The 2008 Australian Drivers' Championship was a CAMS sanctioned national motor racing title which was contested concurrently with the 2008 Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship. The championship winner was awarded the 2008 CAMS Gold Star. The 2008 championship was the 52nd Australian Drivers' Championship and the fourth to be contested with open wheel racing cars constructed in accordance with FIA Formula 3 regulations. The season began on 3 February 2008 at Eastern Creek Raceway and finished on 21 September at Symmons Plains Raceway after eight rounds across four different states with two races per round.

The series was won by a British driver for the second time in three years, with James Winslow victorious after a season long battle with Leanne Tander, who was runner up by only a few points for the second year in a row. Chris Gilmour won the National Class from Irish driver Lee Farrell, while Andrew Mill clinched the Trophy Class with a round in hand.

Class structure

Drivers competed in three classes:

  • Championship Class – restricted to cars constructed in accordance with the FIA Formula 3 regulations that applied between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2007
  • National Class – restricted to cars constructed in accordance with the FIA Formula 3 regulations that applied between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2004
  • Trophy Class – restricted to cars constructed in accordance with the FIA Formula 3 regulations that applied between 1 January 1995 and 31 December 2001[1]

Points system

Championship points were awarded on a 20–15–12–10–8–6–4–3–2–1 basis to the top ten classified finishers in the Championship Class in each race. An additional point was awarded to the driver gaining the Championship Class pole position for each race and a further additional point was awarded to the driver setting the fastest lap in the Championship class in each race. To secure the "fastest lap" point the driver must have been declared finisher for that race.[1]

The same point-score system was also used for both the National Class and the Trophy Class.[1]

Teams and drivers

The following teams and drivers competed during the 2008 Australian Formula 3 season. The listing relates to both the 2008 Australian Drivers' Championship and to the non-championship Indy F3 Challenge races.

Team Class Chassis Engine No Driver
Scud Racing National Dallara F301 Spiess-Opel 1 Australia Tim Macrow
Trophy 25 Australia Justin Tate
Australia Roman Krumins
Championship Dallara F307 HWA-Mercedes-Benz 35 Australia Stuart Kostera
National Dallara F304 Spiess-Opel 89 New Zealand Mathew Radisich
Team BRM Championship Dallara F307 HWA-Mercedes-Benz 1 United Kingdom James Winslow
3 United Kingdom James Winslow
Australia John Magro
Lebanon Chris Alajajian
Indonesia Zahir Ali *
4 New Zealand Earl Bamber
Australia Nick Percat
United Kingdom James Winslow
5 Australia Nathan Caratti
National Dallara F304 Spiess-Opel 6 United Kingdom Lee Farrell
Championship Dallara F307 HWA-Mercedes-Benz 9 United Kingdom Ben Clucas
Transwest Racing Championship Dallara F307 Mugen-Honda 2 Australia Mat Sofi
National Dallara F304 Mugen-Honda 20 Australia James Crozier
R-Tek Motorsport Services National Dallara F304 Spiess-Opel 7 Australia Chris Reindler
Australia Karl Reindler
Colombia Carlos Huertas *
Trophy Dallara F301 Spiess-Opel 59 Australia Jesse Wakeman
Astuti Motorsport Championship Dallara F307 Sodemo-Renault[2] 11 United Kingdom James Winslow
Indonesia Maher Algadrie
Lebanon Chris Alajajian
Dallara F304 Sodemo-Renault 23 Australia Ray Chamberlain
National 24 Australia Daniel Schulz
Australia Ash Samadi
Australia Andrew Mill
JB Motorsport Trophy Dallara F301 Novamotor-Fiat 12 Australia John Boothman
Australia Brian Sampson
Property Solutions Group Trophy Dallara F301 Spiess-Opel 16 Australia Andrew Mill
Australia Kevin Miller
Sodemo-Renault 86 Australia Kevin Miller
Gilmour Racing National Dallara F304 Spiess-Opel 17 Australia Chris Gilmour
Morcraft Homes Championship Dallara F307 HWA-Mercedes-Benz 18 Australia Steve Morcombe
David Choon Trophy Dallara F396 Mugen Honda 19 Australia David Choon
GKH Powdercoating National Dallara F304 Spiess-Opel 21 Australia Graeme Holmes
Chris Alajajian Championship Dallara F304 Sodemo-Renault 22 Lebanon Chris Alajajian
Piccola Scuderia Corse National Dallara F304 Spiess-Opel 26 Australia Daniel Cotton
Australia Troy Woodger
Australia John Whelan
Australia Justin Tate
Championship Dallara F307 HWA-Mercedes-Benz 27 Australia Neil McFadyen
Australia Justin Tate
Australia John Martin *
National Dallara F304 Spiess-Opel 28 Australia Ash Bettridge
Tandersport National Dallara F304 Spiess-Opel 32 New Zealand Matthew Radisich
Championship Dallara F307 HWA-Mercedes-Benz 42 Australia Leanne Tander
National Dallara F304 Spiess-Opel 52 Australia Chris Reindler
Australia Samantha Reid
New Zealand Ben Crighton
National Surgical Trophy Dallara F301 32 Australia Jon Mills
Hack, Anderson & Thomas Trophy Dallara F396 Toyota 37 Australia Rod Anderson
Ausdeck Patios & Roofing Trophy Dallara F301 96 Australia Jonathan Grant *

