{{Short description|Motor racing competition}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Use Australian English|date=November 2013}} {{Infobox motorsport championship | logo = | pixels = 220px | caption = | category = [[Open Wheel Racing]]<br>[[Formula Ford]] | inaugural = 1970 | drivers = | teams = | tyres = [[Yokohama Rubber Company|Yokohama]] | engines = 1.6 litre [[Ford Duratec]] | country/region = Australia | folded = | current_season = {{CURRENTYEAR}} Australian Formula Ford Championship | champion driver = Kobi Williams | champion team = | manufacturer = | website = [http://www.formulaford.com.au formulaford.com.au] }}
The '''Australian Formula Ford Championship''' is an Australian motor racing competition for drivers of [[Formula Ford]] racing cars, held annually since 1970. From 1970 until 1992 it was a national series and from 1993 until 2013 the series was sanctioned by the [[Confederation of Australian Motor Sport]] as the Australian Formula Ford Championship.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://docs.cams.com.au/Manual/About/AC06-Titles-Australian-2016-1.pdf |title=Australian Titles, 2016 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, as archived at web.archive.org |access-date=23 January 2016 |archive-date=23 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160123221648/http://docs.cams.com.au/Manual/About/AC06-Titles-Australian-2016-1.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> From 2014<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150109233929/http://docs.cams.com.au/Manual/SportingRegulations/2014/2014%20Australian%20Formula%20Ford%20Series%20Sporting%20Regulations%20-%20Version%201.pdf ''2014 Australian Formula Ford Series Sporting Regulations'', docs.cams.com.au, as archived at web.archive.org]</ref> to 2018<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180921231752/https://formulaford.org.au/Portals/0/pdf%20files/2018%20AFFC%20Sporting%20Regs%20rev2.compressed.pdf?ver=2018-04-07-151432-567 2018 FFA NATIONAL FORMULA FORD SERIES SPORTING REGULATIONS, formulaford.org.au, as archived at web.archive.org]</ref> it reverted to national series status. The Australian Formula Ford Championship name was then applied to the series by the Formula Ford Association from 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://formulaford.org.au/Portals/0/NATIONAL/DOCUMENTS/2019%20AFFC%20Sporting%20Regs-V6.pdf?ver=2019-03-29-202825-743 |title=2019 Australian Formula Ford Association Championship Sporting Regulations, formulaford.org.au, as archived at web.archive.org |access-date=10 May 2019 |archive-date=10 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510101222/https://formulaford.org.au/Portals/0/NATIONAL/DOCUMENTS/2019%20AFFC%20Sporting%20Regs-V6.pdf?ver=2019-03-29-202825-743 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Australian Formula Ford is renowned for producing future champions in other categories with many [[V8 Supercar]] drivers and Australian international open-wheeler drivers having had a background in the category.
==History== The Formula Ford category was established in Great Britain in 1967 and two years later Australia's first Formula Ford race was staged at the [[Sandown Raceway|Sandown]] circuit in [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]].<ref>[http://www.formulaford.com.au/content/about_history.php History] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091013090744/http://www.formulaford.com.au/content/about_history.php |date=13 October 2009 }} Retrieved from www.formulaford.com.au on 25 September 2009</ref> A national series was contested in Australia for the first time in 1970 and then annually through to 1992. In the following year the series was granted national title status by CAMS and officially became the Australian Formula Ford Championship.<ref>[http://www.camsmanual.com.au/ CAMS Manual of Motor Sport > About CAMS > Australian Titles] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090503070858/http://www.camsmanual.com.au/ |date=3 May 2009 }} Retrieved from www.camsmanual.com.au on 25 September 2009</ref> After having powered Australian Formula Fords since the introduction of the category, the [[Ford Kent engine#Crossflow|1600cc Ford "Kent" engine]] was replaced by the third-generation [[Ford Duratec engine|Ford Fiesta unit]] for the 2006 Australian Championship.