1981 Australian Drivers' Championship


The 1981 Australian Drivers' Championship was a CAMS sanctioned Australian motor racing title open to racing cars complying with Australian Formula 1. It was the 25th Australian Drivers' Championship. The title winner, Alfredo Costanzo was awarded the 1981 CAMS "Gold Star".

Schedule

The championship was contested over a two-round series.
RoundCircuitDateFormatRound winnerCar
1Sandown Park22 FebruaryOne raceAlfredo CostanzoMcLaren M26 Chevrolet
2Amaroo Park12 JulyTwo heatsAlfredo CostanzoMcLaren M26 Chevrolet

Classes

Car competed in two classes:
Championship points were awarded at each round on a 9-6-4-3-2-1 basis to the first six finishers in each class. Additional points were awarded at each round on a 4-3-2-1 basis to the first four finishers outright, regardless of class.

Where rounds were contested over more than one heat, round placings were determined by allocating points to the first 14 placegetters in each heat on a 20-16-13-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis and then aggregating these points. Where more than one driver earned the same number of points the relevant round placing was awarded to the driver who was higher placed in the last heat.

Championship results

PositionDriverCarClassEntrantSan.Ama.Total
1Alfredo CostanzoMcLaren M26 ChevroletOver 1600ccPorsche Cars Australia131326
2Ray HangerMarch 77B Ford BDAUp to 1600ccRay Hanger91019
3Rob ButcherLola T332 ChevroletOver 1600ccJohn Blanden6915
4John BoweElfin MR9 ChevroletOver 1600ccAnsett Team Elfin9-9
5Ivan TigheChevron B37 ChevroletOver 1600ccIvan Tighe-66
6Peter EdwardsLola T332 ChevroletOver 1600ccPeter Edwards4-4
7Bob MinogueLola T430 ChevroletOver 1600ccBob Minogue-33
8Colin TrengroveLola T332 ChevroletOver 1600ccColin Trengrove2-2
=John WrightLola T400 ChevroletOver 1600ccJohn Wright-22
10Peter MiddletonElfin MR8-C ChevroletOver 1600ccPeter Middleton1-1
=Barry SingletonGardos BL1 Repco HoldenOver 1600ccBarry Singleton-11

Championship name

The conditions for the 1981 championship were published by CAMS under the name "Australian Formula 1 Championship". Australian Motor Racing Year 1981/82 uses both Australian Drivers Championship and Australian Formula One Championship in its review of the series. Racing Car News, January 1982 uses Australian Drivers Championship. CAMS uses Australian Drivers' Championship in its historical records and that has been followed here.