{{short description|Open-wheel racing series in Australia}} {{Infobox motorsport championship |category=[[Open wheel car|Single-seater]] |country=[[Australia]]<br/>[[New Zealand]] |website=[https://www.s5000.com.au s5000.com.au] |inaugural=2019 |folded=2024 |champion driver={{flagicon|AUS}} [[Aaron Cameron]] |constructors=[[Onroak Automotive]] |engines=[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] |tires=[[Hoosier Racing Tire|Hoosier]] |logo=S5000-logo-both-versions.png |image-size=250px}}
The '''VHT S5000 Australian Drivers' Championship''' (known originally as the '''Australian S5000 Championship''', or simply '''S5000''') was an [[open-wheel car|open-wheel]] [[road racing]] series in [[Australia]]. The series was created by a merger between two proposed series, Formula Thunder 5000 and Super5000. The series was promoted by the Australian Racing Group.
The inaugural race of the series was originally set to be in [[Sydney Motorsport Park]] in May 2019, but was delayed to September due to supply issues from Ligier's [[Metrolina|Charlotte area factory]] where the chassis are manufactured.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.autosport.com/other/news/142570/new-s5000-series-delayed-until-september|title=Australia's new S5000 series delayed until September 2019|last=Leeuwen|first=Andrew van|website=Autosport.com|date=5 April 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-04-20}}</ref>
The championship ran through to 2023, before being suspended for the 2024 season, though the promoters have hopes of reviving it.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-11 |title=The roadmap to an S5000 comeback |url=https://www.v8sleuth.com.au/the-roadmap-to-an-s5000-comeback/ |access-date=2024-05-29 |language=en-US}}</ref>
It would be officially confirmed on January 9, 2025, that the S5000 Australian Drivers Championship would be permanently cancelled when the series promoter GRM announced intentions to sell its 15 remaining built chassis and spare parts inventory.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://speedcafe.com/motorsport-news-s5000-series-axed-grm-for-sale-australian-drivers-championship/ |title=S5000 Championship officially axed |access-date=2025-01-09}}</ref>
== History == Australian circuit racing, since the end of [[Tasman Series]] racing in the 1970s, been heavily focused on [[touring car racing]] at the professional level. [[Open wheeler]] [[formula racing]] series such as [[Formula Holden]] and [[Formula 3]] struggled to gain spectator and sponsor interest, and eventually folded.
The idea for a modern interpretation of the historic [[Formula 5000]] class was first raised in 2016, and was initially called the '''Formula Thunder 5000'''. The original car used a [[Swift 017.n|Swift FN09]] chassis that raced in [[Super Formula Championship|Super Formula]] between 2009 and 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.autosport.com/other/news/123507/modern-formula-5000-tasman-series-planned|title=Plans for Tasman Series with modern Formula 5000 cars outlined|last=Branagan|first=Phil|website=Autosport.com|language=en|access-date=2019-04-20}}</ref>
A year later in 2017, the '''Super5000''' series was later created by former [[Supercars Championship|Supercars]] CEO [[James Warburton (Australian businessman)|James Warburton]], as part of his plan to sustain growth of motorsport in Australia. The series would originally be used as a support category for the Supercars series, alongside the [[Super2 Series|Super2]] and [[SuperUtes Series|SuperUtes]] series.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ca.motorsport.com/v8supercars/news/supercars-launches-super5000-series-913473/3029849/|title=Supercars launches Super5000 series {{!}} Canadian Edition|website=ca.motorsport.com|language=en|access-date=2019-04-20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.carscoops.com/2017/06/super5000-packs-v8-muscle-between-open/|title=Super5000 Packs V8 Muscle Between Open Wheels Down Under|date=2017-06-05|website=Carscoops|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-20}}</ref> The creation of this series led to controversy, and the founder of Formula Thunder 5000, Chris Lambden, disapproved of the idea, claiming it would threaten his own plans.