<ref>[http://www.formulaford.com.au/content/about_keyfacts.php What is Formula Ford] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091122094156/http://www.formulaford.com.au/content/about_keyfacts.php |date=22 November 2009 }} Retrieved from www.formulaford.com.au on 25 September 2009</ref> The "Kent" powered cars continued to be raced in various State championships under the "Formula Ford 1600" category name.<ref>[http://www.formulaford1600.com.au/TECHNICAL/tech1600.htm A quick Overview of Kent Formula Ford] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091013164533/http://www.formulaford1600.com.au/TECHNICAL/tech1600.htm |date=13 October 2009 }} Retrieved from www.formulaford1600.com.au on 25 September 2009</ref>
The series has served as a stepping stone for many Australian racing drivers who have gone on to greater things in motor racing both in Australia and overseas. Notably, 1971 winner [[Larry Perkins]] went on to race in the [[Formula One|Formula One World Championship]] and other winners [[Russell Ingall]], [[Craig Lowndes]], [[Garth Tander]] and [[Jamie Whincup]] have each gone on to claim [[V8 Supercar]] titles. Other graduates of Australian Formula Ford include [[Brad Jones (racing driver)|Brad Jones]], [[Marcos Ambrose]], [[Tomas Mezera]], [[Jason Bright]], [[Steven Richards]], [[David Besnard]], [[Will Davison|Will]] and [[Alex Davison]], and nine-time [[Formula One]] race winner [[Mark Webber (racing driver)|Mark Webber]] finished third in the F1 World championship on three occasions.
Formula Ford has also proven a popular proving ground for Australian racing car manufacturers. In its early years the series was dominated by Australian designs from [[Elfin Sports Cars]], [[Bowin Cars]], Mawer and [[Birrana]]. 1987 to 1997 was dominated by the British marque [[Van Diemen]], winning eleven straight titles. The streak was broken in 1998 by Australian marque Spectrum, built by [[Borland Racing Developments]]. Van Diemen faded in the mid-2000s and Australian grids are now almost exclusively filled with Spectrums and French made [[Mygale]]s.
Once mainly the domain of competitor self-run teams, the modern series is dominated by professional racing teams. [[Sonic Motor Racing Services]] and Synergy Motorsport both field multi-car teams, while some of those and Spectrum works team [[Borland Racing Developments]] also compete in the Victorian Formula Ford championship.
== Australian Formula Ford Series== In August 2013 the [[Confederation of Australian Motor Sport]] announced that the Australian Formula Ford Championship would be discontinued at the end of 2013.<ref>[https://speedcafe.com/Australian-formula-ford-championship-to-be-axed/ National Formula Ford Championship to be axed, Tuesday 27 August 2013, www.speedcafe.com] Retrieved on 11 October 2013</ref> The Formula Ford Association subsequently announced that approval had been obtained from CAMS to organize a national series for 2014.<ref>[http://formulaford.org.au/news/tabid/88/entryid/29/2014-Formual-Ford-National-Series-is-all-go.aspx 2014 Formula Ford National Series is all go, 8 November 2013, formulaford.org.au] Retrieved on 27 November 2013</ref> It was contested over six rounds and was officially known as the Australian Formula Ford Series.<ref>[http://formulaford.org.au/Portals/0/2014%20Australian%20Formula%20Ford%20Series%20Sporting%20Regulations%20-%20Version%201.pdf ''2014 Australian Formula Ford Series Sporting Regulations'', formulaford.org.au] Retrieved on 28 April 2014</ref> "Kent" powered cars were re-introduced for the 2014 series.<ref>''Formula Future Locked'', The Racing Magazine, Number 11, Australian Motor Racing Pty Ltd, page 6</ref>
During the 2016 season, the championship ran one event at a race meeting sanctioned by the Australian Auto Sport Alliance. [AASA] In 2017, the Queensland round was run at a "RACERS' sanctioned race meeting.
For 2018 four of the seven rounds will be run at CAMS sanctioned race meetings, two at the AASA sanctioned "AMRS" series, and one at Queensland Raceway again.