'* - John Martin, Zahir Ali, Carlos Huertas & Jonathan Grant contested the non-championship Indy F3 Challenge races but did not contest rounds of the 2008 Australian Drivers' Championship.

Race calendar

Round Race Circuit Date Pole position Fastest lap Winning driver Winning team
1 1 New South Wales Eastern Creek Raceway[3] 3 February Australia Leanne Tander Australia Neil McFadyen Australia Nathan Caratti Australia Team BRM
2 Australia Nathan Caratti race cancelled by heavy rain
2 1 South Australia Adelaide Street Circuit[4] 24 February Australia Neil McFadyen New Zealand Earl Bamber Australia Neil McFadyen Australia Piccola Scuderia Corse
2 Australia Neil McFadyen United Kingdom Ben Clucas United Kingdom Ben Clucas Australia Team BRM
3 1 New South Wales Oran Park Raceway[5] 27 April Australia Neil McFadyen Australia Leanne Tander Australia Leanne Tander Australia Tandersport
2 Australia Neil McFadyen Australia Nathan Caratti United Kingdom James Winslow Australia Astuti Motorsport
4 1 South Australia Mallala Motor Sport Park[6] 18 May Australia Leanne Tander Australia Nathan Caratti Australia Leanne Tander Australia Tandersport
2 Australia Neil McFadyen Australia Leanne Tander Australia Nathan Caratti Australia Team BRM
5 1 Victoria (state) Phillip Island[7] 15 June Australia Leanne Tander Australia Mat Sofi Australia Nathan Caratti Australia Team BRM
2 United Kingdom James Winslow Australia Leanne Tander United Kingdom James Winslow Australia Team BRM
6 1 New South Wales Eastern Creek Raceway[8] 13 July Australia Nathan Caratti United Kingdom James Winslow Australia Leanne Tander Australia Tandersport
2 Australia Nathan Caratti Australia Nathan Caratti United Kingdom James Winslow Australia Team BRM
7 1 Victoria (state) Phillip Island[9] 10 August Australia Leanne Tander United Kingdom James Winslow United Kingdom James Winslow Australia Team BRM
2 United Kingdom James Winslow United Kingdom James Winslow Australia Leanne Tander Australia Tandersport
8 1 Tasmania Symmons Plains Raceway[10] 21 September New Zealand Mathew Radisich United Kingdom James Winslow United Kingdom James Winslow Australia Team BRM
2 Tasmania Tasmanian Super Prix United Kingdom James Winslow Australia Nathan Caratti Australia Leanne Tander Australia Tandersport
NC 1 Queensland Indy F3 Challenge[11] 23 October Australia John Martin Australia John Martin Australia John Martin Australia Piccola Scuderia Corse
2 24 October progressive grid Australia John Martin Australia John Martin Australia Piccola Scuderia Corse
3 25 October Australia John Martin United Kingdom James Winslow Australia Team BRM

