The Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship In the past two seasons the Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship has risen to new heights. Stronger fields and closer racing than ever before has thrilled spectators and TV audiences right around Australia and indeed the world. With the great tradition of both the Australian Drivers Championship and international Formula 3 competition behind it, the 2009 Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship looks to be the best yet... Renewed. Reinvigorated. Rebranded. In 2009 Fifty two Therefore F3 champions who won in the Gold Star era – Mixing some of the most impressive open wheel racing cars years of Australian Drivers Championship tradition, and from 2005 onwards – can now more easily be recognised going around and young talent all competing for a future in ten years of competitive Formula 3 racing in Australia will in the same breath as similar winners like Mark Skaife, motorsport, the F3ADC is a melting pot of amazing racing come closer together under one banner to grow Austra- John Bowe, Alf Costanzo, Bib Stilwell and lex Davison. and creates one hell of a show. lia’s premier Open Wheel category to new heights. It’s all about tying in the latest generation of Australian Open Wheel racing to it’s amazing past. Racing in four states (See the 2009 information page) and Previously promoted under the often confusing banner of at some of the best tracks in the country, the F3ADC offers either ‘The Australian Formula 3 Championship’, the a huge variety of markets, of circuits and of exposure po- Hence the series also continues to have international ‘Australian Drivers Championship or ‘The Gold Star’, 2009 tential for series partners. witnesses a new title for the premier Wings and Slicks credibility, thanks to the worldwide recognition of the category in Australia designed to encompass the best of ‘Formula 3’ brand and its position as the key developer of The F3ADC also offers several marquee events, including both worlds. driving talent for Formula 1 (In 2008 19 of the 22 drivers the Clipsal 500 Adelaide and the F3 Tasmanian SuperPrix, in Formula 1 had raced in F3). the biggest ‘domestic’ Open Wheel race in Australia and a Hence the rebranding of the series to ‘The Formula 3 Aus- massive motorsport event in Tasmania. tralian Drivers Championship’. But now the series also speaks better to the domestic market thanks to its embrace of the 53 years of tradition It’s Australia’s highest speed thrill ride that covers over 50 With the new title Australia’s only International category, that makes up the Australian Drivers Championship. It’s a years of magnificent racing history and some of the finest Formula 3, is recognised in the same breath as the prestig- powerful combination. drivers – from here and abroad – to race in the Australian ious ADC, wherein the winner receives the CAMS Gold Drivers Championship Star award, the oldest continually awarded motorsport In Australian Motorsport, nothing is faster than the trophy in Australia. Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship. 53 years of Australian driving champions This list of names represents some of the finest racing talent ever to race on Australian soil. As winners of the Australian Drivers Championship and the CAMS Gold Star, they hold a special place in the history of motorsport as the best of the very best. Since 2005 drivers who have won in Australian Formula 3 have taken the Gold Star competition to even higher levels of competition than ever before - adding their names to this most illustrious group of names. Formula Libre Formula Mondial 1957 Lex Davison Ferrari 1984 John Bowe Ralt RT4 1958 Stan Jones Maserati 250F 1985 John Bowe Ralt RT4 1959 Len Lukey Cooper Climax 1986 Graham Watson Ralt RT4 1960 Alex Mildren Cooper Maserati 1961 Bill Patterson Cooper Climax Formula 2 1962 Bib Stillwell Cooper Climax 1963 Bib Stillwell Repco Brabham Climax 1987 David Brabham Ralt RT30 1988 Rohan Onslow Cheetah Mk8 Australian National Formula 1989 Rohan Onslow Ralt RT20 1990 Simon Kane Ralt RT21 1964 Bib Stillwell Repco Brabham Climax 1965 Bib Stillwell Repco Brabham Climax Formula Brabham / Holden / F4000 1966 Spencer Martin Repco Brabham 1967 Spencer Martin Repco Brabham 1991 Mark Skaife Spa 1968 Kevin Bartlett Brabham Alfa 1992 Mark Skaife Spa 1969 Kevin Bartlett Mildren Alfa 1993 Mark Skaife Lola T91/50 1970 Leo Geoghegan Lotus Waggot 1994 Paul Stokell Reynard 91 D 1995 Paul Stokell Reynard 91 D Australian Formula 1 1996 Paul Stokell Reynard 91 D 1997 Jason Bright Reynard 91 D 1971 Max Stewart Mildren Waggot 1998 Scott Dixon (NZ) Reynard 92 D 1972 Frank Matich Matich Repco 1999 Simon Wills Reynard 94 D 1973 John McCormack Elfin MR5 2000 Simon Wills Reynard 94 D 1974 Max Stewart Lola T330 2001 Rick Kelly Reynard 94 D 1975 John McCormack Elfin MR6 