The winner of the Australian Formula Ford Series was awarded a "golden ticket" to the INDYCAR [[Road to Indy]] Shootout, provided the driver is age-eligible per INDYCAR regulations. If the winner is ineligible (as was the case in 2016 because of age), the driver highest in points eligible for the award will claim the prize. The 2018 Australian Formula Ford winner won the Shootout, and was awarded a 2019 USF2000 ride fully funded by the promoters.
Now the winner is awarded a test in a current gen DJR supercar.
==State championships== Formula Ford has also proved to be a very popular category for state level series and championships, including competitions held in [[New South Wales Formula Ford Championship|New South Wales]], Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and [[South Australian Formula Ford Championship|South Australia]]. In the majority these championships continue to utilise the first-generation [[Ford Kent engine]]. State level series have served as a stepping stone for kart racers looking for a cheap entry level into circuit racing before moving into the national series. State series often provided additional cars to the national series.
==Series winners and Australian Champions== ===National Series=== [[File:Bowin P6.png|thumb|[[John Leffler]] won the [[1973 TAA Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series]] driving a Bowin P4a and a [[Bowin P6F]] (pictured)]] [[File:Reynard FF83 of Neil Richardson.jpg|thumb|The [[Reynard Motorsport|Reynard]] FF83 with which [[Tomas Mezera]] won the 1985 Motorcraft Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series]] {| class="wikitable" <hiddentext>generated with [[:de:Wikipedia:Helferlein/VBA-Macro for EXCEL tableconversion]] V1.5<\hiddentext> |- style="font-weight:bold" ! Season ! Series name ! Series winner<ref name=Records>[http://www.formulaford.com.au/content/about_records.php Records & Stats] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061218024940/http://www.formulaford.com.au/content/about_records.php |date=18 December 2006 }} Retrieved from www.formulaford.com.au on 26 September 2009</ref> ! Car |- | align="center" | [[1970 Formula Ford National Series|1970]] | Formula Ford National Series | Richard Knight | [[Elfin 600|Elfin 600 FF]] |- | align="center" | [[1971 National Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series|1971]] | National Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series | [[Larry Perkins]] | [[Elfin 600|Elfin 600 FF]] |- | align="center" | [[1972 TAA Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series|1972]] | TAA Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series | Bob Skelton | [[Bowin Cars|Bowin P4a]] |- | align="center" | [[1973 TAA Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series|1973]] | TAA Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series | [[John Leffler]] | [[Bowin P4a]] & [[Bowin P6F]] |- | align="center" | [[1974 TAA Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series|1974]] | TAA Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series | Terry Perkins | [[Elfin 620FF]] & Titan |- | align="center" | [[1975 TAA Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series|1975]] | TAA Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series | Paul Bernasconi | Mawer 004 |- | align="center" | [[1976 TAA Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series|1976]] | TAA Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series | Richard Carter | [[Birrana F73]] |- | align="center" | [[1977 TAA Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series|1977]] | TAA Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series | John Smith | [[Bowin Cars|Bowin P4A]] |- | align="center" | [[1978 TAA Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series|1978]] | TAA Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series | John Wright | [[Bowin Cars|Bowin]] P4A |- | align="center" | [[1979 TAA Formula Ford Driver To Europe Series|1979]] | TAA Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series | Russell Norden | Mawer 004 |- | align="center" | [[1980 TAA Formula Ford Driver To Europe Series|1980]] | TAA Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series | Stephen Brook | [[Lola Cars|Lola]] T440 |- | align="center" | [[1981 TAA Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series|1981]] | TAA Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series | Phillip Revell | [[Lola Cars|Lola]] T440 |- | align="center" | [[1982 Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series|1982]] | TAA Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series | Jeff Summers | [[Elfin Sports Cars|Elfin 620B]] |- | align="center" | [[1983 Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series|1983]] | Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series | Bruce Connolly | Galloway & [[Van Diemen]] |- | align="center" | [[1984 Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series|1984]] | Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series | Ron Barnacle | Royale RP31 |- | align="center" | [[1985 Motorcraft Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series|1985]] | Motorcraft Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series | [[Tomas Mezera]] | [[Reynard Motorsport|Reynard]] FF83<ref>[http://www.reynardowners.com/listings.html Reynard Owners Listings] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171217085420/http://www.reynardowners.com/listings.html |date=17 December 2017 }} Retrieved on 24 August 2011</ref> <br> Elwyn 003 |- | align="center" | [[1986 Motorcraft Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series|1986]] | Motorcraft Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series | Warwick Rooklyn | Elwyn 003 |- | align="center" | [[1987 Motorcraft Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series|1987]] | Motorcraft Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series | Peter Verheyen | [[Van Diemen]] RF86 |- | align="center" | 1988 | Motorcraft Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series | David Roberts | [[Van Diemen]] RF86 |- | align="center" | [[1989 Motorcraft Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series|1989]] | Motorcraft Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series | [[Mark Larkham]] | [[Van Diemen]] RF89 |- | align="center" | [[1990 Motorcraft Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series|1990]] | Motorcraft Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series | [[Russell Ingall]] | [[Van Diemen]] RF90 |- | align="center" | [[1991 Motorcraft Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series|1991]] | Motorcraft Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series | Troy Dunstan | [[Van Diemen]] RF91 |- | align="center" | [[1992 Motorcraft Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series|1992]] | Motorcraft Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series | [[Cameron McConville]] | [[Van Diemen]] RF92 |}
===Australian Formula Ford Championship=== [[File:Mygale SJ08a of Garry Jacobson.JPG|thumb|Garry Jacobson (Mygale SJ08a) at the opening round of the 2011 Championship]] {| class="wikitable" <hiddentext>generated with [[:de:Wikipedia:Helferlein/VBA-Macro for EXCEL tableconversion]] V1.5<\hiddentext> |- style="font-weight:bold" ! Season ! Champion<ref name=Records /> ! Car |- ! [[1993 Australian Formula Ford Championship|1993]] | [[Craig Lowndes]] | [[Van Diemen]] RF93 |- ! [[1994 Australian Formula Ford Championship|1994]] | [[Steven Richards]] | [[Van Diemen]] RF94 |- ! [[1995 Australian Formula Ford Championship|1995]] | [[Jason Bright]] | [[Van Diemen]] RF95 |- ! [[1996 Australian Formula Ford Championship|1996]] | [[David Besnard]] | [[Van Diemen]] RF96 |- ! [[1997 Australian Formula Ford Championship|1997]] | [[Garth Tander]] | [[Van Diemen]] RF95 |- ! [[1998 Australian Formula Ford Championship|1998]] | [[Adam Macrow]] | [[Borland Racing Developments|Spectrum]] 06 |- ! [[1999 Australian Formula Ford Championship|1999]] | [[Greg Ritter]] | [[Mygale]] SJ98 |- ! [[2000 Australian Formula Ford Championship|2000]] | [[Luke Youlden]] | [[Mygale]] SJ2000 |- ! [[2001 Australian Formula Ford Championship|2001]] | [[Will Davison]] | [[Van Diemen]] RF01 |- ! [[2002 Australian Formula Ford Championship|2002]] | [[Jamie Whincup]] | [[Van Diemen]] RF01 |- ! [[2003 Australian Formula Ford Championship|2003]] | [[Neil McFadyen]] | Stealth [[Van Diemen]] RF94 |- ! [[2004 