2008 Australian Drivers' Championship

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.

2008 Australian Drivers' Championship
Previous: 2007 Next: 2009

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 Tim Macrow
Trophy 25 Justin Tate
Roman Krumins
Championship Dallara F307 HWA-Mercedes-Benz 35 Stuart Kostera
National Dallara F304 Spiess-Opel 89 Mathew Radisich
Team BRM Championship Dallara F307 HWA-Mercedes-Benz 1 James Winslow
3 James Winslow
John Magro
Chris Alajajian
Zahir Ali *
4 Earl Bamber
Nick Percat
James Winslow
5 Nathan Caratti
National Dallara F304 Spiess-Opel 6 Lee Farrell
Championship Dallara F307 HWA-Mercedes-Benz 9 Ben Clucas
Transwest Racing Championship Dallara F307 Mugen-Honda 2 Mat Sofi
National Dallara F304 Mugen-Honda 20 James Crozier
R-Tek Motorsport Services National Dallara F304 Spiess-Opel 7 Chris Reindler
Karl Reindler
Carlos Huertas *
Trophy Dallara F301 Spiess-Opel 59 Jesse Wakeman
Astuti Motorsport Championship Dallara F307 Sodemo-Renault [2] 11 James Winslow
Maher Algadrie
Chris Alajajian
Dallara F304 Sodemo-Renault 23 Ray Chamberlain
National 24 Daniel Schulz
Ash Samadi
Andrew Mill
JB Motorsport Trophy Dallara F301 Novamotor-Fiat 12 John Boothman
Brian Sampson
Property Solutions Group Trophy Dallara F301 Spiess-Opel 16 Andrew Mill
Kevin Miller
Sodemo-Renault 86 Kevin Miller
Gilmour Racing National Dallara F304 Spiess-Opel 17 Chris Gilmour
Morcraft Homes Championship Dallara F307 HWA-Mercedes-Benz 18 Steve Morcombe
David Choon Trophy Dallara F396 Mugen Honda 19 David Choon
GKH Powdercoating National Dallara F304 Spiess-Opel 21 Graeme Holmes
Chris Alajajian Championship Dallara F304 Sodemo-Renault 22 Chris Alajajian
Piccola Scuderia Corse National Dallara F304 Spiess-Opel 26 Daniel Cotton
Troy Woodger
John Whelan
Justin Tate
Championship Dallara F307 HWA-Mercedes-Benz 27 Neil McFadyen
Justin Tate
John Martin *
National Dallara F304 Spiess-Opel 28 Ash Bettridge
Tandersport National Dallara F304 Spiess-Opel 32 Matthew Radisich
Championship Dallara F307 HWA-Mercedes-Benz 42 Leanne Tander
National Dallara F304 Spiess-Opel 52 Chris Reindler
Samantha Reid
Ben Crighton
National Surgical Trophy Dallara F301 32 Jon Mills
Hack, Anderson & Thomas Trophy Dallara F396 Toyota 37 Rod Anderson
Ausdeck Patios & Roofing Trophy Dallara F301 96 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 Eastern Creek Raceway[3] 3 February Leanne Tander Neil McFadyen Nathan Caratti Team BRM
2 Nathan Caratti race cancelled by heavy rain
2 1 Adelaide Street Circuit[4] 24 February Neil McFadyen Earl Bamber Neil McFadyen Piccola Scuderia Corse
2 Neil McFadyen Ben Clucas Ben Clucas Team BRM
3 1 Oran Park Raceway[5] 27 April Neil McFadyen Leanne Tander Leanne Tander Tandersport
2 Neil McFadyen Nathan Caratti James Winslow Astuti Motorsport
4 1 Mallala Motor Sport Park[6] 18 May Leanne Tander Nathan Caratti Leanne Tander Tandersport
2 Neil McFadyen Leanne Tander Nathan Caratti Team BRM
5 1 Phillip Island[7] 15 June Leanne Tander Mat Sofi Nathan Caratti Team BRM
2 James Winslow Leanne Tander James Winslow Team BRM
