-Benz Team BRM
2014 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Simon Hodge Mygale M11 – HWA-Mercedes-Benz Team BRM

Australian Formula 3 Championship

The Australian Formula 3 Championship was renamed the Australian Formula 3 Premier Series by Formula 3 Management Pty Ltd from 2016 to 2018, returning to Australian Formula 3 Championship from 2019.

SeasonChampion [8] VehicleTeam
2015 Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Collins [12] Dallara F311 – Mercedes-Benz Gilmour Racing
2016 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tim Macrow Dallara F307 – Mercedes-Benz Alpine Motorsport
2017 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Calan Williams Dallara F311 – Mercedes-Benz Gilmour Racing
2018 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Harri Jones Dallara F311 – Mercedes-Benz Jones Motorsport
2019 Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Magro Dallara F311 – Mercedes-Benz R-Tek Motorsport
2020Not held due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions
2021 Not awarded. Only one round held due to COVID-19 pandemic
2022 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Noah Sands Dallara F311 – Mercedes-Benz Gilmour Racing

List of constructors in Australian Formula 3

AF3 Cheetah Mk6 Cheetahmk6.jpg
AF3 Cheetah Mk6

Cars built by the following constructors have raced in Australian Formula 3

Historic Era

Modern Era

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References

  1. CAMS Official Organ, Racing Car News, December 1963, page 23
  2. Australian Motor Manual, May 1965, pages 31&34
  3. The Macquarie Dictionary of Motoring, 1986, page 172
  4. Chequered Flag, May 1981, page 33
  5. 2 LITRE ENGINES VINDICATED – 31/5/1999 Retrieved from Internet Archive on 21 October 2008
  6. FIA FORMULA 3 ACCEPTED IN AUSTRALIA – 30/4/2000 Retrieved from Internet Archive on 21 October 2008. .
  7. CHAMPIONSHIP AGREEMENT REACHED – 18/3/2001 Retrieved from Internet Archive on 21 October 2008.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Australian Titles Retrieved from CAMS Online Manual of Motor Sport on 21 July 2009.
  9. FORMULA 3 TO RACE FOR THE AUSTRALIAN DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2005 Retrieved from Internet Archive on 21 October 2008.
  10. F2/F3 NATIONAL SERIES TO BE DECIDED AT PHILLIP ISLAND Retrieved from Internet Archive on 21 July 2009
  11. NATIONAL SERIES WRAPPED UP AT THE ISLAND – 26/11/2000 Retrieved from Internet Archive on 21 October 2008
  12. Tom Howard, Friday 11 November 2016, Appeal dismissal hands Collins 2015 Aus F3 title, www.speedcafe.com Retrieved 11 November 2016