Formula Holden
Formula Holden | |
---|---|
Motor racing formula | |
Category | Open wheel car |
Country or region | Australia New Zealand South-east Asia |
Championships | Australian Drivers' Championship |
Inaugural season | 1989 |
Status | Defunct |
Folded | 2007 |
Formula Holden was an Australian
History
Known during its development as Formula Australia, it was initially for chassis constructed from aluminium only, running a
Second-hand
Formula Holden was in essence a budget form of Formula 3000, the main difference being the engines. As detailed, Formula Holden ran the 3.8 Litre Holden V6 engines. Formula 3000, as its name suggests, ran 3.0 Litre V8 engines including the Cosworth DFV and later the popular Mugen-Honda which were capable of producing over 500 bhp (373 kW; 507 PS). As a guide to the speed difference between the two categories, television commentator and Formula Holden race driver Neil Crompton tested a Mugen powered Dome Japanese F3000 car at the Phillip Island Circuit in early 1990. The Dome (driven by regular drivers Ross Cheever and Thomas Danielsson) lapped the 4.445 km (2.762 mi) circuit in approximately 1:18 while two months later for the opening round of the 1990 Australian Drivers' Championship, the fastest Formula Holden qualifier was the Ralt RT21 of Simon Kane who qualified in 1:26.97. The Holden V6 engines reportedly had similar torque figures to the F3000 V8's, though they had around 180 bhp (134 kW; 182 PS) less than the V8's which saw the Australian cars have much less top speed.[1][2]
From its inception in 1989 until 2004 the formula was used to determine the winner of the
The first ever Formula Holden race was held at the Mallala Motor Sport Park in South Australia. Mark McLaughlin driving an Elfin FA891, designed and built at the Elfin factory in nearby Adelaide, won the opening race from former dual Australian Formula 2 champion Peter Glover in an Australian designed Cheetah Mk.9 with television commentator turned race driver Neil Crompton third in his Ralt RT21. During the race, television broadcaster Channel 7 claimed that a Formula Holden engine would cost approximately A$9,700.[3]
From 1991 to 1995 the category was officially known as Formula Brabham and from the 2003 season the category was officially called "Formula 4000 powered by Holden".
The formula was also used for a 1993 Pan-Pacific series, several
The drivers in the series in the 2000s were a mix of older drivers who owned their own cars, or very young Oceanic or South Asian drivers looking to make a name for themselves on the international scene. Although technically using cars just a step below
From 1 January 2012, Formula Holden cars with a competition history established prior to 31 December 1991 are eligible to compete in Group R "Historic Racing & Sports Racing Cars (post-1977)".[5] However, cars constructed with a full carbon tub are specifically excluded from this Group.[5]
Champions
Cars used in Formula Holden
Cheetah Mk.9, Dome F102, Elfin FA891, Hocking 901, Hocking 911, Liston BF3, Lola T87/50, Lola T91/50, Lola T93/50, March 87B, Ralt RT4, Ralt RT20, Ralt RT21, Ralt RT23, Reynard 89D, Reynard 90D, Reynard 91D, Reynard 92D, Reynard 93D, Reynard 94D, Reynard 95D, Reynard 96D, Reynard 97D, Reynard 98D, Shrike NB89H, SPA 001, SPA 002, SPA 003.
Lap Records
Despite Formula Holden not being raced competitively in Australia since 2007, the class still holds the outright lap records at a number of Australian and New Zealand race circuits. As of May 2016 the list is:[6]
Australia
- Canberra Street Circuit* - 1:39.5409 - Simon Wills, Reynard 94D, 10 June 2000
- Hidden Valley Raceway - 1:02.9268 - Simon Wills, Reynard 94D, 13 May 2001
- Lakeside International Raceway - 0:46.66, Paul Stokell, Reynard 91D, 17 July 1994
- Mallala Motor Sport Park - 1:02.57 - Paul Stokell, Reynard 90D, 7 August 1994
- Oran Park Raceway (GP)* - 1:01.6718 - Tim Leahey, Reynard 92D, 30 July 2000
- Oran Park Raceway (South)* - 0:37.73 - Paul Stokell, Reynard 90D, 28 August 1994
- Queensland Raceway - 1:04.0661 - Simon Wills, Reynard 94D, 11 July 1999
- Simon Wills, Reynard 94D, 13 February 2000
- Winton Motor Raceway (Club) - 0:52.99 - Mark Larkham, Reynard 90D, 4 April 1992
- Winton Motor Raceway (National) - 1:14.5697 - Christian Murchison, Reynard 95D, 16 July 2000
* Circuit closed
New Zealand
- Manfeild Autocourse(short) - 1:01.457 - Simon Wills, Reynard 94D, 26 November 2000
- Mike Pero Motorsport Park- 1.15.81 Scott Dixon Reynard 92D, 1998
- Teretonga Park - 0:51.206 - Greg Murphy, Reynard 92D, 1998
- Timaru International Motor Raceway - 0:56.26 Greg Murphy, Reynard 92D, 1995
References
- ^ 1990 Phillip Island Raceway Dunlop Tyre Testing
- ^ Phillip Island 1990 Formula Holden
- ^ Formula Holden first ever race
- ^ a b Once bitten......twice as good!, Official Programme, Transurban Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne, 7 to 10 March 1996, pages 104-106
- ^ a b CAMS Bulletin Number: B11/127[permanent dead link] Retrieved on 10 April 2012
- ^ Natsoft Race Results