Australian Formula 3

File:Elfin623.jpg

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,CAMS Official Organ, Racing Car News, December 1963, page 23 with cars restricted to using production based engines of under 1000cc capacity with overhead camshafts not permitted.Australian Motor Manual, May 1965, pages 31&34 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.The Macquarie Dictionary of Motoring, 1986, page 172 Formula 3 was never run under national championship status, although there were State Championships and the Stillwell Series.Chequered Flag, May 1981, page 33

File:Bruno Senna 2006 Australian Grand Prix-3.jpg 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.

[https://web.archive.org/web/20020829130606/http://www.formula3.com.au/article.asp?i=6 2 LITRE ENGINES VINDICATED – 31/5/1999] Retrieved from Internet Archive on 21 October 2008 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.[https://web.archive.org/web/20020630114927/http://www.formula3.com.au/article.asp?i=12 FIA FORMULA 3 ACCEPTED IN AUSTRALIA – 30/4/2000] Retrieved from Internet Archive on 21 October 2008. . Agreement was reached with CAMS to grant National Championship status to the Formula 3 Series for 2001[https://web.archive.org/web/20030301091232/http://formula3.com.au/article.asp?i=19 CHAMPIONSHIP AGREEMENT REACHED – 18/3/2001]

Retrieved from Internet Archive on 21 October 2008. and it officially became the Australian Formula 3 Championship in that year.[http://www.camsmanual.com.au/01_about.asp Australian Titles] Retrieved from CAMS Online Manual of Motor Sport on 21 July 2009. 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.

[https://web.archive.org/web/20041208185134/http://www.formula3.com.au/2004_media/8_11_04_cams.htm FORMULA 3 TO RACE FOR THE AUSTRALIAN DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2005] Retrieved from Internet Archive on 21 October 2008.

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.

File:99AustF3champion.gif

File:84 2006 Aust F3 C'Ship, Ben Clucas (UK), Dallara F304.JPG (Dallara F304), winner of the 2006 championship]]

File:Dallara F307 of Ben Barker.jpg (Dallara F307), winner of the 2010 championship.]]

File:Jon Collins Winton 2015.jpg F311), winner of the 2015 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.

Australian Formula 3 Premier Series was renamed the Australian Formula Open Championship to get in line with the Euroformula Open Championship running not just Formula 3 cars, but other classes.

File:Cheetahmk6.jpg

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

• Aztec
• Birrana
• Elfin
• Cheetah
• Alpha Sports Productions ASP

• Dallara
• Mygale
• Reynard

{{reflist}}

• Australian Formula Junior Championship - 1962-1963
• Formula Regional Australia - 2025-Current

• [http://www.formula3.com.au/default.asp Official Web Page] formula3.com.au
• [http://www.camsmanual.com.au/SportingRegulations.asp Sporting & Technical Regulations and Commercial Arrangements] Retrieved from www.camsmanual.com.au on 21 July 2009
• [http://www.cams.com.au Confederation of Australian Motor Sport] cams.com.au
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090503070858/http://www.camsmanual.com.au/ CAMS Manual] camsmanual.com.au

{{Australian Formula 3 Seasons}}

{{Formula Regional}}

Category:1999 establishments in Australia

Category:Formula racing

Category:Motorsport categories in Australia