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://speedcafe.com/ft5000-boss-slams-supercars-copycat-series/|title=FT5000 boss slams Supercars 'copycat' series|date=2017-05-05|website=Speedcafe|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-20|archive-date=2020-10-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001204045/https://www.speedcafe.com/2017/05/05/ft5000-boss-slams-supercars-copycat-series/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Later that same year, both series announced a merger in a bid to further ensure the return of a [[formula racing]] series in Australia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsport/formula-thunder-5000-super5000-projects-unite-to-develop-single-5000style-car/news-story/985ecb65b4a91cc73043cf965974749e|title=Formula Thunder 5000, Super5000 projects unite to develop single '5000-style' car|date=2017-07-16|website=Fox Sports|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-04-20}}</ref> The formation of the S5000 series came as a result, and would incorporate technical elements from both the Formula Thunder 5000 and the Super5000 series.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://speedcafe.com/formula-thunder-5000-super5000-join-forces/|title=Formula Thunder 5000, Super5000 join forces|date=2017-07-17|website=Speedcafe|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-20|archive-date=2020-11-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109024912/https://www.speedcafe.com/2017/07/17/formula-thunder-5000-super5000-join-forces/|url-status=live}}</ref>
A preliminary schedule was originally announced in 2018, with [[Sydney Motorsport Park]] as the season opener.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://v8sleuth.com.au/news/2018/11/19/s5000-calendar-revealed-for-2019-season|title=The V8 Sleuth // V8 Sleuth News // S5000 CALENDAR REVEALED FOR 2019 SEASON|website=v8sleuth.com.au|access-date=2019-04-20}}</ref> However, in April 2019, the organisers announced that the series would be delayed four months and that the [[2019 S5000 season|inaugural season]] would instead kick off in September 2019 at [[Sandown Raceway]], due to supply issues from [[Metrolina|Ligier's Charlotte area factory]]. The organisers also wanted to ensure that the S5000 car would be properly tested.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.velocitynews.co.nz/f2f3f4/s5000-championship-racing-debut-delayed|title=S5000 Championship racing debut delayed|website=Velocity News|access-date=2019-04-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420165353/https://www.velocitynews.co.nz/f2f3f4/s5000-championship-racing-debut-delayed|archive-date=2019-04-20|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The first event attracted an entry of 13 drivers, including former [[Formula One]] driver [[Rubens Barrichello]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Howard |first1=Tom |title=Formula 1 race winner lands Sandown S5000 drive |url=https://speedcafe.com/formula-1-race-winner-lands-sandown-s5000-drive/ |website=speedcafe |access-date=26 January 2021 |date=16 August 2019 |archive-date=6 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210306082155/https://www.speedcafe.com/2019/08/16/formula-1-race-winner-lands-sandown-s5000-drive/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The feature race was marred, however, by an accident involving [[Alex Davison]] which caused damage to safety barriers and forced organisers to red-flag the race after just 10 of the scheduled 25 laps. The race was won by [[James Golding (racing driver)|James Golding]], with Barrichello second and [[John Martin (Australian racing driver)|John Martin]] in third.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Howard |first1=Tom |title=Golding wins as Davison crash shortens S5000 feature race |url=https://speedcafe.com/golding-wins-as-davison-crash-shortens-s5000-feature-race/ |website=speedcafe |access-date=26 January 2021 |date=22 September 2019 |archive-date=16 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216230619/https://www.speedcafe.com/2019/09/22/golding-wins-as-davison-crash-shortens-s5000-feature-race/ |url-status=live }}</ref> A second event was held at [[The Bend Motorsport Park|The Bend]], with the feature race being won by John Martin.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McAlpine |first1=Heath |title=Martin Wins S5000 Feature |url=https://autoaction.com.au/2019/11/17/martin-wins-s5000-feature |website=AutoAction |access-date=26 January 2021 |date=17 November 2019}}</ref>