2002 Will Power Reynard 94 D 1976 John Leffler Lola T400 2003 Daniel Gaunt (NZ) Reynard 96 D 1977 John McCormack McLaren M23 2004 Neil McFadyen Reynard 95 D 1978 Graeme McRae (NZ) McRae GM3 1979 John Walker Lola T332 Australian Formula 3 1980 Alfredo Costanzo Lola T430 Chevrolet 1981 Alfredo Costanzo McLaren M26 2005 Aaron Caratti Dallara F304 – Renault 1982 Alfredo Costanzo Tiga 2006 Ben Clucas (UK) Dallara F304 - Spiess Opel 1983 Alfredo Costanzo Tiga 2007 Tim Macrow Dallara F304 - Spiess Opel 2008 James Winslow (UK) Dallara F307 – Mercedes The 2009 championship schedule Eight rounds. Eight tracks. Four states. The 2009 Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship schedule takes Australia’s fastest cars to more tracks and more markets than ever before. Starting with the Clipsal 500, the series then becomes a major part of the Shannons Nationals and will be a headline act alongside great categories like the GT3 Cup Challenge, GT Championship, Australian Manufacturers Championship and Commodore Cup Series. Round 5 – Eastern Creek International Raceway, Sydney, NSW. Round 1 – Clipsal 500 Adelaide – Adelaide Street Circuit, South July 17 – 19 Australia. March 19 – 22 The Cool and crisp winter air of Sydney welcomes the Formula 3 Australian Wings and slicks racing at the Clipsal 500. It’s a demanding chal- Drivers Championship for it’s now traditional July date. Almost always con- lenge but the stars and cars of the Formula 3 Australian Drivers tested in bright – if a tad chilly – conditions, EC is in many ways similar to the Championship are well and truly up for the task; on the series Island – fast, flowing and a Formula 3 cars happy hunting ground. return in 2008, following a four year absence, F3 driver Neil McFadyen lowered the outright track record by over two sec- Round 6 – Oran Park Grand Prix Circuit, Sydney, NSW. onds, lapping three seconds faster than a V8 Supercar in the August 28 – 30 process. This is likely to be an emotional race meeting as Augusts Oran Park date with Round 2 – Wakefield Park Raceway, Goulburn, NSW. the Australian Drivers Championship could well be its last. From its days of April 24 – 26 hosting the Australian Grand Prix and amazing F5000 Gold Star races in the 1970s, Oran Park has always been a favourite of the premier Open Wheel se- Cars from the Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship lap ries in Australia. Look for an emotional send-off from a circuit known for pres- Wakefield Park every 50 seconds or so; but that means is that sure-cooker races of high quality. the action comes even thicker and faster than every. Round 7 – Tasmanian Formula 3 SuperPrix at Symmons Plains, Launceston, Round 3 – Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Phillip Island, VIC. TAS. Oct 16 – 18 May 15 – 27 The Tasmanian Formula 3 SuperPrix is the marquee Race of the 2009 Formula 3 In Australia, nothing is faster around the 4.46km GP Track two Australian Drivers Championship. A stand alone event where open wheel cars hours southeast of Melbourne than a Formula 3 car – in fact, its are the headline, the fast Symmons Plains raceway is an ideal hunting ground quicker than most things in the world. Averaging over 190km/hr for F3 racers and without fail produces amazing racing, with cars ducking and per lap, and generating corner forces in excess of 3G, the F3 lap weaving in a long freight train of cars as they tow down the back straight. record of 1m27.2s is not only five seconds faster than a V8 Su- With massive local media coverage and a big local crowd, the F3 SuperPrix is percar – but three seconds quicker than Valentino Rossi’s Ya- the longest race (45mins) on the calendar and the one every driver and team maha MotoGP world championship winning motorcycle! wants to win. Round 4 – Winton Motor Raceway, Benalla, VIC. Round 8 – Sandown Park Raceway, Melbourne, VIC. June 26 – 27 November 28 – 29 A place where wings and slicks cars work well. The tight layout The Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship will return to Sandown for the puts a premium on grip and F3 cars generate a lot of it. Winton often produces tight racing with a leading car being hounded by first time in 2009 after a five year absence, and the challenging circuit just off a pack of aggressive pursuers. Dandenong road will provide a fantastic place for the end of year showdown to decide the 53 rd winner of the Australian Drivers Championship. Formula 3 cars - Australia's fastest.. Formula 3 is Australia’s only truly international category. These cars are the same as the ones that race in Great Britain, across Europe, in Asia and Japan. F3 cars are the very best at giving young drivers the tools needed to not only drive cars for a profession - in Formula 1, IndyCar or V8 Supercars, for example - but also for training them in the art of race craft and vehicle setup.