1986 Australian Drivers' Championship


The 1986 Australian Drivers' Championship was a CAMS sanctioned Australian motor racing title for Formula Mondial racing cars. It was the 30th Australian Drivers' Championship. The championship winner was awarded the 1986 CAMS Gold Star.
Australian Ralt importer Graham Watson won the title, his only Australian Drivers' Championship, with former Australian Sports Car Champions Peter Hopwood and Bap Romano placing second and third respectively, each driving Ralt RT4s. The only driver to score championship points in any car other than a Ralt RT4 was Peter Macrow, who drove a Cheetah Mk8 to equal thirteenth place in the championship.
Defending and two-time champion John Bowe did not contest the 1986 championship. Instead he drove a Volvo 240T in the Australian Touring Car Championship and also drove the Veskanda-Chevrolet to win the Australian Sports Car Championship. He did however have one last race in the Chris Leach Racing Ralt RT4-Ford when he won the Formula Mondial support race at the Australian Grand Prix meeting in Adelaide in October.

Calendar

The championship was contested over a seven round series.
RoundRaceCircuitCity / StateDateFormatWinnerCarTeam
1Victoria TrophySandown International Motor Racing CircuitMelbourne, Victoria13 AprilOne raceGraham WatsonRalt RT4 FordRalt Australia
2CSA Alloy Wheels CupAdelaide International RacewayAdelaide, South Australia27 AprilOne racePeter HopwoodRalt RT4 FordMenage Racing Team
3Wanneroo Park RacewayPerth, Western Australia4 MayTwo racesBap RomanoRalt RT4 FordWatson Motor Racing Pty Ltd
4Calder Park RacewayMelbourne, Victoria1 JuneOne raceKen SmithRalt RT4 FordWatson Motor Racing Pty Ltd
5Winton Motor RacewayBenalla, Victoria29 JuneTwo racesKen SmithRalt RT4 FordRalt Australia
6Oran Park RacewaySydney, New South Wales13 JulyTwo racesPeter HopwoodRalt RT4 FordMenage Racing Team
7Altos Computers TrophyAmaroo ParkSydney, New South Wales3 AugustOne raceTerry RyanRalt RT4 FordTerry Ryan Automotive

Points system

Championship points were awarded on a 9–6–4–3–2–1 basis to the top six placegetters in each round. Each driver could count points only from his or her six best round performances.

Results

Note: There were only five finishers in Round 7 at Amaroo Park.