For 2020, a six-round championship was planned, set to start as a support event for the [[2020 Australian Grand Prix]] held at [[Albert Park Circuit|Albert Park]], with the championship to be followed by a non-championship race at [[Mount Panorama]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Herrero |first1=Daniel |title=S5000 organisers reveal 2020 calendar |url=https://speedcafe.com/s5000-organisers-reveal-2020-calendar/ |website=speedcafe |access-date=28 January 2021 |date=29 October 2019 |archive-date=3 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203013952/https://www.speedcafe.com/2019/10/29/s5000-organisers-reveal-2020-calendar/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It was also announced in early 2020 that the championship would see the revival of the [[Australian Drivers' Championship]] title, last awarded in [[2014 Australian Drivers' Championship]] for [[Australian Formula 3|Formula 3]] cars.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Coch |first1=Mat |title=Motorsport Australia reinstates Gold Star with S5000 |url=https://speedcafe.com/motorsport-australia-reinstates-gold-star-with-s5000/ |website=speedcafe |access-date=28 January 2021 |date=12 March 2020 |archive-date=25 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125121822/https://www.speedcafe.com/2020/03/12/motorsport-australia-reinstates-gold-star-with-s5000/ |url-status=live }}</ref> This was accompanied by a plan to award trophies named after prominent Australian racing drivers to the winners of each feature race, with the winner of the feature race at Albert Park to be awarded the Alan Jones Cup.<ref name="mccormack cup">{{cite web |last1=McCarthy |first1=Dan |title=McCormack Cup to be awarded in S5000 |url=https://autoaction.com.au/2020/12/17/mccormack-cup-to-be-awarded-in-s5000 |website=Auto Action |access-date=28 January 2021 |date=17 December 2020}}</ref>
The opening round attracted a larger entry, including inaugural feature race winner Golding, two-time Australian Drivers' Champion [[Tim Macrow]], and international entrants including the return of Barrichello and fellow Formula One veteran [[Giancarlo Fisichella]], [[FIA Formula 2 Championship|Formula 2]] driver [[Jack Aitken]] and [[2019 Bathurst 1000]] winner [[Alexandre Prémat]]. After practice and qualifying sessions on Thursday 12 March, Golding had pole position.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Herrero |first1=Daniel |title=Golding takes S5000 pole as Barrichello finds gravel |url=https://speedcafe.com/golding-takes-s5000-pole-as-barrichello-finds-gravel/ |website=speedcafe |access-date=28 January 2021 |date=12 March 2020 |archive-date=7 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210207070439/https://www.speedcafe.com/2020/03/12/golding-takes-s5000-pole-as-barrichello-finds-gravel/ |url-status=live }}</ref> However, on Friday morning the entire Grand Prix meeting was called off as a result of the escalating [[COVID-19 pandemic in Australia|COVID-19 pandemic]], so no race was held.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Herrero |first1=Daniel |title=AGP supports set to be cancelled |url=https://speedcafe.com/agp-supports-set-to-be-cancelled/ |website=speedcafe |access-date=28 January 2021 |date=13 March 2020 }}</ref> Due to ongoing difficulties surrounding the pandemic, modified calendars were announced a few times over the year, with plans made for a championship running over late 2020 into early 2021. In the end, however, no races were held in 2020 and instead a short four race calendar was announced to be run in early 2021, with a second, longer summer series to run from late 2021 to early 2022.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Herrero |first1=Daniel |title=TCR, S5000 openers postponed further |url=https://speedcafe.com/tcr-s5000-openers-postponed-further/ |website=speedcafe |access-date=28 January 2021 |date=31 July 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Herrero |first1=Daniel |title=S5000 reveals summer series plans with 2021 calendar |url=https://speedcafe.com/s5000-reveals-summer-series-plans-with-2021-calendar/ |website=speedcafe |access-date=28 January 2021 |date=12 November 2020 |archive-date=10 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210053554/https://www.speedcafe.com/2020/11/12/s5000-reveals-summer-series-plans-with-2021-calendar/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
The first championship event, and first race of the [[2021 Australian S5000 Championship|2021 season]], finally got underway in January at [[Symmons Plains]], with [[Thomas Randle]] winning the feature race.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Herrero |first1=Daniel |title=Randle goes lights-to-flag in S5000 feature |url=https://speedcafe.com/randle-goes-lights-to-flag-in-s5000-feature/ |website=speedcafe |access-date=28 January 2021 |date=26 January 2021 }}</ref>