Results and standings

Drivers championship

Pos Driver EAS 1 EAS 2 ADE 1 ADE 2 ORA 1 ORA 2 MAL 1 MAL 2 PHI 1 PHI 2 EAS 3 EAS 4 PHI 3 PHI 4 SYM 1 SYM 2 Pts
CHAMPIONSHIP CLASS
1 United Kingdom James Winslow 2 4 3 2 1 10 5 15 1 6 1 1 2 1 Ret 198
2 Australia Leanne Tander 3 6 Ret 1 5 1 2 2 5 1 2 8 1 Ret 1 194
3 Australia Nathan Caratti 1 5 Ret 3 2 2 1 1 2 4 12 Ret 15 10 2 170
4 Australia Mat Sofi 6 7 5 4 6 5 10 4 3 3 7 3 3 4 4 136
5 Australia Neil McFadyen 5 1 2 5 3 6 3 DSQ 4 99
6 Australia Stuart Kostera 7 8 4 Ret 11 Ret 7 3 10 9 5 Ret 4 2 5 92
7 Australia Ray Chamberlain 19 17 12 12 13 14 16 11 13 16 16 10 10 7 11 64
8 New Zealand Nick Percat 6 4 4 4 38
9 Australia Justin Tate 5 6 2 6 37
10 United Kingdom Ben Clucas 2 1 36
10 Australia John Magro 11 9 14 8 4 5 36
12 Lebanon Chris Alajajian 2 3 27
13 New Zealand Earl Bamber 4 3 Ret 23
14 Australia Steve Morcombe 10 13 12 11 13
15 Indonesia Maher Algadrie 13 12 5
NATIONAL CLASS
1 Australia Chris Gilmour 9 11 6 7 7 7 12 7 5 14 8 6 8 9 8 228
2 United Kingdom Lee Farrell 8 9 17 Ret Ret 9 8 6 7 11 11 5 7 Ret 6 189
3 Australia Tim Macrow Ret Ret 7 4 3 3 89
4 New Zealand Ben Crighton 9 9 Ret Ret 8 14 7 Ret 8 7 86
5 New Zealand Mathew Radisich 11 12 8 DNS DNS 8 9 17 9 Ret Ret Ret 10 85
6 Australia Ash Bettridge 10 12 13 15 Ret 12 48
7 Australia Karl Reindler 3 6 43
8 Australia Daniel Schulz 12 10 7 39
9 Australia Justin Tate 8 11 Ret DNS 24
10 Australia Ash Samadhi Ret 8 Ret 13 Ret DNS 23
11 Australia Chris Reindler 10 21 Ret 17
12 Australia Samantha Reid 20 10 16
13 Australia James Crozier 13 23 14 16
14 Australia Andrew Mill 6 Ret 15
15 Australia John Whelan 10 Ret 12
16 Australia Graeme Holmes 15 15 Ret DNS DNS 12
17 Australia Daniel Cotton 17 3
18 Australia Troy Woodger 22 Ret 3
TROPHY CLASS
1 Australia Andrew Mill 14 13 11 8 10 12 15 Ret 14 12 10 9 9 247
2 Australia Jesse Wakeman 16 16 16 DNS DNS 13 14 9 11 9 11 157
3 Australia Rod Anderson 20 18 13 11 12 15 DNS 13 16 15 17 11 12 156
4 Australia Justin Tate 21 14 9 Ret DNS 46
5 Australia John Boothman 18 19 15 30
5 Australia Roman Krumins 11 13 30
7 Australia Brian Sampson 12 15 28
8 Australia David Choon 13 Ret 12
NC Australia Kevin Miller DNS 0
ColourResult
GoldWinner
SilverSecond place
BronzeThird place
GreenPoints finish
BlueNon-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
PurpleRetired (Ret)
RedDid not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
BlackDisqualified (DSQ)
WhiteDid not start (DNS)
Withdrew (WD)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank Did not practice (DNP)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Excluded (EX)

