Australian Formula 3

Australian Formula 3
Category Open Wheel Racing
Formula 3
Country or region Australia
Inaugural season 1964 (first era)
1999 (modern era)
Drivers 11
Teams 6
Constructors Dallara
Engine suppliers 2.0 litre Inline 4
Tyre suppliers Kumho Tires
Drivers' champion Chris Gilmour
Official website formula3.com.au
Current season

The Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship is a motor racing championship for FIA Formula Three racing cars and is now the official Australian Drivers' Championship. Growing out of Australian Formula 2 racing into a series for the first time in 1999, it has grown into the premier Australian Open wheel motor racing category. Formula 3 is the premier series run under at Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships events.

Contents

History – The First Era

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 it restricted cars to using production based engines of under 1000cc capacity with overhead camshafts not permitted.[1] 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.[2] Formula 3 was never run under national championship status, although there were State Championships and the Stillwell Series.[3]

History – The Modern Era

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. [4] 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.[5] Agreement was reached with CAMS to grant National Championship status to the Formula 3 Series for 2001 [6] and it officially became the Australian Formula 3 Championship in that year.[7] By the 2005 season CAMS had decreed that Australian Formula 3 was now Australia’s premier openwheel 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.[8]

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 the winner of the Australian Formula 3 Championship has also been awarded the CAMS Gold Star and the Australian Drivers' Championship title.

National Series

Season Series Winner Vehicle Team
1999 Paul Stephenson[9] Dallara F396 – Toms Toyota Titan
2000 Paul Stephenson[10] Dallara F396 – Toms Toyota Titan

Australian Formula 3 Championship

Season Champion [7] Vehicle Team
2001 Peter Hackett Dallara F301 – Alfa Romeo Piccola Scuderia
2002 James Manderson Dallara F301 – Spiess Opel Team BRM
2003 Michael Caruso Dallara F301 – Novamotor Fiat Piccola Scuderia
2004 Karl Reindler Dallara F301 – Spiess Opel Team BRM
2005 Aaron Caratti Dallara F304 – Sodemo Renault Insight F3
2006 Ben Clucas Dallara F304 – Sodemo Renault Team BRM
2007 Tim Macrow Dallara F304 – Spiess Opel Cooltemp Racing/Scud Racing
2008 James Winslow Dallara F307 – HWA-Mercedes-Benz Astuti Motorsport/Team BRM
2009 Joey Foster Dallara F307 – HWA-Mercedes-Benz Team BRM
2010 Ben Barker Dallara F307 – HWA-Mercedes-Benz Team BRM
2011 Chris Gilmour Dallara F307 – HWA-Mercedes-Benz Gilmour Racing


List of constructors in Australian Formula 3

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

Historic Era

Modern Era


References

  1. ^ Australian Motor Manual, May 1965, pages 31&34
  2. ^ The Macquarie Dictionary of Motoring, 1986, page 172
  3. ^ Chequered Flag, May 1981, page 33
  4. ^ 2 LITRE ENGINES VINDICATED – 31/5/1999 Retrieved from Internet Archive on 21 October 2008
  5. ^ FIA FORMULA 3 ACCEPTED IN AUSTRALIA – 30/4/2000 Retrieved from Internet Archive on 21 October 2008. .
  6. ^ CHAMPIONSHIP AGREEMENT REACHED – 18/3/2001 Retrieved from Internet Archive on 21 October 2008.
  7. ^ a b Australian Titles Retrieved from CAMS Online Manual of Motor Sport on 21 July 2009.
  8. ^ FORMULA 3 TO RACE FOR THE AUSTRALIAN DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2005 Retrieved from Internet Archive on 21 October 2008.
  9. ^ F2/F3 NATIONAL SERIES TO BE DECIDED AT PHILLIP ISLAND Retrieved from Internet Archive on 21 July 2009
  10. ^ NATIONAL SERIES WRAPPED UP AT THE ISLAND – 26/11/2000 Retrieved from Internet Archive on 21 October 2008

External links

Australian Formula 3
1999 (National) • 2000 (National) • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011