==Suspension for 2024==
The championship was suspended at the end of the 2023 season. The promoters of the category pointed to the eligibility rules for licenses to drive in the [[Supercars Championship]] as the primary reason for its cessation. Drivers aspiring to drive in the full-professional Supercars championship were required to complete a minimum number of races in its direct feeder categories, Super2 and Super3, making S5000 a less attractive proposition for most young drivers, leading to unsustainably small entry fields.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Herrero |first=Daniel |date=2024-01-11 |title=S5000 parked over Supercars eligibility rules |url=https://speedcafe.com/s5000-parked-over-supercars-eligibility-rules/ |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=Speedcafe.com |language=en-AU}}</ref> Other factors cited by the former category manager include the decision to ban the category from the [[Mount Panorama Circuit]], and to run international [[FIA Formula 2 Championship]] and [[FIA Formula 3 Championship]] as support races at the [[Australian Grand Prix]] rather than the local category, and the promoter's decision to switch from "free-to-air" broadcasting to pay TV for coverage of the events.<ref name="undone">{{Cite web |last=Lambden |first=Chris |date=9 March 2024 |title=HOW S5000 WAS BROUGHT UNDONE… |url=https://autoaction.com.au/2024/03/09/how-s5000-was-brought-undone |access-date=30 May 2024 |website=Auto Action}}</ref>
The trademark to the name "Australian Drivers' Championship" name was registered by another party, and the [[Australian Auto Sport Alliance]] is sanctioning the 2024 Australian Drivers' Championship as a one-make series using the [[Hyper Racer]] X1.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Bruce |date=2 March 2024 |title=Motorsport Australia sanctioning rival claims prestigious Australian Drivers Championship title |url=https://autoaction.com.au/2024/03/02/__trashed |access-date=30 May 2024 |website=Auto Action}}</ref>
== Car specification == The S5000 car's chassis is based on the [[Ligier JS F3]], an [[FIA]]-compliant [[Formula Three|Formula 3]] bespoke chassis manufactured by French motorsport company [[Onroak Automotive|Onroak-Ligier]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.motorsport.com/openwheel/news/first-s5000-chassis-arrives-in-australia/3174178/|title=First S5000 chassis arrives in Australia|website=www.motorsport.com|language=en|access-date=2019-04-20|archive-date=2019-04-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420165352/https://www.motorsport.com/openwheel/news/first-s5000-chassis-arrives-in-australia/3174178/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The car uses a 5.2-litre [[Naturally aspirated engine|naturally-aspirated]] quad-cam [[Ford Modular engine|Ford Coyote]] [[V8 engine|V8]] that is modified by InnoV8, and has an output of {{Convert|560|hp|kW PS|abbr=on}} and {{Convert|460|lbft|Nm|abbr=on}} of torque.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.s5000.com.au/the-car/|title=S5000 {{!}} The Car|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-04-20|archive-date=2019-04-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420165348/https://www.s5000.com.au/the-car/|url-status=dead}}</ref> All of the power is driven through a 6-speed gearbox by Holinger.<ref name=":0" /> Holinger also supplies the transaxle. The suspension set and the wing package are supplied by [[Borland Racing Developments]], and are then fabricated by [[Garry Rogers Motorsport]], who also perform the assembly of the S5000 car.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.insidesport.com.au/news/grm-to-build-new-s5000-openwheelers-516564|title=GRM to build new S5000 openwheelers|website=Inside Sport|access-date=2019-04-20}}</ref> The tyres are supplied by [[Hoosier Racing Tire|Hoosier]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.s5000.com.au/grm-completes-development-on-s5000-chassis-ahead-of-production-green-light/|title=GRM completes development on S5000 chassis ahead of production green light - S5000|date=18 April 2019 |language=en-AU|access-date=2019-04-20}}</ref> The complete car was officially designated the Rogers AF01/V8 in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McAlpine |first=Heath |date=22 April 2021 |title=OFFICIAL S5000 CHASSIS NAME REVEALED |url=https://autoaction.com.au/2021/04/22/official-s5000-chassis-name-revealed |access-date=30 May 2024 |website=Auto Action}}</ref> The "Rogers" name refers to the assembler of the cars,.