Note: Race 2 of Round 1 was abandoned due to torrential rain and no points were awarded.[12]

Indy F3 Challenge

The Indy F3 Challenge was a three race support event for Australian Formula 3 cars at the 2008 Nikon Indy 300 meeting at the Surfers Paradise Street Circuit. It was not a round of the 2008 Australian Drivers' Championship.

Pos. Driver Qualifying Race 1 Race 2 Race 3 Points
1 Australia John Martin 1 1 1 2 59
2 United Kingdom James Winslow 2 2 2 1 50
3 Australia Leanne Tander 5 4 3 Ret 22
4 Lebanon Chris Alajajian 3 3 4 Ret 22
5 Australia Mat Sofi 6 Ret 7 3 16
6 Australia Chris Gilmour 8 8 8 4 16
7 Australia Nathan Caratti 4 5 5 Ret 16
8 Australia Jesse Wakeman 11 10 10 5 10
9 Indonesia Zahir Ali 9 7 6 Ret 10
10 Australia Steve Morcombe 13 11 11 6 6
11 Colombia Carlos Huertas 7 6 Ret Ret 6
12 Australia Jonathan Grant 12 Ret 12 7 4
13 New Zealand Ben Crighton 10 9 9 Ret 4
14 Australia Jon Mills 15 Ret Ret 8 3
15 Australia Kevin Miller 14 Ret 13 Ret 0

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 2008 Australian Formula 3 Championship Sporting Regs Retrieved from webarchive.org on 9 May 2011
  2. Results, Round 3 2008, Oran Park Retrieved on 9 May 2011
  3. "Eastern Creek International Raceway 03/02/2008 2008 A1 GP". National Software. 3 February 2008. Retrieved 3 February 2008.
  4. "Adelaide Parklands Circuit 24/02/2008 2008 Clipsal 500 Adelaide". National Software. 24 February 2008. Archived from the original on 22 March 2008. Retrieved 24 February 2008.
  5. "Oran Park Raceway - South and Grand Prix 27/04/2008 Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championship Round 2". National Software. 27 April 2008. Archived from the original on 1 May 2008. Retrieved 28 April 2008.
  6. "Mallala Motorsport Park 18/05/2008 Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships - Round 3". National Software. 18 May 2008. Archived from the original on 18 June 2008. Retrieved 18 May 2008.
  7. "Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit 15/06/2008 Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships 2008 - Round 4". National Software. 15 June 2008. Archived from the original on 18 June 2008. Retrieved 16 June 2008.
  8. "Eastern Creek International Raceway 13/07/2008 Shannons National Motor Racing Championship - Rnd 5". National Software. 13 July 2008. Archived from the original on 18 June 2008. Retrieved 13 July 2008.
  9. "Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit 10/08/2008 Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships 2008 - Round 6". National Software. 10 August 2008. Archived from the original on 7 March 2009. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
  10. "Symmons Plains International Raceway 19/09/2008 Shannons Nationals Round 8 Symmons Plains Tasmania". National Software. 22 September 2008. Retrieved 23 August 2008.
  11. "Surfers Paradise Street Circuit 26/10/2008 Nikon Indy 300 - 2008 V8 Supercar Championship Series -Rd 11". National Software. 26 November 2008. Retrieved 26 October 2008.
  12. Opes Prime Team BRM Dominates F3 season opener Retrieved on 9 May 2011
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