Formula Racing in Western Australia .. Just what is it?

Formula Racing has appeared on the West Australian circuit racing calendar a few times in the last 12 months and we decided to have a bit of a dive into just what it is.

Formula Racing is made up of two parts.

The “Motorsport Australia Contemporary Free Formula Championship” and the “Motorsport Australia Western Australian Historic Racing and Sports Car Series”

Let’s take a look at the first one. The Championship.

Motorsport Australia Contemporary Free Formula Championship – Eligibility

We are only going to focus on the vehicles and use the exact wording from the Motorsport Australia website here so there is no “interpretation issues”.

Eligibility for the Championship is defined as follows: “Cars compliant with the applicable technical regulations and technical bulletins issued by MOTORSPORT AUSTRALIA, and is open to all competitors whose vehicles comply with the 1st Category: Free Formula for Race Events (formerly Formula Libre) as defined in the 2020 MOTORSPORT AUSTRALIA Manual, to also include invited logbook cars by the promoter.”

When looking up the 1st Category: Free Formula for Race Events, the description for the cars is as follows:

“Free Formula is for Single-seater racing cars of free concept and construction, complying with general requirements of 1st Category – Racing Cars and the specific requirements as detailed below. Regulations for a specific Race event may preclude the use of Free Formula cars”

Pretty simple huh? Basically any Formula car is how that reads.

Motorsport Australia Western Australian Historic Racing and Sports Car Series – Eligibility

Once again we will turn it over to the Motorsport Australia manual:

“(i) All competing cars must comply with the provisions of the eligibility sections of the groups as outlined in the HISTORIC section of the MOTORSPORT AUSTRALIA Manual for 5th category cars. All cars must be the subject of a current historic log book issued by MOTORSPORT AUSTRALIA.

(ii) Car competing in the Historic Racing and Sports Car Series must be compliant with the applicable technical regulations and technical bulletins issued by Motorsport Australia, and issued with a log book for Category 5 Cars of Groups: M,O,P,Q,R,F (Suitability of Formula Ford to compete against other Groups to be determined by the Stewards and TRA referred to Motorsport Australia).”

A delve into the groups gives us this information on the cars permitted to compete:

Group M – HISTORIC RACING & SPORTS RACING CARS (1961-1965)

The group is intended to cater for racing, sports racing and sports cars with a competition history established in the period between 1 January 1961 and 31 December 1965. Such vehicles will reflect the development of more advanced design features such as complex space frame and monocoque structures, sophisticated adjustable suspension systems and the commencement of wide racing tyre development.

Consideration may also be given to the classification within this group of vehicles constructed between 1 January 1961 and 31 December 1965 but with a competition history established subsequent to 31 December 1965 or, in some circumstances, without a racing history, provided the specification of the vehicle is consistent with the general standard of technology evident in vehicles raced during the group period, and the vehicle is compatible in appearance with such vehicles.

Formula Vee vehicles are specifically excluded from this Group.

Group O – HISTORIC RACING & SPORTS RACING CARS (1966-1969)

The classification of vehicles within this group will be at the absolute discretion of Motorsport Australia.

This group is intended to cater for racing, sports racing and sports cars with a competition history established in the period between 1 January 1966 and 31 December 1969, excluding vehicles fitted with aerodynamic devices as defined under “specific requirements” below. Formula Vee, Formula Ford, Sports Sedans and Formula 5000 cars are also specifically excluded from this group which is intended to reflect the development of wide treaded racing tyre technology and its effect on suspension and chassis design but stopping short of the period when external aerodynamic devices became a major design feature with a significant impact on cornering performance.

Consideration may also be given to the classification within this group of vehicles constructed between 1 January 1966 and 31 December 1969 but with a competition history established subsequent to 31 December 1969, or in some cases without a competition history, provided that the specification of the vehicle is consistent with the general standard of technology evident in vehicles raced during the group period and the vehicle is compatible in appearance with such vehicles.

Group P- HISTORIC RACING & SPORTS RACING CARS (1968-1972)

This group is intended to cater for racing, sports racing and sports cars with a competition history between 1 January 1968 and 31 December 1972. It is intended to reflect both the continued development of wide treaded racing tyre technology and the emergence of embryonic external aerodynamic devices as an aid to cornering performance.

Eligible vehicles are those which competed on or after 1 January 1968 and prior to the end of 1972 and which are fitted with aerodynamic aids in the form of wings, which cannot be adjusted while the automobile is moving, and with treaded tyres in accord with the Group O approved tyre list. The use of wings which are mounted on unsprung suspension components or which are adjustable while the automobile is in motion is prohibited.

Group Q – HISTORIC RACING & SPORTS RACING CARS (1970-1977)

The classification of vehicles within this group will be at the absolute discretion of Motorsport Australia.