The S5000 car has been certified by the FIA under the 2018 safety certification.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thenationals.com.au/categories/s5000/|title=S5000 Series|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-04-20}}</ref> The class introduced Push to Pass for the 2023 season, starting at [[Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit|Phillip Island]] in May.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://s5000.com.au/2023/05/09/s5000-push-to-pass-to-offer-new-element-to-phillip-island-fight/ | title=S5000 Push to Pass to offer new element to Phillip Island fight | date=8 May 2023 }}</ref>
The S5000 car made its first public appearance taking part in demonstration runs at the [[2018 Newcastle 500]] [[Supercars Championship|Supercars]] event with drivers such as [[Greg Murphy]], [[John Bowe (racing driver)|John Bowe]], and [[Garth Tander]] going behind the wheel. The race car received a positive reaction from the audience.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://speedcafe.com/fans-give-thumbs-up-to-s5000-after-newcastle-demo/|title=Fans give thumbs up to S5000 after Newcastle demo|date=2018-11-28|website=Speedcafe|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-20}}</ref>
For a race at the [[Mount Panorama Circuit]] in 2021, they were restricted to approximately 475 hp because they exceeded the maximum power-to-weight ratio permitted for racing at that circuit.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Herrero |first=Daniel |date=2021-11-30 |title=S5000 horsepower cut for Bathurst |url=https://speedcafe.com/s5000-horsepower-cut-for-bathurst/ |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=Speedcafe.com |language=en-AU}}</ref>
== Media coverage ==
The races were aired on a variety of networks and streaming services, including via streaming service [[Stan (service)|Stan Sport]], and live-streamed by website [[Motorsport.com]] through their Motorsport.TV platform.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ARG, Stan Sport strike landmark deal |url=https://speedcafe.com/arg-stan-sport-strike-landmark-deal/ |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=speedcafe.com |date=2 February 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.highwayf1.com/news/2019/9/6/motorsporttv-to-carry-s5000-live-stream-globally|title=Motorsport.TV to carry S5000 live-stream globally|website=Highway F1|date=6 September 2019 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-14}}</ref> Some races also appeared on the free-to-air network [[Special Broadcasting Service|SBS]].<ref name="undone"/>
== Champions == {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%" |- ! Year ! Driver ! Team |- ! [[2019 S5000 season|2019]] |colspan=2| Exhibition Series |- ! 2020 |colspan=2| [[impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on motorsport|Cancelled]] due to [[COVID-19 pandemic in Australia|COVID-19 pandemic]] |- ! [[2021 S5000 Australian Drivers' Championship|2021]] | {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Joey Mawson]] | [[Team BRM]] |- ! [[2022 S5000 Australian Drivers' Championship|2022]] | {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Joey Mawson]] | [[Team BRM]] |- ! [[2023 S5000 Australian Drivers' Championship|2023]] | {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Aaron Cameron]] | [[Garry Rogers Motorsport]] |- !2024 | colspan="2" |Not held |}
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website|http://www.s5000.com.au}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20190912234442/https://www.cams.com.au/docs/default-source/sporting-technical/national/2019-s5000-australia-sporting-and-technical-regulations---version-1.pdf?sfvrsn=6133b490_2 2019 S5000 Australia - Sporting and Technical Regulations, www.cams.com.au, as archived at web.archive.org]
{{Motorsports in Australia|state=collapsed}} {{Australian Drivers' Championship}}
[[Category:Formula racing]] [[Category:Formula racing series]] [[Category:Auto racing series in Australia]] [[Category:One-make series]] [[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 2019]] [[Category:Recurring sporting events disestablished in 2025]]