6 1 Eastern Creek Raceway[8] 13 July Nathan Caratti James Winslow Leanne Tander Tandersport
2 Nathan Caratti Nathan Caratti James Winslow Team BRM
7 1 Phillip Island[9] 10 August Leanne Tander James Winslow James Winslow Team BRM
2 James Winslow James Winslow Leanne Tander Tandersport
8 1 Symmons Plains Raceway[10] 21 September Mathew Radisich James Winslow James Winslow Team BRM
2 Tasmanian Super Prix James Winslow Nathan Caratti Leanne Tander Tandersport
NC 1 Indy F3 Challenge[11] 23 October John Martin John Martin John Martin Piccola Scuderia Corse
2 24 October progressive grid John Martin John Martin Piccola Scuderia Corse
3 25 October John Martin James Winslow 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 James Winslow 2 4 3 2 1 10 5 15 1 6 1 1 2 1 Ret 198
2 Leanne Tander 3 6 Ret 1 5 1 2 2 5 1 2 8 1 Ret 1 194
3 Nathan Caratti 1 5 Ret 3 2 2 1 1 2 4 12 Ret 15 10 2 170
4 Mat Sofi 6 7 5 4 6 5 10 4 3 3 7 3 3 4 4 136
5 Neil McFadyen 5 1 2 5 3 6 3 DSQ 4 99
6 Stuart Kostera 7 8 4 Ret 11 Ret 7 3 10 9 5 Ret 4 2 5 92
7 Ray Chamberlain 19 17 12 12 13 14 16 11 13 16 16 10 10 7 11 64
8 Nick Percat 6 4 4 4 38
9 Justin Tate 5 6 2 6 37
10 Ben Clucas 2 1 36
10 John Magro 11 9 14 8 4 5 36
12 Chris Alajajian 2 3 27
13 Earl Bamber 4 3 Ret 23
14 Steve Morcombe 10 13 12 11 13
15 Maher Algadrie 13 12 5
NATIONAL CLASS
1 Chris Gilmour 9 11 6 7 7 7 12 7 5 14 8 6 8 9 8 228
2 Lee Farrell 8 9 17 Ret Ret 9 8 6 7 11 11 5 7 Ret 6 189
3 Tim Macrow Ret Ret 7 4 3 3 89
4 Ben Crighton 9 9 Ret Ret 8 14 7 Ret 8 7 86
5 Mathew Radisich 11 12 8 DNS DNS 8 9 17 9 Ret Ret Ret 10 85
6 Ash Bettridge 10 12 13 15 Ret 12 48
7 Karl Reindler 3 6 43
8 Daniel Schulz 12 10 7 39
9 Justin Tate 8 11 Ret DNS 24
10 Ash Samadhi Ret 8 Ret 13 Ret DNS 23
11 Chris Reindler 10 21 Ret 17
12 Samantha Reid 20 10 16
13 James Crozier 13 23 14 16
14 Andrew Mill 6 Ret 15
15 John Whelan 10 Ret 12
16 Graeme Holmes 15 15 Ret DNS DNS 12
17 Daniel Cotton 17 3
18 Troy Woodger 22 Ret 3
TROPHY CLASS
1 Andrew Mill 14 13 11 8 10 12 15 Ret 14 12 10 9 9 247
2 Jesse Wakeman 16 16 16 DNS DNS 13 14 9 11 9 11 157
3 Rod Anderson 20 18 13 11 12 15 DNS 13 16 15 17 11 12 156
4 Justin Tate 21 14 9 Ret DNS 46
5 John Boothman 18 19 15 30
5 Roman Krumins 11 13 30
7 Brian Sampson 12 15 28
8 David Choon 13 Ret 12
NC Kevin Miller DNS 0
ColourResult
GoldWinner
Silver2nd place
Bronze3rd 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 participate (DNP)
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 John Martin 1 1 1 2 59
2 James Winslow 2 2 2 1 50
3 Leanne Tander 5 4 3 Ret 22
4 Chris Alajajian 3 3 4 Ret 22
5 Mat Sofi 6 Ret 7 3 16
6 Chris Gilmour 8 8 8 4 16
7 Nathan Caratti 4 5 5 Ret 16
8 Jesse Wakeman 11 10 10 5 10
9 Zahir Ali 9 7 6 Ret 10
10 Steve Morcombe 13 11 11 6 6
11 Carlos Huertas 7 6 Ret Ret 6
12 Jonathan Grant 12 Ret 12 7 4
13 Ben Crighton 10 9 9 Ret 4
14 Jon Mills 15 Ret Ret 8 3
15 Kevin Miller 14 Ret 13 Ret 0

See also

References
  1. 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
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.