The group is intended to cater for racing, sports racing and sports cars with a competition history established in the period between 1 January 1970 and 31 December 1977, and for vehicles excluded from classification within other groups of the 5th Category because of the nature of aerodynamic devices with which they are fitted. Formula Vee, Formula Ford, Sports Sedans and Formula 5000 cars are specifically excluded from this group, which is intended to reflect the development of aerodynamic technology as an aid to cornering performance but without extending to the period when such technology extended to the use of the vehicle underbody as an aerodynamic aid, ie, the wing car era.

Consideration may also be given to the classification within this group of vehicles constructed between 1 January 1970 and 31 December 1977, but with a competition history established subsequent to 31 December 1977 or in some cases without a competition history, provided the specification of the vehicle is consistent with the general standard of technology evident in vehicles racing during the group period and the vehicle is compatible in appearance with such vehicles.

Group R – HISTORIC RACING & SPORTS RACING CARS (POST-1977)

The classification of vehicles within this group will be at the sole discretion of Motorsport Australia.

This group is intended to cater for racing, sports racing and clubman sports cars with a competition history established in the period between 1 January 1978, and the various end dates below shown under Eligible vehicles. Formula Vee cars are specifically excluded from classification within this group. Vehicles of other types not specifically included may be considered but, to be considered, they must have a competition history and be constructed to a design specification consistent with the period the group is intended to portray. Vehicles of a design and type specification consistent with those appearing in contemporary categories will not be eligible.

Consideration may also be given to classification within this group of vehicles with a competition history established subsequent to the dates defining the group period, or in some cases without a competition history provided that:

• the detailed specification of the vehicle is substantially identical to others of that make constructed within the group
period; or
• construction commenced during the group period and the vehicle is compatible in appearance and its specification is consistent with the general standard of technology evident in vehicles of that type racing in the group period.

The group is intended to cater for vehicles employing more sophisticated chassis, suspensions and aerodynamic technology but specifically excluding vehicle types seen in contemporary categories.

Eligible vehicle types and the period end dates are as follows:
• FIA Formula 1 with a competition history prior to 31 December 1985.
• FIA Formula 2 with a competition history prior to 31 December 1986.
• FIA Formula 3 with a competition history prior to 31 December 1984.
• Formula B (SCCA), Atlantic, Pacific and Mondiale cars with a competition history established in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, the UK or North America prior to 31 December 1986.
• Sports racing cars (ie, two-seater, road-equipped vehicles of specialist design intended specifically for motor racing use) with a competition history in Australia prior to 31 December 1987. Sports racing or sports prototype cars with a competition history outside of Australia will be considered individually within the terms of item 1 – Eligibility, above.
• Clubman sports cars with a competition history in Australia prior to 31 December 1981.
• Australian Formula 2 cars with a competition history prior to 31 December 1987 1993
• Sports 2000 cars, with a competition history prior to 31 December 1984. Cars classified in this group must comply with the Sports 2000 rules of the period in the country in which the car’s competition history was established, save as specified by CAMS/Motorsport Australia special requirements.
• Formula Ford 2000 with a competition history prior to 31 December 1983. Cars classified in this group must comply with the Formula Ford 2000 rules of the period in the country in which the car’s competition history was establised, save as specified by CAMS/Motorsport Australia special requirements.
• Formula 3000 with a competition history prior to 31 December 1988 and exhibiting aluminium monocoque and fibreglass construction. Cars classified in this group must conform with the FIA F3000 competition rules.
• Formula Libre vehicles with a competition history established in Australian events prior to 31 December 1985.
• IndyCar vehicles with a competition history established prior to 31 December 1986.
• Formula Super Vee, with a competition history established prior to 31 December 1988 (maximum engine capacity of 1600cc). Cars classified in this group must conform with the SCCA, Robert Bosch Super Vee Championship Regulations.

• Formula Holden, Eligible cars must have an Australian competition history, with a construction date no later than 31st December 1992. Cars must be compliant with “Toohey’s Australian Drivers Championship 1992 information booklet.” (specifically excluding stepped nosed tub and sequential gear box cars)
• UK Monoposto Formula cars: Single-seater cars with competition history prior to 1987 with a maximum engine size of 1700cc (this capacity shall include the bore increase of 1.5mm) that ran under rules intended to allow competition on a lower “club-level” budget. The construction, specification and performance should be consistent with the regulations of Australian Formula 2 of the period. Approval in principle from CAMS/Motorsport Australia is strongly recommended prior to purchase/import of any UK Monoposto Formula car.
• FIA Group C1 Prototypes with a competition history prior to 31 December 1993;
• FIA Group C2 Prototypes with a competition history prior to 31 December 1993;
• IMSA GTP Prototypes with a competition history prior to 31 December 1993.