 | |
| Category | Open Wheel Racing Formula 3 |
|---|---|
| Country | Australia |
| Inaugural season | 1964 (first era) 1999 (modern era) |
| Folded | 1977 (first era) |
| Drivers | 23 |
| Teams | 10 |
| Constructors | Dallara Mygale |
| Engine suppliers | 2.0 litre Inline 4 |
| Tyre suppliers | Hankook |
| Last Drivers' champion |  John Magro |
| Official website | formula3.com.au |
 Current season | |
Australian Formula 3 has been the name applied to two distinctly different motor racing categories, separated by over twenty years.
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
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, with cars restricted to using production based engines of under 1000cc capacity with overhead camshafts not permitted. 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. Formula 3 was never run under national championship status, although there were State Championships and the Stillwell Series.
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. 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. Agreement was reached with CAMS to grant National Championship status to the Formula 3 Series for 2001 and it officially became the Australian Formula 3 Championship in that year. 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.
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.
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Australian Formula 3 National Series
| Season | Series Winner | Vehicle | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Paul Stephenson
|
Dallara F396 – TOM'S Toyota | Titan |
| 2000 | Paul Stephenson
|
Dallara F396 – TOM'S Toyota | Titan |
Australian Formula 3 Championship
| Season | Champion | 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 |
Australian Formula 3 Championship / Australian Drivers' Championship
| Season | Champion | Vehicle | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2012 | James Winslow
|
Dallara F307 – HWA-Mercedes-Benz | R-Tek Motorsport |
| 2013 | Tim Macrow
|
Dallara F307 – HWA-Mercedes-Benz | Team BRM |
| 2014 | 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.
| Season | Champion | Vehicle | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | John Collins
|
Dallara F311 – Mercedes-Benz | Gilmour Racing |
| 2016 | Tim Macrow
|
Dallara F307 – Mercedes-Benz | Alpine Motorsport |
| 2017 | Calan Williams
|
Dallara F311 – Mercedes-Benz | Gilmour Racing |
| 2018 | Harri Jones
|
Dallara F311 – Mercedes-Benz | Jones Motorsport |
| 2019 | John Magro
|
Dallara F311 – Mercedes-Benz | R-Tek Motorsport |
| 2020 | Not held due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions | ||
| 2021 | Not awarded. Only one round held due to COVID-19 pandemic | ||
| 2022 | Noah Sands
|
Dallara F311 – 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
- Aztec
- Birrana
- Elfin
- Cheetah
- Alpha Sports Productions ASP
Modern Era
References
- CAMS Official Organ, Racing Car News, December 1963, page 23
- Australian Motor Manual, May 1965, pages 31&34
- The Macquarie Dictionary of Motoring, 1986, page 172
- Chequered Flag, May 1981, page 33
- 2 LITRE ENGINES VINDICATED – 31/5/1999 Retrieved from Internet Archive on 21 October 2008
- FIA FORMULA 3 ACCEPTED IN AUSTRALIA – 30/4/2000 Retrieved from Internet Archive on 21 October 2008. .
- CHAMPIONSHIP AGREEMENT REACHED – 18/3/2001 Retrieved from Internet Archive on 21 October 2008.
- ^ Australian Titles Retrieved from CAMS Online Manual of Motor Sport on 21 July 2009.
- FORMULA 3 TO RACE FOR THE AUSTRALIAN DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2005 Retrieved from Internet Archive on 21 October 2008.
- F2/F3 NATIONAL SERIES TO BE DECIDED AT PHILLIP ISLAND Retrieved from Internet Archive on 21 July 2009
- NATIONAL SERIES WRAPPED UP AT THE ISLAND – 26/11/2000 Retrieved from Internet Archive on 21 October 2008
- Tom Howard, Friday 11 November 2016, Appeal dismissal hands Collins 2015 Aus F3 title, www.speedcafe.com Retrieved 11 November 2016
External links
- Official Web Page formula3.com.au
- Sporting & Technical Regulations and Commercial Arrangements Retrieved from www.camsmanual.com.au on 21 July 2009
- Confederation of Australian Motor Sport cams.com.au
- CAMS Manual camsmanual.com.au
| Australian Formula 3 | |
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| Australian Formula 3 National Series | |
| Australian Formula 3 Championship | |
| Australian Drivers' Championship | |
| Australian Formula 3 Championship | |
| Australian Formula Open | |
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