Australian Formula Ford Championship|2004]] | [[David Reynolds (racing driver)|David Reynolds]] | [[Van Diemen]] RF04 |- ! [[2005 Australian Formula Ford Championship|2005]] | [[Daniel Elliott (racing driver)|Daniel Elliott]] | [[Van Diemen]] RF05 |- ! [[2006 Australian Formula Ford Championship|2006]] | [[John Martin (Australian racing driver)|John Martin]] | [[Borland Racing Developments|Spectrum]] 011 |- ! [[2007 Australian Formula Ford Championship|2007]] | [[Tim Blanchard]] | [[Mygale]] SJ07A |- ! [[2008 Australian Formula Ford Championship|2008]] | [[Paul Laskazeski]] | [[Borland Racing Developments|Spectrum]] 011b |- ! [[2009 Australian Formula Ford Championship|2009]] | [[Nick Percat]] | [[Mygale]] SJ07A |- ! [[2010 Australian Formula Ford Championship|2010]] | [[Chaz Mostert]] | [[Borland Racing Developments|Spectrum]] 012 |- ! [[2011 Australian Formula Ford Championship|2011]] | [[Cam Waters]] | [[Mygale]] SJ10A |- ! [[2012 Australian Formula Ford Championship|2012]] | [[Jack Le Brocq]] | [[Mygale]] SJ12A |- ! [[2013 Australian Formula Ford Championship|2013]] | [[Anton de Pasquale]] | [[Mygale]] SJ13A |}
===Australian Formula Ford Series=== {| class="wikitable" <hiddentext>generated with [[:de:Wikipedia:Helferlein/VBA-Macro for EXCEL tableconversion]] V1.5<\hiddentext> |- style="font-weight:bold" ! Season ! Series winner ! Car |- ! [[2014 Australian Formula Ford Series|2014]] | [[Thomas Randle]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150109223423/http://formulaford.org.au/Portals/0/Entry%20Forms/2014/National%20Series/Copy%20of%202014%20AFFS%20Pointscore%20after%20round%206%20final.pdf ''2014 Australian FORMULA FORD SERIES'', formulaford.org.au, as archived at web.archive.org]</ref> | [[Mygale]] SJ13A |- ! [[2015 Australian Formula Ford Series|2015]] | [[Cameron Hill]] | Mygale SJ10A |- ! [[2016 Australian Formula Ford Series|2016]] | [[Leanne Tander]] | Mygale SJ10A |- ! [[2017 Australian Formula Ford Series|2017]] | Max Vidau | Mygale SJ10A |- ! [[2018 Australian Formula Ford Series|2018]] | [[Hunter McElrea]] | Mygale SJ10A |}
===Australian Formula Ford Championship=== {| class="wikitable" <hiddentext>generated with [[:de:Wikipedia:Helferlein/VBA-Macro for EXCEL tableconversion]] V1.5<\hiddentext> |- style="font-weight:bold" ! Season ! Champion ! Car |- ! [[2019 Australian Formula Ford Series|2019]] | [[Angelo Mouzouris]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.formulaford.org.au/pointscores |title=2019 Pointscores, Australian Formula Ford Championship, www.formulaford.org.au, as archived at web.archive.org |access-date=12 January 2020 |archive-date=12 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112025620/https://www.formulaford.org.au/pointscores |url-status=live }}</ref> | Mygale SJ18A |- ! 2020 | colspan="2" | ''Not contested<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://speedcafe.com/covid-claims-Australian-formula-ford-championship/ |title=Mat Coch, COVID claims Australian Formula Ford Championship, Tuesday 15th September 2020, www.speedcafe.com, as archived at web.archive.org |date=15 September 2020 |access-date=16 September 2020 |archive-date=16 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200916124029/https://www.speedcafe.com/2020/09/15/covid-claims-Australian-formula-ford-championship/ |url-status=live }}</ref>'' |- ! 2021 |[[Tom Sargent (racing driver)|Thomas Sargent]] |Mygale SJ13A |- ! 2022 |Valentino Astuti<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Miles |date=30 October 2022 |title=VALENTINO ASTUTI SECURES THE 2022 FORMULA FORD SERIES TITLE |url=https://autoaction.com.au/2022/10/30/valentino-astuti-secures-the-2022-formula-ford-series-title |access-date=9 March 2023 |website=Auto Action}}</ref> |Mygale SJ15A |- ! 2023 |Matthew Hillyer |Mygale SJ18A |- ![[2024 Australian Formula Ford Series|2024]] |[[Eddie Beswick]] |Spectrum 014 |- ! [[2025 Australian Formula Ford Series|2025]] | Kobi Williams | Spectrum 012b |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{Formula Ford years}}
[[Category:Australian Formula Ford Championship| ]] [[Category:Auto racing series in Australia|Formula Ford]] [[Category:1970 establishments in Australia]] [[Category:Sports leagues established in 1970]]